Would you give up a promotion for work-life balance?

Although many would agree it is getting more difficult to separate professional and personal lives, more than half (52%) of global senior executives say they are satisfied with their work-life balance.

In fact, 31% said they would give up a promotion if it meant being able to keep the work-life balance they currently experience, and 49% said they would consider passing on the promotion.

The 2014 BlueSteps Work-Life Balance survey found that this is despite global executives working an average of 58.5 hours a week, with 39% clocking in more than 60 hours.

However, only 37% of respondents said they would take a pay cut to preserve their work-life balance.

"Senior executives are clearly working out how to balance the extreme demands that globalisation and 24/7 accessibility can make upon them," Peter Felix, president of the Association of Executive Search Consultants and BlueSteps, said.

He added technology has driven a lot of that change and "provided a form of liberation from the traditional work place environments and the constraints on personal freedom that they can create".

Read more: Local bosses “generally supportive” of work-life balance

The survey also identified the most valuable employer benefits, with a flexible working schedule coming out on top. This was followed by telecommuting, maternity and paternity leave, compensatory time and a fitness programme.

The increased levels of globalisation have also resulted in 64% senior executives experiencing a decrease in their leisure or personal time, with 97% admitting they are either always available or are sometimes available during vacation.

"Executives are now working during vacation and believe they have less personal time than they did pre-globalisation and before mobile devices, yet the majority are satisfied with their work-life balance, now often accepted as work-life integration," the report said.

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