Our work-life balance is very often dependent on the culture of the country where we work. Some places are more lenient with holiday days and free time, while others are much more strict – did you hear Greece just introduced a six-day working week?
To help us understand the varied attitudes to work across the world, employment platform Remote has conducted its second annual global life-work balance index into factors such as minimum wage, sick leave, maternity leave, healthcare, public happiness and LGBTQ+ inclusivity across the world’s top 60 GDP countries.
Each was then given a ‘work-life balance’ score out of 100, and it was (drum roll, please) New Zealand that topped the ranks with a score of 80.76. Also claiming first place in 2023’s study, New Zealand fared particularly well thanks to its high minimum wage offering and generous annual leave entitlement of 32 days.
In second place it was Ireland, which has jumped an impressive 19 places from 2023’s study thanks to the introduction of statutory sick pay, and in joint third place it was Denmark and Belgium.
Interestingly, Germany, the country which was recently named the best European country for work-life balance thanks to its significantly below-average working hours, only claims sixth place in this study. Read on for the full list.
The ten best countries in the world for work-life balance, according to Remote
1. New Zealand
2. Ireland
3. Denmark and Belgium
5. Canada
6. Germany
7. Finland
8. Australia
9. Norway
10. Spain
If you’re keen to read a little more about Remote’s global work-life balance index, you can do so here.
Did you see that this hotel has just been named best in the world by Travel + Leisure?
Plus: A brand-new sleeper train will soon run to some of Italy’s best cities.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.