Work-life balance

Work–life balance continues to be a significant research topic for Eurofound, in its surveys and other studies, including in the outputs from the European Quality of Life Survey 2016. 

• Publication: European Quality of Life Survey 2016

Survey data on work–life balance issues

Eurofound’s European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS) provide comparisons between countries on the reconciliation of work and family life, flexible working time arrangements and the provision of quality care services. The European Company Surveys (ECS) provide data on why and how companies make use of a broad variety of working time arrangements. The European Working Conditions Surveys (EWCS) look at the organisation of working time across the EU and issues related to it including flexible arrangements, working time preferences and work–life balance.

• Survey: European Quality of Life Surveys
• Survey: European Company Surveys
• Survey: European Working Conditions Surveys

COVID-19 and work–life balance

Eurofound’s unique e-survey, Living, working and COVID-19, provides a snapshot of the impact of the changes that occurred during the pandemic on people’s lives, with the aim of helping policymakers shape the response to the crisis. Conducted in five rounds during 2020, 2021 and 2022, it allows for comparison of the challenges that arose during the different stages of living through the pandemic. A range of questions focus on people’s work situation, their level of teleworking during COVID-19, experiences of working from home and the impact on work–life balance. 

• Publication: Fifth round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey: Living in a new era of uncertainty

The latest findings, published in July 2022 show that despite some improvement in work–life balance issues, there has been a sharp decline in family time among workers in 2022, with almost 30% reporting that their job is preventing them from spending time with their family, from a much lower 19% in 2020. 

Working life and work–life balance

Eurofound's European Observatory of Working Life (EurWORK) provides information on working conditions and sustainable work, and the implications for work–life balance for parents and caregivers, including a database on wages, working time and collective disputes. Eurofound has also estimated the economic and social costs of the gender employment gap and can offer information on the creation of employment in care services.

Eurofound’s annual review of developments in working life in the EU looks at national and EU-level policies to promote work–life balance and investigates the role of collective agreements in this area.

In the context of the negotiations on the work–life balance package at EU level, and at the European Commission’s request, Eurofound has produced a review of national statistics on the uptake of family-related leave by fathers over time across the EU Member States and Norway.

• Observatory: EurWORK