Canada takes spot among top countries for work-life balance
Global HR platform Remote released its annual Global Life-Work Balance Index, which uses 10 indicators to highlight countries where workers enjoy the healthiest balance between their personal and professional lives. For most employees, a work-life balance is now a more important motivator than pay.
Remote states that it rejects the term “work-life balance,” rephrasing it as “life-work balance,” as life comes first.
“Across the globe, life-work balance remains fundamental to our physical and emotional well-being,” reads the report. “We should all have the time and freedom to engage meaningfully with our lives outside of work.”
This year, Canada ranked as the seventh-best country for work-life balance. With an overall index score of 73.46, Canada fell two spots this year. In 2024, Canada was the fifth globally with a score of 72.75.
There’s certainly plenty of room for improvement.
While Canada offers only 55 per cent of wages for maternity leave, most countries in the top 10 offer 70 to 100 per cent of wages. Although countries like Norway, Denmark, and Finland don’t have minimum wages, the minimum wage in Canada is the second lowest (C$15.96), just behind Spain (C$11.54).
Among the top ten countries, Canada has the lowest statutory annual leave, with just 17 days. In comparison, workers in Spain (number 9) and Finland (number 10) enjoy 36 days of statutory annual leave.
But seventh is still a good spot to be in, according to the report, as Canada is once again the only country in the Americas to be featured in the top ten.
“In stark contrast to its neighbour to the south (the United States ranked 59th out of the 60 countries reviewed), ‘The Great White North’ scores solidly across many of the metrics we analyzed for our 2025 life-work balance study,” states the report.
Canada retains its spot in the top ten for various reasons. For starters, it’s among the top countries for statutory sick pay. It also ranks highly in terms of public safety and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity. It’s also recognized for its universal healthcare system, something that the U.S. doesn’t have. And on average, Canadians worked 35.2 hours per week.
“Canadian workplaces tend to value punctuality and dependability, but employees typically maintain a healthy separation between work and family life,” reads the report.
New Zealand ranks number one with an index score of 86.87, followed by Ireland with 81.17.
However, a healthy life-work balance may not necessarily extend to newcomers trying to establish careers in their new home.
According to a report by insurance provider Securian Canada, 54 per cent of newcomers cited financial stress as their primary source of stress. However, 33 per cent of newcomers said that work-life balance is their leading cause of stress.
“By promoting life-work balance, we acknowledge that work is a means to support life and not its defining purpose,” said Barbara Matthews, chief people officer at Remote.
Below are the top ten countries with the best life-work balance, according to Remote:
1. New Zealand
Population: 5,251,900
Index score: 86.87
Statutory annual leave (days): 32
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 80 to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 26 weeks and 100 per cent
Minimum wage: C$22.61
Healthcare system: Universal government-funded health system
Happiness index (out of 10): 6.95
Average hours per week: 33
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 75
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking, 1 to 4, lower is better): 1.32
2. Ireland
Population: 5,308,040
Index score: 81.17
Statutory annual leave (days): 30
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 70 to 100 per cent (social security only)
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 26 weeks and 70 per cent
Minimum wage: C$19.23
Healthcare system: Universal government-funded health system
Happiness index: 6.89
Average hours per week: 34.3
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 72
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.12
3. Belgium
Population: 11,758,600
Index score: 75.91
Statutory annual leave (days): 30
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 80 to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 15 weeks and 75 per cent
Minimum wage: C$20
Healthcare system: Public insurance system
Happiness index: 6.91
Average hours per week: 34.1
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 74
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.51
4. Germany
Population: 84,075,100
Index score: 74.65
Statutory annual leave (days): 30
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 80 to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 14 weeks and 100 per cent
Minimum wage: C$20.87
Healthcare system: Public-private social insurance system
Happiness index: 6.75
Average hours per week: 33.2
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 81
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.54
5. Norway
Population: 5,623,070
Index score: 74.2
Statutory annual leave (days): 35
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 80 to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 49 weeks and 100 per cent
Minimum wage: No minimum wage. Pay varies by industry
Healthcare system: Universal government-funded health system
Happiness index: 7.26
Average hours per week: 32.6
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 87
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.64
6. Denmark
Population: 6,002,510
Index score: 73.76
Statutory annual leave (days): 35
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 80 to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 18 weeks and 100 per cent
Minimum wage: No minimum wage. Varies by industry
Healthcare system: Universal government-funded health system
Happiness index: 7.52
Average hours per week: 32.5
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 80
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.38
7. Canada
Population: 40,126,700
Index score: 73.46
Statutory annual leave (days): 17
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 80 to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 18 weeks, 55 per cent
Minimum wage: C$15.96
Healthcare system: Universal government-funded health system
Happiness index: 6.8
Average hours per week: 35.2
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 78
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.45
8. Australia
Population: 26,974,000
Index score: 72.1
Statutory annual leave (days): 30
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 80 to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 12 weeks, national minimum wage
Minimum wage: C$24.92
Healthcare system: Public-private insurance system
Happiness index: 6.97
Average hours per week: 32.29
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 75
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.54
9. Spain
Population: 47,890,000
Index score: 71.94
Statutory annual leave (days): 36
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: Less than 60 per cent of wages
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 16 weeks and 100 per cent
Minimum wage: C$11.54
Healthcare system: Universal government-funded health system
Happiness index: 6.47
Average hours per week: 36.3
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 83
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.6
10. Finland
Population: 5,623,330
Index score: 70.86
Statutory annual leave (days): 36
Minimum statutory sick pay percentage: 8o to 100 per cent
Paid maternity leave weeks and payment rate: 15 weeks and 80 per cent
Minimum wage: No minimum wage. Varies by industry
Healthcare system: Universal government-funded health system
Happiness index: 7.74
Average hours per week: 33.8
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity: 74
Safety (Global Peace Index Ranking): 1.47
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