Work Life Balance: A Revolution of the Decade?

Work Life Balance in Italy

In Italy, the pursuit of a satisfactory balance between work and personal life has become a priority for a significant portion of the workforce.

A study by PageGroup, reported by Il Sole 24 Ore, surveyed 70,000 professionals worldwide, including in Italy, and provided an enlightening perspective on this topic. It revealed that 70% of respondents view Work Life Balance as one of the primary indicators of job satisfaction, highlighting that personal and professional well-being are now seen as inseparable.

This growing interest in achieving a better balance reflects a cultural shift towards prioritizing quality of life and mental and physical well-being. Essentially, if you asked a group of people whether they value well-being or career more, over half would likely choose well-being.

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The Rediscovery of Work Life Balance After the Lockdown

In Italy, the focus on Work Life Balance has gained even more importance in the context of a broader reevaluation of the relationship between work and personal time, especially triggered by the rise of hybrid and remote work models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These working arrangements, which were widely adopted, have opened new perspectives on organizing work in a more balanced way. This has encouraged both workers and companies to reconsider their priorities and take seriously the implications of a healthy work-life balance.

According to ANSA, remote workers have increased by a staggering 541% compared to pre-2022 levels!

Work Life Balance: The Short Week

The reduced workweek, commonly known as the “short week,” has emerged as one of the most innovative and widely debated tools for promoting a better balance between personal and professional life, or Work Life Balance.

This model is distinguished by its bold proposal: reducing working hours while keeping salaries unchanged, in order to provide employees with more flexibility and free time, improving their quality of life without compromising productivity and company efficiency.

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Work Life Balance: 100-80-100

One of the most famous and tested approaches to implementing the short week is the 100-80-100 system. This involves receiving 100% of the salary for 80% of the working hours, while maintaining 100% of productivity targets. This system emphasizes the importance of results over working hours, challenging the traditional work paradigm and promoting a company culture that is more results-oriented and focused on employee well-being.

Experiments with this new work organization, conducted in various parts of the world, including Italy, have shown promising results. Companies that adopted the short week reported increased employee satisfaction, reduced stress, and improved mental health. These benefits have had a positive impact on the work environment, contributing to a calmer and more productive workplace.

However, it is important to highlight that the voluntary nature of this choice, both for companies and employees, is a fundamental principle for the success of this initiative.

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Work Life Balance: Criticisms

Some argue that the entire concept of Work Life Balance is flawed for a simple reason: it suggests that life is somehow disconnected from work.

Instead of viewing life and work in such a dichotomous way, some believe it is better to aim to pursue one’s life goals within work, rather than treating them as separate entities.

Overall, the data emphasizes that people report increasing levels of stress over the years, making the pursuit of a Work Life Balance a completely valid and important goal.