What is life-work balance & why is it important in 2025?
We avoid the conventional phrase “work-life balance,” which we see as backwards in both sense and spirit. We prefer life-work balance to make clear that life takes precedence and work should enhance, not dominate, it. Life-work balance is not just about hours spent at work or time remaining for personal activities; it’s more complex. Our study aims to offer a rounded picture of what living and working well looks like across regions. We recognise there’s no single definition — life-work balance varies by person and culture. Rather than generalise, we outline the core statutory benefits and workplace systems worldwide that support a strong life-work balance. Globally, life-work balance remains essential for physical and mental wellbeing. Everyone should have time and freedom to participate meaningfully in life outside work.
“By promoting life-work balance, we acknowledge that work is a means to support life and not its defining purpose. At Remote, our Global Life-Work Balance study is more than just a comparative table. It’s a reflection of our core belief that people perform their best when they’re trusted to live fully outside of work, not just within it. We advocate for life-work balance because flexibility and wellbeing are more than just perks. Our mission is to build a future where global talent thrives not just professionally, but personally too.” — Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer
Why life-work balance remains more critical than ever
For the first time, life-work balance is the top motivator for employees worldwide, with workplace flexibility outranking salary in importance in a survey of thousands of international workers.
So why is life-work balance becoming non-negotiable in today’s work environment?
Employees demand flexibility. In our recent Remote Workforce Report, 73% of hiring leaders reported losing staff to organisations that provide more flexible options.
The boundaries are blurred. The widespread adoption of hybrid and remote work brings many benefits, but it can make it harder for employees to ‘disconnect.’
We live in an always-on culture. Technology expands possibilities but raises expectations for 24/7 responsiveness.
Economic uncertainty is widespread. With living costs rising globally, many people work longer hours to retain security and relevance in their jobs.
Parental demands are taking a toll. Almost three-quarters of the global workforce have caregiving responsibilities alongside their careers.
AI has introduced additional stress. While AI can make work more efficient, it also stokes concerns about redundancy and the need for continual upskilling.
Our study shows that countries like New Zealand and several in Europe support employees with life-first policies, whereas nations such as the United States risk a burnout crisis by continuing to favour long hours and limited paid leave.
If left unchecked, this path will deplete talent and undermine the workforce’s future resilience.
Life-work balance index survey methodology
As experts in global HR and employment, we analysed index data from the world’s top 60 GDP countries to determine which offers the best life-work balance. These top 60 GDP nations were chosen as our global sample. The study examined 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 present each country’s life-work balance accurately, reframing the familiar idea of “work-life balance” to show how employers in different nations support employees and put life before work.
The indicators 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 being best), and average weekly hours and the safety score, which were ranked from lowest to best.
The data was pulled and analysed in April 2025.
(*) When a range was offered, the minimum amount was listed.
