Working Hours Not Key To Expats’ Improved Work-Life Balance

expat network

Working Hours Not Key To Expats’ Improved Work-Life Balance

New research by Axa – Global Healthcare suggests that for many expats other factors, including the way in which they spend their downtime has more impact on their work-life balance than the prospect of working shorter hours.

New research by AXA – Global Healthcare reveals that nearly half (46%) of expats feel their work-life balance is better than in their home country, despite only a fifth (22%) of those claiming to work shorter hours since moving abroad.

Indeed, despite a third (34%) of all expats surveyed working between 40 and 45 hours per week and nearly a quarter (22%) claiming to work in excess of 46 hours per week, a fifth (21%) would say that they actually moved abroad specifically for a better work-life balance.

It would appear, therefore, that shorter working hours are not crucial to an expats’ improved work-life balance. Instead, a range of alternative reasons were cited, with the most common including having better leisure opportunities (35%), more disposable income (32%) and an easier commute (31%). A third (32%) also said that they are able to spend more time with their family.

Respondents in the UAE were among the most likely to say that their work-life balance is better than that in their home country (61%). This put them ahead of those in France (52%), the UK (46%) and Canada (44%) by some margin.

However, the number of hours worked varied by region. Four-fifths (79%) of expats in the UAE, for example, reported working in excess of 40 hours per week. This was in comparison with two-thirds of those in the UK (64%) and Canada (66%), and just two-fifths of those (43%) in France.

Tom Wilkinson, CEO, AXA – Global Healthcare commented: “A clearly defined work-life balance is pivotal to the health and happiness of all workers, and expats are no different. An international assignment can be an intense experience, so it’s important for employers to make sure they give access to appropriate support services throughout a secondment abroad.”

“A healthy work-life balance doesn’t lie solely in the number of hours worked though, and it’s encouraging to see that for many, the expat lifestyle is paying off. Whether it be simply spending more time with family or even exploring new surroundings, being able to enjoy and make the most of some well-earned downtime is essential.”

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.