Employees in Hong Kong and Seoul face similar challenges in work-life balance

The latest work-life balance study conducted by leading non-profit organisation, Community Business reveals that employees in Hong Kong and Seoul face similar challenges when it comes to work-life balance. In both cities over three-quarters of employees report that they face some kind of negative impact because of poor work-life balance and approximately three out of ten employees would consider leaving their current job for better work-life balance.

Although employees in both Hong Kong and Seoul work long hours, employees in Seoul work longer hours (Hong Kong: 48.4 hours per week; Seoul: 50.8 hours) and are more concerned about financial wellbeing (Hong Kong: 13.8%; Seoul: 20.8%) and job security (Hong Kong: 8.4%; Seoul: 17.2%) than those in Hong Kong.

The recently launched Standard Chartered State of Work-Life Balance in Seoul Survey 2010—a representative survey of the working population in Seoul uses a methodology that is consistent with that used to produce the annual State of Work-Life Balance in Hong Kong Survey. Allowing direct comparisons between the state of work-life balance in these two key Asian cities to be made. Researchers worked with local research partner, KAIST Business School in Seoul to carry out the research. Random telephone interviews were conducted in February 2010 and 1,000 full time workers were successfully interviewed.

The report highlights ten key findings on the state of work-life balance in Seoul and also provides a comparison between Seoul and Hong Kong. There are some significant differences but also many similarities. Some of these are highlighted below.

Seoul and Hong Kong are comparable in that they are both leading cities in Asia with global credentials. Ensuring access to the most productive and engaged workforce to compete internationally is critical to companies operating in both marketplaces. The findings of this latest survey reveal that both Seoul and Hong Kong face challenges with poor work-life balance, and residents of these two cities should take work-life balance seriously.