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The state of work-life balance in Hong Kong

Young employees in Hong Kong say they would quit their job to look for a position with better work-life balance, yet a significant percentage don't seem to know why.

New research suggests the culture long working hours and the need for "face time" - i.e. being in the office later than senior managers as a mark of devotion to the job - is so ingrained in local workers that perhaps the answer to providing balance isn't about changing "how" people work, but "where".

According to Community Business, a not-for-profit which focuses on corporate responsibility, diversity and inclusion, employees surveyed rated their current work-life balance as 6.1 out of 10 - a number which has remained fairly stable in recent years - and 30% admit they would consider leaving their current job to achieve better work-life balance elsewhere.

In fact, 43% of Gen Z and 36% of Gen Y are willing to quit for a better balance, compared to 27% of Gen X and just 18% of Baby Boomers.

However, despite these relatively average ratings of satisfaction, it appears a significant percentage of Hong Kong employees do not recognise the role that work-life balance plays in life’s happiness.

"40% of those surveyed believe that work-life balance is not a factor affecting their happiness at work, while 35% believe that work-life balance is not a factor affecting their happiness outside of work," the report stated.

"The survey findings highlight there is a discrepancy between how employees rate their work-life balance and their understanding of the impact that work-life balance makes on their happiness both inside and outside of the workplace. This is contradictory to international theories and evidence."

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It's clear businesses in Hong Kong need a better understanding of the role work-life balance plays in their ability to attract and retain the best talent, and to create engaged and motivated employees.

"The mismatch between employees' rating of their work-life balance and the impact on their work and personal happiness could be explained by employees not feeling comfortable to speak out and to suggest changes to their workplace cultures, having resigned themselves to accept the status quo of long working hours and a lack of work flexibility," said Fern Ngai, CEO of Community Business.

"We believe the hard work ethic and “face-time” culture is still pervasive in many Hong Kong companies. With the exception of a number of game changers, the vast majority of companies appear unwilling to take the bold steps necessary to adapt to the new way of working and to foster a more trusting culture with flexible working options."

She added the dynamics need to change, especially as the demographics of the working population continue to shift.

"If companies are not thinking strategically about creating a culture that values and supports their employees’ work-life balance, they will risk being uncompetitive in the labour market, and will miss out on the business benefits."

To help this transition, the report suggested employers suggested a stronger focus of "where" one works as well as "how".

The respondents to the survey cited a convenient work location equipped with good leisure facilities and an office that is "surrounded by a diverse variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment" as three top factors important to work happiness.

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