An escalating work-life balance dilemma in the UK and US is having significant implications for employee wellbeing, productivity and economic growth.

Despite technological advancements and evolving work practices, many employees are struggling to effectively manage their professional and personal lives.

Decades ago, people went to work from 9 to 5 and then came home to deal with their personal chores and recreation activity. Now, the workday is less defined, with technological advancements and working from home leading to longer days of blended work and personal activities.

“On the face of it, longer days shouldn’t be a problem, but research tells us that there is a growing dilemma in achieving good work-life balance and it’s significantly impacting productivity and health. Employees and employers simply don’t know how to solve the issue,” says Joseph Blass, CEO, Hylark.

The scale of the problem

• 88% of UK employees have experienced burnout in the last two years.

• 66% of Americans don’t have work-life balance.

• The US ranks 29th out of 41 countries for work-life balance, with a score of 5.2 out of 10.

• UK employees work the longest hours in Europe, with an average of 42 hours per week.

• Only 61% of UK workers feel they have the right work-life balance, down from 70% in 2022.

The concern with work-life balance is not just a personal one but also macro-economic. The financial implications are staggering—poor mental wellbeing costs UK employers an estimated £42-£45 billion annually [Mental Health Foundation], with 17.1 million working days lost in 2022/23 due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.

In the US, a survey by Ford found that 51% of workers would take a 20% pay cut to achieve a lifestyle that prioritises their quality of life.

How can technology help ease the problem 

Technological solutions aim to address these challenges by helping individuals to automate tasks, improve scheduling, and management of their day-to-day actions all in one place. Gone are the days of needing multiple platforms and apps to manage work actions and personal activities.

“Having one platform where all work and personal activities can be securely managed means employees can easily switch between their work and personal tasks without one disrupting the other, thereby finding the balance even when sitting at your work desk,” says Blass.

“While addressing the work-life balance question will involve employers, employees, and policymakers, technology can help in providing employees with a safe environment to take short breaks from work and deal with their personal matters. If an employee has 10 minutes between two work calls, they can update their holiday itinerary, or renew their vehicle tax, and then seamlessly go back to work.”