Work-life balance beats salary as top employee demand

Over 6 in 10 workers want jobs with work-life balance.

Between attractive salary and work-life balance, employees will prefer the latter amidst their experience of lock-in syndrome, according to a study from recruitment firm, Randstad. 

Specifically, it showed that 60.4% of employees prefer work-life balance when choosing jobs, about 0.2 percentage points higher than attractive salaries and benefits.

Commenting on this, Benjamin Elms, regional director of Randstad Hong Kong, said employers usually mistake overworking with productivity, leading to adding more work for their workers, which deteriorates stress and physical health.

“Organisations that prioritise their employees’ well-being are very attractive to job seekers who are looking for an escape from burnout or have a strong motivation to have a better work-life balance,” said Elms.

The research, commissioned by Randstad and conducted by marketing company, Kantar TNS, surveyed 163,000 respondents in 31 markets, including 3,027 people in Hong Kong in January 2022.