'Work-life balance is king': Is flexibility underrated in the C-suite?

New report says work-life balance is the most valuable benefit in remote work

'Work-life balance is king': Is flexibility underrated in the C-suite?

Better work-life balance emerged as the top pick for employees when they were asked to choose between this and better pay, according to the latest Career Pulse Survey from FlexJobs, as the benefit proves itself as the "king" among all advantages of working remotely.

The report, which surveyed over 4,000 professionals, found that if given the choice, 63% of employees would choose better work-life balance over better pay, with only 31% saying otherwise.

Among the 64%, 44% of them said it was a definite choice, while 19% said they would "probably" choose this over better pay. On the other hand, 15% were sure on choosing better pay while 16% said they would "probably" pick this option over better work-life balance.

"Healthy work-life balance can be instrumental to the success and longevity of an organisation, and as reaffirmed in our latest report, a top priority for today's workers and job seekers," said Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs, in a statement.

When asked what would improve work-life balance, 87% of employees said that having a remote or hybrid job would do the trick.

Read more: Work-life balance at risk: One in five workers did not take annual leave in 2021

It comes amid growing preference on alternative work arrangements over full-time office schedules, with only three per cent of the respondents choosing to work at the office.

According to the report, 65% of professionals said their ideal work arrangement was 100% remote work, while only 32% want a hybrid work arrangement. And if not given the option to work remotely, 57% said they would look for a new job.

"From time and financial savings to increased productivity, remote work provides many valuable benefits for employees - but work-life balance is king," said Sutton.

Other benefits

In addition to work-life balance, the report discovered other benefits of remote and hybrid work:

  • Cost savings. According to 45% of the respondents, they save at least $5,000 a year by working remotely, while 29% said they save at least $2,600 annually.
  • Happiness. Some 84% said having remote or hybrid work arrangements make them a happier person.
  • Mental health. Some 77% believe that hybrid or remote work would help them manage their mental health issues.

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