70% workers UNHAPPY with work/life balance split

Just three in 10 (30%) employees are currently satisfied with their work/life balance split, with the ideal ratio being 43% work and 57% ‘life’.

Currently, research has found that British employees’ work/life balance has a split of 55% work and 45% pleasure.

In a study of 2,000 adults by Novotel, 42% try to get a healthy amount of sleep to improve things, while 40% avoid discussing work at the weekend and 34% ensure they take a lunch break each day.

To escape from work, more than a quarter shared that they schedule in social plans to give them something to look forward to.

The research found that the typical working day lasts seven hours and 39 minutes, but an average of three hours and 55 minutes of overtime is worked each week.

For example, 51% admitted to sending or reading emails outside of their contracted hours, while 42% catch up on work they didn’t get to during the day and 38% carry out admin tasks.

As commutes return once again, more than half revealed that they carry out work tasks while traveling to work, with 54% stating that they then feel more organised for their day ahead.

Employees shared that the average time they start to ‘wind down’ is around 6.22pm, despite a fifth claiming that work is always on their mind.

James Wheatcroft, spokesperson for Novotel, explained that the past few years have “no doubt” impacted employees’ general routines and priorities.

“We want to encourage people to take time and make time for things that matter and help with their general wellbeing – worryingly, the results show more than a third have had to take time off work due to stress,” he said.

“With a quarter seeking to improve their work/life balance this year, we encourage people to reconnect with loved ones, travel, explore, experience things once more and make time well spent this year.”

Country divides

Novotel’s study uncovered stark differences regards work/life balance in other countries. For example, adults based in Germany had the worst work/life balance with a split of 58% and 42%, respectively.

Brits also work the fewest hours compared to colleagues in Germany, Netherlands and Poland who put in more than eight hours a day.

While Brits also pack in six hours and 37 minutes of ‘me time’ a week, Germans get the least with just five hours and 46 minutes.

Despite this extra time, British workers revealed that they would like more ‘me time’ in general, with 39% stating that they want to make it a priority for 2022.

Reflecting on the pandemic, a fifth noted that their work/life balance improved during the period, but 33% said that they have spent longer working than usual.

Read the latest issue of Reward Strategy magazine here, which explores how employee wellbeing has evolved in the workplace.