THE UK has been found to have the poorest work-life balance in Western Europe.
Research released today by New Work-Life Index by Mahabis reveals that Brits spend up to 325 more hours at work than their European counterparts.
Mahabis found that the UK has the highest proportion of employees (one in eight) working over 50 hours a week out of all Western European nations.
The Index takes into account a range of factors which contribute to a healthy work-life balance, including the average number of hours worked each year, statutory leave available to employees, time dedicated to leisure and personal care, and overall happiness
Scandinavian countries top the Index, with Danes and Norwegians enjoying strong employment rights and a healthy balance between time set aside for leisure and personal time, and hours spent in the workplace
The average UK employee worked 1,681 hours in 2017, far more than German workers (1,356) or Danes (1,408).
The UK may have fallen behind many of its European neighbours, but Brits are ahead of their counterparts in the USA, South Korea and Japan. Workers in the United States don’t have a single day of paid statutory leave, whilst over 20% of employees in Japan and South Korea work more than 50 hours per week.
Mahabis founder Ankur Shah said: “The stresses and strains of modern life has seen people’s work-life balance suffer, and this is particularly true in the UK.
“A healthy, happy workforce can drive productivity and creativity, but these figures reveal that Brits are amongst the most guilty of committing more time to their jobs rather than finding time to switch off.
“We can all do more to recognise the importance of downtime, which can benefit individuals, businesses and society as a whole.”
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