What is life-work balance & why it matters in 2025
We avoid the conventional phrase “work-life balance” because it places work first; our preferred term, life-work balance, puts life at the forefront and views work as something that should enhance rather than eclipse it. Life-work balance is not merely a tally of hours spent working versus hours for personal activities. It is more complex than that, which is why our study aims to provide a rounded picture of what it means to live and work well across different regions. Of course, life-work balance has no single global definition — it varies by individual and culture. Our objective is not to generalise but to outline the key statutory benefits and workplace arrangements that support a culture of strong life-work balance. Worldwide, life-work balance remains essential to physical and mental wellbeing. Everyone should have the time and freedom to participate meaningfully in life beyond work.
“By promoting life-work balance, we recognise that work exists to support life rather than define it. At Remote, our Global Life-Work Balance study is more than a comparative table. It reflects our belief that people perform best when they are trusted to live fully outside of work as well as within it. We champion life-work balance because flexibility and wellbeing are more than perks. Our mission is to create a future where global talent flourishes both professionally and personally.” — Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer
Why life-work balance is more vital than ever
For the first time, life-work balance is now cited as the top motivator for employees worldwide, with workplace flexibility outranking salary in importance according to a recent survey of thousands of international workers.
So why has life-work balance become non-negotiable in today’s work environment?
Employees want flexibility. In our recent Remote Workforce Report, 73% of hiring leaders said they have lost staff to organisations offering greater flexibility.
The boundaries have blurred. The wide adoption of hybrid and remote work brings benefits but makes it harder for people to switch off.
We live in an always-on culture. Technology has widened our reach, but expectations for round-the-clock responsiveness have also risen.
Economic uncertainty is widespread. With rising costs of living, many employees overwork to remain secure and relevant in their roles.
Parental responsibilities are taking their toll. Nearly three quarters of the global workforce have some form of caregiving duty to balance alongside their career.
AI has added pressure. While AI can boost productivity, it also creates worries about redundancy and an ongoing need for upskilling.
Our study shows that countries such as New Zealand and many European states support employees’ life-work balance through people-centred policies, whereas nations like the United States face the prospect of widespread burnout due to a culture that still prioritises long hours and limited paid leave.
If no decisive steps are taken, this model will erode the talent pool and weaken the workforce’s long-term resilience.
Life-work balance index survey methodology
As specialists in global HR and employment, we analysed data from the world’s top 60 GDP countries to determine which offers employees the strongest life-work balance. The top 60 GDP countries were chosen as a representative global sample. The study reviewed the following indicators:
Statutory annual leave (total days of paid leave, including public holidays)*
Minimum statutory sick pay (percent of wage, or a flat amount)*
Statutory maternity leave (weeks paid)*
Statutory maternity leave payment rate (percent of wage)*
Minimum wage (USD per hour)*
Healthcare status
Happiness index score (1-10, 10 being highest)
Average hours per week per employed person
LGBTQ+ inclusivity (0-100, 100 being highest to reflect the Legal Index scores the legal rights and freedoms LGBTQ+ people have, while the Public Opinion Index scores how the general public feels in each region)
Safety: Global Peace Index (1-4, lower is better)
The aim was to represent each country’s life-work balance accurately, reframing the familiar concept of “work-life balance” to show how businesses in each country are looking after the lives of their employees and prioritising life before work.
The metrics were weighted to reflect their relative importance, producing an overall score out of 100 for each country. All data points were ranked from highest to lowest, except the healthcare rating (ranked out of five, with one the best) and the average hours worked per week and safety score, which were ranked from lowest to best.
The data were extracted and analysed in April 2025.
(*) When ranges were provided, the minimum value was used.
