New Zealand has been ranked as the country with the best work-life balance, according to the 2023 Global Life-Work Balance Index by HR-tech company Remote. The index considers factors such as statutory annual leave, minimum sick pay, and paid maternity leave. New Zealand offers 26 paid weeks of maternity leave, 32 days of statutory annual leave, and a minimum 80% statutory sick pay, alongside a relatively high minimum wage.
However, the OECD data reveals that 14% of New Zealand employees work more than 50 hours per week, above the OECD average of 10%. Additionally, New Zealanders spend slightly less time on personal care and leisure than the OECD average of 14.9 hours per day. Erin Parry, a Canadian living in New Zealand, notes that while the culture prioritises family and wellbeing, drawbacks include high childcare costs and a lack of worker insurance for unemployment.
Spain ranks second on the Remote index, with 26 days of statutory annual leave and only 2.5% of employees working very long hours. According to the OECD, Spanish workers devote the most hours to leisure and personal care after Italy and France. Travel writer Isabelle Kliger, who has lived in several countries including the UK, observes that in Spain, people rarely discuss work outside of work, contrasting with the UK and Ireland where work often dominates social life.
The OECD's work-life balance data highlights that the UK does not feature in the top 10 nations. The top 10 list includes countries such as Italy, France, and Denmark, which offer generous leave policies and shorter working hours. The index underscores the importance of cultural attitudes towards work, with countries like New Zealand and Spain demonstrating that a focus on personal time can lead to better work-life harmony.
