BBC Names 5 Countries with the Best Work-Life Balance
While many of us strive to find enough time to take part in leisure activities after work, some countries seem to have it better figured out than others.
The BBC has named New Zealand, Italy, France, Denmark and Spain as five countries with the best work-life balance.
This was based on data from the Global Life-Work Balance Index by San Francisco-based HR company Remote, as well as the OECD Better Life Index, produced by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD promotes economic growth among its 38 member countries, which include nations from America and Chile to Australia and Japan.
New Zealand was at the top of Remote's list, with the BBC noting that its relaxed culture makes it a great place to live and work. Employees there are entitled to a minimum of 32 days of leave each year, and work an average of 26.3 hours per week.
But Italy was at the top of the OECD list. People there have the most time outside of work, with an average of 16.5 hours a day spent on sleep, food, leisure and personal care — 1.5 hours more than the OECD average.
The BBC singled out France for its long daily hours of personal time — second only to Italy at 16.2 — and its minimum 36 days of annual leave. French people work an average of just 25.6 hours a week.
But in Denmark, which is second on the OECD list, only about 1% of people work more than 50 hours a week on average, compared to 10% across the whole OECD.
And the BBC noted that while Spain's siesta culture — the tradition of taking a one- or two- hour break in the middle of the day — is in decline, the country is still second on Remote's list. Spain offers as many leave days as France, and is third in the OECD for daily personal time.
