Picking what will be the base for your international career is more than looking at salaries and visa options; it is also about which locations will see you grow the most as a professional and person. Work-life balance is very different in each region, and we can find out which ones work best for us to either just get by in our international post or to really live out our international experience.
What is that which is interesting? The countries that present the best work-life balance are a surprise to many, and regional trends tell stories of cultural attitudes towards work, family, and personal fulfilment.
The Nordic-European
Europe, in particular the Nordic region, does very well in work-life balance worldwide. Norway is the top country in this area. Also, Sweden reports the most generous parental leave; in Denmark, they have a 4-day workweek.
New at the top is New Zealand, which has an index score of 86.9 out of 100; we see they offer 32 days of annual leave and 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave. Ireland is right behind with great benefits, which include universal health care and a high minimum wage.
What does in fact makes European work culture an appeal for expats is the very real cultural value placed on personal time. In Italy, we see the best work-life balance, according to the OECD. Also at the top are Denmark, Norway, Spain, and the Netherlands. These aren’t the result of policy initiatives alone; they are very much part of widely held cultural beliefs that promote human well-being along with economic production.
For expatriates, that is a world where vacation time is a given and working late is not the norm but rather seen as an issue of management, not employee dedication. In Europe, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Belgium are at the top of the list for great places to work, which also include extensive benefits and a true value put on personal time.
North America
North America is a study in contrast between the U.S. and Canada. Although both present great career opportunities, they do very different things in terms of work-life balance.
Canada reports having very generous parental leave policies, universal health care, and a culture that supports work-life balance, which in turn makes it a very attractive destination for expats looking for a sustainable long-term lifestyle. Also, the multicultural acceptance in the country’s communities makes it easy for international workers to find support.
The U.S. reports great career growth and high salary prospects, but what you get out of your work is very different by the industry, company culture, and which state you live in. In tech centres like Silicon Valley, you’ll find very generous perks but also very long hours; in other areas, you’ll see a more traditional work-life balance.
Asia-Pacific
Asia has the largest differences in work-life balance between its regions, which in turn present to expats a mix of opportunities and challenges. In terms of work hours, Asia reports the longest hours in the world, which is in large part due to what is almost a cultural preoccupation with work.
This generalization is a broad stroke, which in fact covers a lot of individual country differences. In terms of Australia and New Zealand, they present a work-life balance that is very much in the European style, which also has very strong labour protections, which features generous leave policies, also in a culture that puts a great value on outdoor activities and personal time.
In terms of career opportunities, which are very present in the modern workplace policies, Singapore and Hong Kong are at the top. These financial centres also provide an international setting, which many expats report to find very professional for growth, although work-life balance is an issue that requires individual attention.
Growing up in Singapore, I saw my dad leave for the office late most nights and work Saturdays. “That’s what comes with the job,” he would say. Also in Asia, we see a trend of longer work hours, which is cultural, but that is changing as younger generations report different values.
Middle East
In the Middle East which is home to many expat opportunities in the UAE and Qatar in particular, we see a very much in development work culture. Also, that which is present in the report of international business hubs includes tax-free income and modern work facilities, which isn’t the case with traditional local businesses which may have a different work-life balance.
In that which we see a great value placed on family time and religious practice the region in fact sees out of the ordinary benefits for work-life balance with built-in prayer breaks and family-oriented social structures which international workers report to be very refreshing.
Latin America
Latin American countries report putting great value on relationships and family, which in turn shapes what may be considered different yet very useful work-life balance strategies. In cases where economic opportunities do or do not present themselves, the culture that revolves around personal connections and family time gives expatriates a great quality of life, which they very much enjoy.
Chile and Costa Rica see an increase in foreign professional relocation, which is a result of career development, which also includes community connection and outdoor living.
What to Know Regionally as an Expat.
In the UK, 3 out of 10 workers report they don’t have a good work-life balance. Also, it is a fact that on average our UK colleagues put in 42 hours of work every week, which is the highest in Europe, which in turn suggests that there are large work hour variations within Europe.
Identify which of these trends play into your career and life choices. Look beyond present policies to see cultural shifts. Some areas are doing away with the intense work culture for a more balanced approach, while others still live in the past.
Conclusion
In looking at different regions’ practices, don’t just look at vacation days and work hours, which are surface-level indicators. Some cultures value face time and a 40-hour workweek; others put forward that efficiency and results are what truly count. Research into industry-specific trends by region. In Asia tech companies may have a very different work-life balance than that which you find in Europe, and through this research, you can identify the environments in which you will thrive.
At different stages of life and with different personal values, some may see great importance in early career growth and advancement; others may value a full range of social services and support for work-life balance.
In ideal terms, your work-life balance abroad is achieved by that of your regional culture’s values with your own personal and professional goals, which in turn should add to and not take away from your total life satisfaction.