Philippines ranks second to last in work-life balance globally - study

It appears that Filipinos struggle to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives.

According to human resource platform Remote, the Philippines ranked 59th out of 60 countries in its Global Life-Work Balance Index 2024.

The Philippines received an index score of 27.46 out of 100, noting that Filipino workers work an average of 40.63 hours per week.

Also considered in the latest index are the workers’ statutory annual leave, minimum statutory sick pay, paid maternity leave and payment rate, minimum wage, healthcare system, happiness index, LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the workplace, and safety.

In Bea Pinlac’s report on “Unang Balita” on Thursday, some workers prefer a work-from-home setup in order to have a work-life balance.

“Although masaya ako sa company, looking for a job na mag-stay sa bahay,” said BPO worker and mom Divine Ordillo.

(Although I’m happy with my company, I want a job where I can stay at home.)

But some workers are still satisfied with the benefits they receive from their current workplaces.

“Sa company namin ay nago-offer naman siya ng well-being activities para sa mga employees, mga leaves, paid leaves, kaya mas nakakatulong siya sa amin,” said content moderator Gemima Cañete.

(Our company offers well-being activities for its employees as well as paid leaves, so those are really beneficial for us.)

“Naibibigay naman nila yung tama at sapat na mga benefits namin. Maayos naman sila magpasahod,” said janitor Renz Tabios.

(My employers provide us with the right and sufficient benefits. They pay us well.)

New Zealand topped the list with an index score of 80.76, citing its “high minimum wage along with a generous annual leave entitlement of 32 days.”

Also in the top ten countries with the best work-life balance experiences are Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, Germany, Finland, Australia, Norway, and Spain.

Nigeria ranked at the bottom of the latest index.

''In essence, life-work balance isn’t a singular concern but a system of ethics. It involves several factors — from the hours we work to the healthcare support we receive — that work in unison to ensure we can perform to the best of our capabilities when we’re at work while enabling us to live a happy, healthy life outside of the workplace,'' said Remote.

“This doesn’t mean that our careers should be seen as unimportant or that we should take any less pride in working hard, but it ensures the time and effort we put into our jobs never comes at the expense of our physical or mental well-being—or the quality time we’re able to spend doing the things we love.'' —VBL, GMA Integrated News