• Work-life balance is the most important factor to professionals when considering a new role aside from salary
• Work-life balance is the highest it’s been in 10 years, according to data from Hays, with 60% of professionals rating theirs as positive
• Many professionals (43%) believe changing their working hours (including flexible working) would benefit their work-life balance
• However, less than  a third (29%) of professionals would be willing to accept less pay for a better work-life balance, falling from  to 56% last year

According to new research released by leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, Hays, work-life balance is now the most important factor to professionals when considering a new role, aside from pay. Over one fifth of workers (22%) cited work-life balance as the most important factor, closely followed by a benefits package (21%) and career development opportunities (17%).

The research, based on a survey of nearly 15,000 professionals and employers, reveals that more than a quarter (29%) of professionals would be prepared to accept a lower paid job for a better work-life balance. This is significantly less than over half (56%) of professionals who said the same last year. 

The number of professionals who rate their work-life balance as positive has fluctuated over the last 10 years but has increased in the last four, now reaching an all-time high: 

Percentage of professionals who would rate their work-life balance as good or very good:

• 2014: 47%
• 2015: 58%
• 2016: 57%
• 2017: 56%
• 2018: 55%
• 2019: 57%
• 2020: 52%
• 2021: 54%
• 2022: 59%
• 2023: 60%

In order to improve their work-life balance, most (43%) professionals would ideally change their working hours (including flexible working), whilst some professionals would prefer to change their commuting time (17%), the expectation to work outside contracted hours (12%), unpaid overtime (11%) and their office environment (8%).

According to the research, over half (52%) of professionals would consider tailored flexible working policies as the most appealing factor when considering a new role.

Hannah Pearsall, Head of Wellbeing at Hays, comments: “Achieving a good balance between your personal and professional life is a crucial way for people to improve their wellbeing, and it’s promising to see that six out of 10 professionals rate their work-life balance positively – the highest in 10 years. 

However, there’s certainly room for improvement and employers can do more to support their staff, by not only encouraging this balance but ensuring wellbeing is a priority area within their organisation. 

Acknowledging what matters most to professionals, whether that’s flexible working options or clear boundaries between work and personal hours, as well as implementing these methods where possible, is essential for helping staff to achieve a work-life balance.

If employers have a workforce who feel as though they’ve struck a positive balance between their personal and professional lives, this will have a powerful impact on employee morale and staff wellbeing, as well as improving productivity and talent attraction and retention in the long term.”

About the research: The survey was conducted between the 10th of August – 11th September 2023 and received 14,915 responses from professionals and employers across the UK.  

Contact
 
Chloe May
PR Executive
chloe.may@hays.com

About Hays

Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As at 30 June 2023, the Group employed over 13,000 staff operating from 252 offices in 33 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2023:

• the Group reported net fees of £1,294.6 million and operating profit of £197.0 million;
• the Group placed around 76,800 candidates into permanent jobs and around 245,000 people into temporary roles;
• 15% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 30% in Germany, 21% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 34% in Rest of World (RoW);
• the temporary placement business represented 57% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 43% of net fees;
• Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 26% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (10%), are the next largest
• Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, the UK and the USA