The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: On The Edge
Posts: 51
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
No, that would be because, much like Canada, the banks didn't go down the toilet during the GFC and there is lots of stuff in the ground to dig up and sell to others.
#33
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
The details of the OECD report are here:
http://oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/australia/
Australia seems to do very well on most measures, except "work life balance". This seems to be due to a relatively high proportion of workers working very long hours, although the average hours worked is close to average, and lack of child care.
With my employer I can take all my annual leave at half pay. In other words, I can take 8 weeks a year and the reduction in my income is relatively modest. This year I'm taking all my leave at half pay. Previously, I used to be a contractor and I made sure to take at least 5 or 6 weeks leave.
My point is that many people have the option to take extra leave, but choose to have a higher income instead.
http://oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/australia/
Australia seems to do very well on most measures, except "work life balance". This seems to be due to a relatively high proportion of workers working very long hours, although the average hours worked is close to average, and lack of child care.
With my employer I can take all my annual leave at half pay. In other words, I can take 8 weeks a year and the reduction in my income is relatively modest. This year I'm taking all my leave at half pay. Previously, I used to be a contractor and I made sure to take at least 5 or 6 weeks leave.
My point is that many people have the option to take extra leave, but choose to have a higher income instead.
#34
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
The details of the OECD report are here:
http://oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/australia/
Australia seems to do very well on most measures, except "work life balance". This seems to be due to a relatively high proportion of workers working very long hours, although the average hours worked is close to average, and lack of child care.
With my employer I can take all my annual leave at half pay. In other words, I can take 8 weeks a year and the reduction in my income is relatively modest. This year I'm taking all my leave at half pay. Previously, I used to be a contractor and I made sure to take at least 5 or 6 weeks leave.
My point is that many people have the option to take extra leave, but choose to have a higher income instead.
http://oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/australia/
Australia seems to do very well on most measures, except "work life balance". This seems to be due to a relatively high proportion of workers working very long hours, although the average hours worked is close to average, and lack of child care.
With my employer I can take all my annual leave at half pay. In other words, I can take 8 weeks a year and the reduction in my income is relatively modest. This year I'm taking all my leave at half pay. Previously, I used to be a contractor and I made sure to take at least 5 or 6 weeks leave.
My point is that many people have the option to take extra leave, but choose to have a higher income instead.
#35
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Auckland - New Zealand
Posts: 67
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
NOte; I am not an employer just an average Melbourneian blue collar
#36
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
#37
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Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
So we seem to do very well on most measures except what is probably the most important to most working people ? Surely for most families a good work/life balance is paramount ?
#38
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
Well as an Asian country how could Australia achieve WLB?
#40
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
The Work/Life balance metric seems to be particularly subjective. Not everyone is working long hours because they have to. Perhaps some of them are making the most of a booming economy which provides lots of work and high wages? I'm sure a lot of people in Greece would like to work more...
#41
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Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
Well of course some in the booming mining sector could be working long hours but that is hardly the majority of the workforce, indeed it is a very small part of it. The other sectors that aren't booming such as tourism, manufacturing, retail etc make up the majority of the economy are struggling.
The Work/Life balance metric seems to be particularly subjective. Not everyone is working long hours because they have to. Perhaps some of them are making the most of a booming economy which provides lots of work and high wages? I'm sure a lot of people in Greece would like to work more...
#42
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
Well of course some in the booming mining sector could be working long hours but that is hardly the majority of the workforce, indeed it is a very small part of it. The other sectors that aren't booming such as tourism, manufacturing, retail etc make up the majority of the economy are struggling.
#44
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
Yes they can no longer afford more expensive cars or bigger LCD TVs or latest iPhone models and can no longer afford a round da world travel.
#45
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: The 23 best countries for work-life balance... Really?
I'm sure there are some that fit that bill that consider themselves hard done by, I was actually referring to those who can't afford good food or to pay the bills or the mortgage.