Statistics show that as many as 43% of workers in 100 countries around the world have experienced so-called "burnout" at work. Among the reasons: nearly half of the respondents found it impossible to get away from their work even when on vacation. The figures are more than worrying, and the solutions to the problem are often extreme, involving leaving the job, poor mental and physical health, and conditions such as anxiety and depression. But can we improve the way we feel and work by moving to another country? Today we'll tell you more about the best cities in Europe for work-life balance, hopefully inspiring you to rethink your working habits and consider a future relocation.
How to choose the best cities in Europe for work-life balance?
Rankings of the leaders among European cities for work-life balance are based on a variety of economic, social and health factors. Each index has a different system of criteria, but among the strongest are:
Criteria related to the working climate in a country:
- Length of the working week
- Length of annual leave
- Length of parental leave
- Working more than two jobs
- Size of salaries
- State and employer support
- Opportunity to work remotely
Social and economic factors:
- Policies to support workers
- Happiness index
- Gender equality
- Community belonging
- Security
- Inflation
- Affordability of life
Health factors:
- Quality of healthcare
- Access to mental health care
- Physical health (tied to subfactors such as green space and air quality)
Which are the best cities for work-life balance in Northern Europe?
Oslo, Norway
Known for its high standard of living, Oslo offers a number of benefits to its residents. From free health care to quality amenities and prestigious education, the city is among those destinations you'd love whether you're moving solo or with your family. Defined as the heart of Norway, Oslo offers a unique mix of modern urban environment and beautiful nature—a combination of vast woodlands, beautiful fjords, and the islands in Oslofjord Bay.
When it comes to leisure activities, there's no denying the Norwegian capital's signature ski culture. Oslo's Winter Park has as many as 18 slopes for lovers of sports such as skiing and snowboarding. This type of physical activity, combined with the chance to spend long hours walking in nature (often shared with the family), would certainly reduce the stress caused by approaching deadlines and accumulated work tasks.
Oslo ranks a prestigious fourth in the Work-Life Balance Index of the global HR platform Remote, calculated according to criteria such as health care, minimum wage, maternity leave opportunity, annual leave, sick leave, number of working hours, and happiness level.
The Norwegian capital was a leader in KISI's 2022 ranking, taking into account factors divided into three main groups: work intensity, society and institutions, and quality of life in the city.
Helsinki, Finland
Among the best cities in Europe for work-life balance is the capital of Finland. And that's not surprising given that, for seven years in a row, it's been the happiest country according to the World Happiness Index. Finland's leading position in the happiness category is due to factors such as social support, life expectancy, freedom and lack of corruption.
Finns themselves are considered to be deeply connected, friendly and always willing to help others. As for life in Helsinki, the city is considered extremely safe by its residents. Thanks to its well-developed public transport, residents can easily get to Nuuksio National Park, or to the nearby islands, where they can spend their weekends and spend time with friends and family. Another traditional Finnish pastime is visiting a sauna—an excellent way to reduce stress and mental strain, slow down and enjoy a chat with a friend.
In addition, various exhibitions, concerts, festivals and sporting events are organised in the city. Typical of Finns is that they insist on privacy and are unlikely to invade yours if you decide to spend time alone outside.
Companies in Finland offer opportunities for flexitime, working from home (more than half of the country's jobs allow remote or hybrid working) and up to 5 weeks of annual leave. The country is known for its uptake of social policies entitling to fair paid maternity leave—up to 320 days per year.
According to the work-life balance index of Kisi for 2022, only 12.7% of Helsinki's population feels overworked. The percentage of people working in multiple jobs is low at 6.3%. It is also important to highlight the gulf in the direction of improving mental health services: the overall score on the 'access to mental healthcare' indicator for 2022 is 73 out of 100. The 'health care' indicator, in turn, scored 96.7.
Stockholm, Sweden
In Sweden, achieving work-life balance is linked to ensuring gender equality and balancing the number of people employed by both sexes in the country's economy. Interestingly, in 1974, Sweden became the first country to introduce the right to leave for both parents, and not just for the mother as had traditionally been the case. The ability of the country's women to develop in parallel, in both the personal and working spheres, is helped by affordable childcare followed by compulsory education. Children usually start nursery school at the age of one.
Accessibility to life, high levels of happiness and safety are also among the factors minimising the tensions generated in the workplace. In fact, Swedes love sports. Half of the country's population belong to a sports club, which undoubtedly contributes to feeling good, both physically and mentally, and to being more productive.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Among the conditions contributing to a satisfactory work-life balance in Copenhagen are flexible working hours, a minimum of 5 weeks paid annual leave, a low unemployment rate and the right to up to 52 weeks of parental leave, which can be shared between both parents.
KISI's ranking places the Danish capital in fifth position, scoring highly on the country's health care, opportunity for inclusion and tolerance, urban safety and air quality. The working week is 37 hours long, with offices already empty at 5 pm. Traditionally, workers leave the office at four, devoting themselves to their families. The short working week benefits the career development of women who manage to successfully combine their personal and professional commitments. Statistics show that in Denmark, full-time workers devote nearly 66% of their day to leisure and recreational activities. Danes' well-being is supported by a variety of volunteer activities, sports clubs and places to meet friends.
Which are the best cities for work-life balance in Central Europe?
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich ranks among the best cities in Europe for work-life balance in Central Europe. The city performs well on indicators such as happiness and gender equality. Despite being notoriously punctual, the Swiss set clear boundaries between the time they work and the time they rest, rarely skipping their mandatory work breaks. Weekends and free time are mostly spent in the Alps with their families.
The reduced work stress in the country is also linked to the requirement of a minimum of at least four weeks of paid annual leave and the variety of childcare services (public and private childcare institutions are available from the end of maternity leave until the child reaches the age of six). Parents in all 26 cantons of the country receive benefits from their employers. In addition, a large proportion of workers (including those without families) can afford flexibility in the allocation of their working hours.
Vienna, Austria
Plenty of green space and free education are just some of the positives of living in Vienna. Family plays a leading role in Austrians' perception of success—a fact that ranks Vienna among the best cities in Europe for work-life balance. They pay special attention to time spent with relatives, at the expense of tiring work commitments and over-ambitious work. Moments with the family can be real fun, including a visit to a rope park or a cooling weekend at one of Vienna's outdoor pools.
The key thing about work culture is that Austrians genuinely prioritise work-life balance. The proof? The length of the working week is 35 hours, and additional working hours are limited to 20 hours per week. In support of the drive for work-life balance, many companies in the Austrian capital offer flexible working positions and organise various events to benefit the well-being of their employees, such as team building events and different types of training.
In terms of access to mental health care, it scores 77.3 (out of 100)—a satisfactory score for the city where one of the most famous psychologists, Freud, began his practice. Considering factors such as happiness, gender inequality, average workweek length, and annual leave duration, Forbes' 2023 World Work-Life Balance Index ranks Vienna eighth.
We've successfully uncovered which European cities are doing the best job of balancing the work-life scales. And if you find the scales tipping in favour of your decision to plan a move to one of the cities listed, it's good to know there's someone you can count on. Movega Removals is a reputable company offering transport services throughout Europe. We rely on a personal approach to everyone, so don't hesitate to direct your questions to us online via our contact form or the chatbot feature available on our website.
