Countries That Offer The Best Work-Life Balance
The beginning of a new year is typically a time for planning and contemplation. That is especially true in 2022. The global work landscape has drastically changed in the last two years and priorities have shifted. While compensation, benefits, and work environment remain top of mind for employees, they are now giving much greater weight to considerations like work-life balance and working for companies whose values align with their own.
The wide-scale transition to virtual work environments means that “geography” is no longer an important criterion for many people, but for some executives the right work location continues to be vital, especially if it offers excellent work-life balance.
So, what are the countries with the best work-life balance? World Today News reported on a study that looked at weekly hours worked, vacation time, crime levels, and health care offerings to produce a list of the top 10 countries in 2021 for work-life balance. In order, they are:
Life at the Top
Finland, Norway and Switzerland took the podium spots in 2021. What helped them secure the top positions? In short, high rankings for share of remote jobs opportunities, generous paid parental leave days, access to culture and leisure pursuits, and overall high levels of happiness.
For anyone considering employment in one of these three countries, here’s a quick look at what’s to love…
Finland
Family life is paramount in Finland. Businessculture.org explains that, thanks to numerous family leave options and high-quality, affordable daycare offerings for every child at any income level, workers can easily manage their work and family lives.
Finns believe that hours spent not working are as important as those spent working, and they take time off very seriously! They receive at least two days of annual leave for each month worked full-time, and Finnish workers of all stripes enjoy flexible work schedules. According to The CEO Magazine , 92% of Finnish companies allow their employees to adapt their schedules to the demands of their personal lives.
Few other countries in the world top Finland when it comes to gender equality. Ranking 4th in the world in the 2018 Global Gender Gap Report , Finland boasts a rare equal gender representation in the Finnish labor market.
Vast green spaces and a sauna culture are the icing on the cake for this country that seems to have mastered balancing work and life.
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Norway
Flat organizational structures in Norway create a workplace climate where people are free to express their opinions, float new ideas, and provide useful feedback, according to Oslo Met , a state university in Norway, and work-life balance is sacred. You’ll be hard pressed to find even senior executives at work past 5 PM, when people shift their attention to family and friends. Most Norwegians get five weeks of vacation per year – and they enjoy it!
As in Finland, family is a high priority for Norwegians. New parents enjoy as much as 49 weeks of paid parental leave at 100% of earnings, and childcare is affordable and subsidized for very young children. Meanwhile, 95% of school-age children attend the country’s high quality, free public schools, including tuition-free universities.
The secret to Norway’s work-life balance success lies, in part, in the efficiency of its work force. When it comes to productivity, Norway ranks second in the world, according to World Population Review . (See Chart #1). Despite having the third-lowest average workweek in the world (38 hours!), Norwegians get the job done!
Chart #1
Map credit: World Population Review.
So, what do Norwegians do with all that free time? Well, if they ever tire of attractive museums, architecture, beautiful landscape, and natural habitat, there are always the awe-inspiring northern lights!
Switzerland
If Switzerland’s growing manufacturing and financial services industries are beckoning you, you’ll find that it has great opportunities for executives who want to couple career growth with quality of life. Ranked third in the world for productivity, according to World Population Review, the Swiss are also famous for their efficiency. The average Swiss employee works 40.5 hours per week and enjoys four weeks of paid vacation.
The Swiss are sticklers for planning their professional and personal lives in a way that ensures ample time with family and the right work-life balance. According to Expatica many families even spend the lunch hour together during the workweek. Flexible workplace schedules and an array of quality childcare services make that possible.
Aligning Work and Life
Whether your career transition plans involve a move to a new country or just to a new department, it’s important to do your homework. Take the time to learn more about the culture of the new country, company, or team. Make sure that the leadership style is a fit for you. Factor in your current and future lifestyle, and your family needs because career changes affect all areas of your life. Certainly, when a change involves a relocation to a different country, gather as much information as possible about the new country and consider how cultural norms and expectations stack up to your personal, career and economic goals. Aligning work and life is often the key to feeling fulfilled in your career. And if you need help in these assessments, The Barrett Group , the leading international executive career management firm, is here to help. Contact us!