Workers Value Work-Life Balance More

According to an international survey, work-life balance is more important for employees in the long run than the possibility of career building, Profession.hu has reported to MTI.

As the press release says, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), in a global survey conducted this year with the involvement of Profession.hu, among others, examined the attitudes and preferences of employees regarding job search and employment. 

In the research, based on a survey of 90,000 people – including Hungarians – in 160 countries, one in seven respondents said that their non-financial preferences for long-term employment were work-life balance, the most dominant aspect regardless of region or age group. For 41% of respondents, it was important to advance in their career with the company. And the third most important aspect was that employees should be exposed to interesting products, services, topics and technologies in their workplace.

People prefer fixed jobs to the seemingly more flexible and widespread part-time, part-employment activities. According to the survey, 75% of respondents prefer the traditional status of employee and the five-day working week that goes with it. However, 54% prefer the home office option, i.e. a hybrid working model. 

The survey also showed that, although the main long-term expectation of employees is work-life balance, the pay package (salary and bonuses) becomes the most important factor when considering a specific employment contract.

For 21% of respondents, inadequate pay is a disqualifying factor for a job offer. 19% of respondents would not accept a job offer if there was no work-life balance, and 15% would not accept a job offer if there was no future stability.

They also stressed the importance of a positive employee experience in the recruitment process, which is often the first direct experience of the company and its culture. Two thirds of respondents said that a company can stand out as an employer by having a smooth recruitment process.

The publication quoted Lili Simon-Göröcs, HR Director at Profession.hu, who said that most people still prefer to participate in face-to-face interviews, with digital workers and younger generations surprisingly preferring traditional selection processes.