A recent global analysis has placed the United Kingdom among the lowest-ranking countries for work-life balance, highlighting significant disparities in employee welfare compared to other nations.
The Work-Life Balance Report 2024, conducted by HR systems specialist Access People, part of The Access Group, ranked the UK 34th out of 40 countries analysed, raising concerns about the nation’s approach to employee well-being.
The report positions Spain as the global leader in work-life balance, while the UK struggles near the bottom of the list. Factors such as the number of paid annual leave days, bank holidays, fully paid maternity and paternity leave, and the implementation of four-day working week policies were key in determining the rankings. Countries with higher scores on these factors ranked closer to 100, indicating better work-life balance.
In stark contrast to top-performing countries like France and Norway, which offer 25 days of statutory annual leave, the UK only provides 20 days. The number of bank holidays in the UK is also notably lower, with workers entitled to just eight days compared to Spain, Lithuania, and Iceland, where employees enjoy 14 bank holidays annually.
A five-day week
Despite the recent trials of a four-day working week, most UK employees still work five days a week. While flexible and remote working options have increased since the pandemic, these measures have not been enough to significantly improve the UK’s ranking.
The UK’s maternity and paternity leave policies also contributed to its low score. Unlike some of the higher-ranking countries, the UK does not offer full wages during parental leave, which, combined with the absence of legislation on the four-day working week, further weakened its position in the index.
The study also noted a 27 percent increase in UK Google searches for “work abroad visa” over the past year, possibly reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the country’s work-life balance.
Charles Butterworth, Managing Director of the People Division at The Access Group, commented on the findings, emphasising the need for better HR policies to enhance work-life balance. He pointed out that poor work-life balance can lead to reduced productivity and increased stress, while also advocating for the use of HR software to identify and address issues within organisations.
The top 10 countries in the index include Spain, France, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, and Iceland, while the bottom 10, aside from the UK, feature Canada, Switzerland, Mexico, China, and the USA.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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