New study ranks New Zealand first in the world for work-life balance

According to a recent study by Remote, New Zealand is the first in the world when it comes to work-life balance. It ruled the employment company’s list with a total score of 79.35 out of 100, leading in the race against 59 other top GDP countries.

The overall score was based on multiple factors, including sick leave, maternity leave, minimum wage, availability of a universal healthcare system, average working hours, public happiness, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Each country was ranked on 100.

Representing New Zealanders As Role Models

New Zealand came first for scoring immensely high across different metrics, offering a relatively high rate of sick pay (80%), a generous statutory annual leave allowance (32 days), and a universal healthcare system funded by the government.

Showcasing New Zealanders as role models in leading the way for a brighter future of work, Remote chief revenue officer Christopher McNamara said every person, irrespective of where they lived, should be able to enjoy both professional success and personal fulfillment.

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Spain closely followed next, with an impressive overall score of 75.55, followed by France, Australia and Denmark. European countries ranked highly on Remote’s list, with six of the top 10 spots occupied by them.

Still, A Lot More Work’s Pending

Workers in Australia and New Zealand were identified among the most generously paid ones. Meanwhile, the US didn’t perform well, ranking 53rd out of 60 – owing to its not-so-generous sick pay or annual leave policies and an absence of a universal healthcare system.

Qatar, Malaysia, Nigeria, Angola and Puerto Rico were among the countries that performed the worst this time. Nevertheless, although workers in the top 10 countries enjoyed a pretty sound work-life balance, burnout was still a subject of hot debate, McNamara said.
While the world has come a long way since embracing flexibility and remote-work policies, there is still a lot more work to be done across the globe to help workers find the perfect balance between their personal and professional lives, the Remote CRO added.