New research comes as 30% of employees consider moving abroad
Finland has emerged as the best country for work-life balance in a new list from financial services provider Remitly.
The organisation surveyed over 4,200 working adults from 22 different countries to determine which country has the best work-life balance.
It based the ranking on various factors, including the average length of a working day, average commute time, sleep time, as well as time spent on breaks, among others.
Finland topped the rankings with an overall quality score of 73 out of 100. It has an average working day of seven hours and 44 minutes, an average commute time of 41 minutes, as well as an average sleep time of six hours and 47 minutes.
"Finnish full-time workers enjoy a well-balanced daily routine, with an average working day lasting seven hours and 44 minutes, offering a relatively short work schedule compared to other countries analysed," Remitly said in its report.
"The reigning happiest country in the world according to the World Happiness Report, Finland has offered flexible working policies to its workers for almost three decades, all helping to contribute to the health and happiness of people living and working in the country."
Coming in second is Denmark, which has an overall score of 70. It logged the shortest average length of a working day with seven hours and 44 minutes.
"This Scandinavian country is often recognised for its quality of life and has been described by the OECD Better Life Index as outperforming the global averages in jobs, education, health, environmental quality, social connections, civic engagement, and life satisfaction," the report read.
Switzerland, another European country, ranked third place with an overall score of 65.
"Known for its strong economy and high standard of living, Switzerland offers its workforce a unique balance between long working hours and personal well-being," the report read.
The top 10 countries for work-life balance according to Remitly are:
The findings come as Remitly also found that 30% of the respondents said they see themselves emigrating in the next five years.
Ryan Riley, VP of Marketing for EMEA and APAC at Remitly, said those who plan on moving abroad need to consider research heavily.
"As well as reviewing data on typical work-life balance factors like commuting and breaks, our advice would be to find Facebook groups of people who have already made the move to the country you’re researching and ask for their lived experiences," Riley said in a statement.
"Or try to find YouTube videos of what life looks like in different cities and countries from those who have emigrated there. All this information will mean you're well-equipped if you are one of the 30% looking to relocate in the next five years for a better quality of work-life."
