New research conducted by Glassdoor - one of the worldwide leaders on insights about jobs and companies - has found that, amongst employees across the UK, there is no clear consensus as to what makes a good work-life balance.
It was also found that there was confusion about the actual meaning of work/life balance, causing employees to grapple with keeping work and home life harmonious. Of over 2,000 UK employees surveyed by Glassdoor, 52 per cent found that work was regularly eating into their personal life and 35 per cent said that a healthy balance is just not possible in their current role. This is despite, throughout the Covid pandemic, nearly half - 48 per cent - of UK workers having taken action to improve their blend of job and home.
A third of respondents - 36 per cent - stated that they are of the opinion that flexible working hours would supply a good balance between home and work life. A further 32 per cent want choice in where they work and 23 per cent want a reduced working week.
To 24 per cent of respondents generous paid time off is important and 28 per cent want the ability to change between work and personal life throughout the day, as needed. There is little consistency across gender, age or any other demographic.
The survey suggests that, with 8 in 10 employees stating that work-life balance would be a key consideration when looking for their next role, employers might consider a refresh of their HR policies to make it achievable to get a healthy balance between life and work.
Lauren Thomas - Economist at Glassdoor - said:
“Although the COVID crisis has shone a spotlight on the delicate balance between work and home, employees have been increasingly talking about mental health since 2018.
Discussions around wellbeing saw an immediate spike after the first lockdown in March 2020. However, it appears that employees are now feeling the impact of 18 months of change as mentions of burnout have increased 128 per cent since April 2021.
This suggests that employers are not fully meeting the needs of their workforce.”
The survey findings were published alongside Glassdoor’s 2020 rankings for the UK’s best companies for work-life balance and analysis of the market. It was revealed that tech companies dominate the list - but it is noticeably clear that great work-life balance can be found in every industry.
Speaking about the findings, Lauren Thomas said:
“Whether it is the autonomy to set one’s schedule, hybrid working policies or simply trust shown by management that work will be delivered without being tied to an office, it is clear that a healthy balance is best achieved when employees can individualise their approach to work.”
