Work-life balance is no longer just a matter for younger generations: research shows that most employees would rather have more free time. What price would they pay for it?

According to the survey, more than half of employees in Germany want to work less – and around a third are willing to buy their freedom to do so. For more vacation days, 34 percent of respondents would even be willing to receive less money, according to a study commissioned by the career network Xing.

Heavy workload and bad mood

Many employees feel the consequences of unfilled positions in their company: more than 40 percent of respondents stated that their company has difficulties finding suitable staff, while 30 percent speak of an increased workload and a poor atmosphere in the workplace, reports the German Press Agency (dpa).

However, six out of ten respondents rejected the idea of working more to solve these problems. While 63 percent of the older generations of “Baby Boomers” and “Gen. However, with the right financial incentives, several respondents could imagine additional hours: bonus payments, higher pay, or additional vacation days would be appropriate.

“These results show us that employees in Germany are less willing than ever to subordinate their private lives to work unless the conditions are appropriate,” says Xing director Thomas Kindler.

The average weekly working time in Germany in 2023 was 34.4 hours, which is below the European average of 36.9 hours. Despite this, 49 percent across generations want to reduce their working hours – “Gen Z” is at the top with 53 percent, followed closely by half of “Millennials” and 48 percent of “Generation X.” Of the “baby boomer” generation approaching retirement, only 37 percent said they would reduce their working hours. Only nine percent of respondents would like to work more.

Men enjoy work-life balance more than women

Approximately half of employees stated that they are satisfied or even very satisfied with their own work-life balance. Women, at 49 percent, are less satisfied with the relationship between work and private life than men (55 percent).

According to the information, 3,500 employees aged 18 to 65 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were surveyed at the beginning of July in a representative online survey by the market research institute Appinio.

Source: fenix-magazin.de