RIYADH — The ability to maintain a decent work-life balance is key to achieving personal happiness and job satisfaction, a recent “Work-life Balance in the MENA” poll conducted by Bayt.com, the region's number one job site, revealed. In fact, 26.9 percent of employees believe that their poor work-life balance has jeopardized both their mental health and happiness, and a staggering 64.8 percent would even accept a pay cut in order to have more free time on their job. “Work can take precedence over people's personal lives and, while some employees are willing to make such sacrifices, others are striving to attain a healthier balance between the realms of work and life,” said Suhail Masri, VP Sales, Bayt.com. “This trend can redefine the employment landscape, prompting employers to search for methods to improve well-being and reduce stress among their staff.” While 43.3 percent of the poll's respondents do not consider that they have built a successful work-life balance, 22.2 percent believe that what is most needed to achieve a better balance is greater productivity at the workplace. “The truth is, long hours do not necessarily lead to an enhanced performance,” added Masri. “Highly efficient work is more valuable and can significantly boost work-life balance as well as stimulate employee engagement. On their part, employers should recognize the strong correlation between healthy work-life balance practices and employee motivation and dedication.” The survey also showed that while 6 out of 10 working adults (64.8 percent) spend enough time on learning pursuits, 36.2 percent are looking for more free time to spend with loved ones. Sacrificing family time has long been regarded as a major pitfall of professional success; after all, according to the study, 27.8 percent of employees work outside of regular hours by necessity, not by choice. Stress management and fitness are integral factors for sustaining wellness and with today's professionals spending an increasing amount of time at the office, these two elements are becoming considerably more difficult to accomplish. The study actually reveals that the majority of employees (57 percent) do not spend a sufficient amount of time on sports and exercise, while 14.5 percent say that an uneven work-life balance is causing them high levels of stress. The most prevalent source of stress among most employees (16.1 percent), however, remains a low income. In terms of actual job satisfaction, results demonstrate that while 49.1 percent of poll respondents enjoy their work on most days, 15.4 percent categorically dislike their line of profession. On a positive note, 89.3 percent of the respondents believe that balancing between work and life is absolutely possible. As for solutions to their current unbalanced lifestyle, 40.9 percent of professionals said working the same number of hours with a higher salary would resolve their employment issues, whereas 22.8 percent would opt for a flexitime arrangement with similar hours, and 10.4 percent would prefer a work-from-home arrangement. The study also revealed that an inadequate lifestyle not only affects personal well-being, but also other aspects of employees' lives: for 15.6 percent of respondents, it hinders professional and personal growth, and for 7.8 percent, it deters performance on the job. Other areas touched by this matter include relationships with family (8.7 percent), physical health (7.3 percent), and relationships with colleagues at work (5.6 percent). – SG
