Going Global: Work-Life Balance

As someone who spent many years working in international development, I’ve always been fascinated by the nuances of global well-being. So when I came across the OECD’s Better Life Index earlier this year, I couldn’t resist diving in (https://lnkd.in/gkuHRiBU).

This index evaluates well-being across countries, considering factors like housing, jobs, community, safety, environment, and health.

With my background and passion for helping others navigate career transitions that align with their values, I was particularly drawn to the Work-Life Balance topic. Essentially, it measures how much people work vs. play.

💡 It's clear that we still have a long way to go in collectively achieving true work-life integration.

According to the OECD, “10% of employees work 50 hours or more per week in paid work,” while “a full-time worker devotes 63% of the day on average, or 15 hours, to personal care and leisure.”

While I realize the OECD represents only 38 member countries, it’s a valuable starting point for understanding global work-life dynamics.

It’s not surprising that Italy and Denmark lead the way in work-life balance, thanks to supportive policies. Factors like free childcare in Italy and flexible job agreements in Denmark play key roles in these outcomes.

🇮🇹 Per OECD, in Italy, just 3% of employees work very long hours, with full-time workers dedicating 69% of their day to personal care.

🇩🇰 Per OECD, in Denmark, only 1% of employees work very long hours, and full-time workers spend more time on well-being than the average above.

I feel like I'm just scratching the surface on this and am excited to explore more insights from the Better Life Index.

If you’ve lived or worked in a country known for its work-life balance, I’d love to hear more, including what your experience was!