2024-03-24 04:14:09
You have probably come across the term work-life balance quite a few times, and this is because this balance is really important for a pleasant and good life, especially for parents. Ideally, this means that professional duties do not take up too much space in everyday life, and that you have enough time for a private life.
An important aspect of work-life balance is, obviously, the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence indicates that long working hours can harm personal health, jeopardize safety and increase stress. The ability to successfully combine work, family obligations and personal life is important for the well-being of all household members. Governments can help address the problem by encouraging supportive and flexible work practices that make it easier for parents to achieve a better balance between work and home life.
Which countries excel in this balance? And which ones take up too much time? The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) has the solutions. At least as far as its 38 member states are concerned. So in case you are considering relocation, take the following data into account.
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The top ten countries in work-life balance are:
1. Italy, 2. Denmark, 3. Norway, 4. Spain, 5. Netherlands, 6. France, 7. Sweden, 8. Germany, 9. Russia, 10. Belgium.
Israel: That’s us there at the end of the list
Where is Israel, you wondered? Trailing far behind, in 34th place. According to the report, in Israel, slightly more than 14 percent of employees work very long hours, more than the OECD average of 10 percent. Full-time workers in Israel spend less of the day on average taking care of themselves (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure activities (spending time with friends and family, hobbies, games, computer and television use, etc.) than the OECD average of 15 hours, and also the average net disposable income per capita of a household is lower than the OECD average (which is $30,490 per year).
However, one can take solace in the fact that Israel performs well in some dimensions of well-being compared to other countries, for example health, social relationships and life satisfaction. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Israelis gave an average score of 7.2, higher than the OECD average of 6.7.
Italy at the top: 69 percent of the day is free
And now for some details about the opening ten: in Italy, according to the OECD, full-time workers can have an average of 69 percent of the day left for their private lives, which is amazing. Residents had about 16.5 hours for “personal care”, which also includes meals and rest, as well as activities with friends, family, hobbies or just relaxing in front of the TV or computer.
Denmark, the next country, also has a lot of leisure time outside of work. Only about 1 percent of workers are forced to work long hours – which is nothing compared to the average in other OECD countries, which is 10 percent.
Free time is not enough: in Spain people still complain
Spanish citizens also have a lot of free time. But the Spaniards still complain, and rightly so. The employment rate among women is relatively low, and it seems that Spanish women want to establish themselves professionally and wait to have children. The report reveals that on average a Spanish woman has 1.3 children, one of the lowest birth rates in the OECD in the last two decades.
Although money does not buy happiness, it is an important means of achieving a higher standard of living. In Spain, the average disposable income per capita is $27,155 per year, less than the OECD average of $30,490 per year. Perhaps because of this, and for several other reasons, when asked to rate their overall satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, the people of Spain gave an average score of 6.5, lower than the OECD average of 6.7.
Spain favors a siesta Photo: Vinicius Tupinamba, shutterstock
Jump to the eighth place, where Germany is: according to the data, only a few in Germany have to work overtime with high frequency. This means they have much more free time than the average 15 hours of free time in other countries.
Only a few in Germany have to work overtime Photo: canadastock, shutterstock
The OECD even praises the Federal Republic of Germany for the memorandum “Family and the World of Work – The New Adaptation” signed by politicians and business representatives in 2015, which mandates an equal distribution between men and women – also with regard to wages – and appeals to employers to allow flexible employment models and reduce working hours full time for parents. In short, to be jealous.
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