Work-life balance is a major concern for modern employees. Burnout and ways to combat it are popular topics, and people strive to work to live, not live to work. More and more companies are shifting their mindset to one based on project completion and flexibility as opposed to strictly clocked time in office, with the understanding that happy, stress-free employees are also the most productive.
The rise of remote work has also opened new conversations around work expectations, and in some countries has prompted legislative changes such as France’s right to disconnect. Norms around vacation and overtime, however, vary greatly by culture.
According to the 2025 Global Work-Life Balance Index, the countries with the best work-life balance when it comes to taking vacation time, working hours, and family benefits are New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Belgium.
In The Netherlands, 80% of workers report being happy with their work-life balance. Parents get a combined 32 weeks of paid leave between them, one of the most generous packages in the world. 91% of New Zealanders report having a positive relationship with their employer. Seven of the top ten countries were in Europe, with Canada being the sole representative of the American continents.
On the other side, the United States ranked 59th out of 60 due to the overtime culture in many industries and a lack of any guaranteed family or personal leave; only Nigeria ranked lower. China, India, and Pakistan also ranked poorly. The traditionally harsh work cultures of Japan, Singapore, and Korea ranked midway through the list, showing improvements in both government and company awareness of employee concerns.
At Living Abroad, you can find information on cultural norms around work-life balance in the Business section under “Pace of Business”. “Business Style” will also give an overview of how companies operate and how conservative the business culture is.
For those looking to combat burnout and improve their own work-life balance, our “Mental Health” resources provide information on counselors and whether or not telehealth will allow assignees to continue to talk to their own providers at home. And robust information on social life, including family activities and local nightlife, provide ideas for how to fill free time and make local friends.
As governments and companies alike look at work-life balance as an important health issue, Living Abroad’s focus on total expatriate wellness helps meet assignees where they are – both locationally and mentally.
Written by Kate Havas, GMS-T, Content Manager
