British women work the longest hours in Europe, with one in six Londoners putting in more than 48 hours a week. Apparently we’re prone to Competitive Work Late Syndrome; we’re trapped by the idea that working hard means working long hours. The digital revolution hasn’t helped. It has meant the increasingly blurred lines between the office and our home lives (to the detriment of one of my relationships).
In an attempt to save employees from ‘digital burnout’, president Francois Holland has pushed a labour law through the French Parliament. Under this bill, companies with more than 50 employees must state the hours during which staff must not send or answer work emails – usually evenings and weekends.
With the best work-life balance in the world, Denmark already seems to have the answer. The official working week is 37 hours but a recent OECD study showed that the average Dane works just 33 hours a week. In contrast to us, Danes see working late negatively – as a sign of working inefficiently and lacking time management skills. The results speak for themselves: Denmark has one of the happiest workforces in the world and, as a result, it’s the second most productive country in the EU (while, in contrast, we fall asleep on the job).
So, here are my top tips for getting a better work-life balance:
- Get a life… Beyond work
If you’ve got somewhere better to go, you’ll have a great incentive to use your work time productively so you can leave on time. Or you can always practice the art of doing nothing. It’s also worth noting that when you’re asked to talk about yourself during an interview, employers have seen your CV so they want to know whether you’re a well-rounded person. - Be confident in your abilities
You’ve been hired because you can do the job. Unless you’re a surgeon, lives won’t be at risk if you clock off on time. - Change the company culture
Don’t be afraid to be the first to leave the office. You might find that your colleagues will start to follow your lead…
