Work-life balance: 75 percent of Swiss employees are satisfied
Flexibility determines the work-life balance in the digital age: 75 % of Swiss employees are satisfied with their work-life balance, according to a study.
According to the PageGroup Working Life Study, 75 % of employees in Switzerland are satisfied with their work-life balance. 44 % expect an improvement in this regard over the next twelve months, as shown by the PageGroup Confidence Index (Q3 2018) published at the same time.
Would you rather have a better work-life balance than a pay rise?
The PageGroup Working Life Study shows that as work and personal life increasingly overlap, control is a key factor in work-life satisfaction. This refers to flexible working conditions with the ability to regularly work remotely, supported by powerful technologies such as laptops and cell phones.
Due to subdued expectations regarding salary levels and the chances of finding a new job quickly, the work-life balance is becoming increasingly important for employees. Expectations regarding rising salaries have remained constant since the index began at the end of 2014: 55 % of employees working in Switzerland do not expect any salary increase in the next twelve months. Employees' confidence in finding a new job within three months has reached a two-year low of 44 % (Q3 2018) (Q3 2016: 53 %).
Increasing mixing of private and work-related activities
The PageGroup Working Life Study found that the line between personal life and work is becoming increasingly blurred. More than two-thirds of employees also work outside official working hours in one form or another. Conversely, 95 % engage in some form of personal communication during work hours, although the majority (78 %) do so for 30 minutes or less per day. 64 % had some form of social contact with work colleagues outside of work, and 44 % had private contact with their supervisor. These activities included messaging and phone conversations about non-work-related topics, as well as after-work get-togethers for socializing or sports, for example.
According to Jérôme Bouin, Managing Director at PageGroup Switzerland, "Work-life balance is not just about working hours. Increasingly, it's about bringing work and personal life together, meaning that employees can control when and where they work, but also enjoy their time in the office and with their colleagues. Employers that offer such flexibility have a clear advantage in attracting and retaining qualified employees."
Source: www.pagepersonnel.ch
