Main image via Asia School of Business + BusinessCollective
Kuala Lumpur. A city of dreams, traffic, people and food 24/7. And now officially, the fourth most overworked city in the world.
A recent study was carried out that surveyed 40 cities to examine which cities around the world promoted the most holistic work-life balance. KL came in at #40.
Released by US-based mobile access technology company, Kisi, the study compared data from 40 cities on work intensity, institutional support, legislation, and livability. The cities were ranked based on their success in promoting work-life balance for their citizens.
Helsinki, Munich and Oslo topped the list as cities that promote the most well-rounded work-life balance.
Image via The Star
While exploring the work-life balance of these different cities, the study also examined the most overworked cities. This study found that Tokyo, Singapore and Washington DC came in respectively at number one, two and three, while KL came in at number four.
Image via Kisi
KL was also recorded as having the second highest number of people who work 48 hours or more per week.
Bernhard Mehl, the CEO of Kisi, noted that “Despite living in an era where unprecedented advancements have been made in technology and connectivity, we have failed to address the most everyday aspect of enhancing our everyday lives – finding the balance between work and leisure.”
According to a study done by researchers at Harvard and Stanford, workplace stress contributes to at least 120,000 deaths a year and costs up to an estimated US$190 billion (RM795 billion) in the U.S.
“Altogether, this proves that we need to prioritise our understanding of the role of workplace intensity in healthcare and well-being,” Bernhard added. “When you see these figures, it makes so much sense not just for individuals but also for the companies that employ them to ensure that their employees’ needs are met. The end result is not just a happier, healthier workforce, but in the long-term, a more economically viable one.”
Image via Kisi
When it comes to the number of vacation days taken by employees, Malaysia once again makes its mark as the third city that takes the least number of vacation days with an average of 12.3 days a year taken by an individual.
“Whether it’s the long hours, unrealistic expectations from bosses or job insecurity, workplace stress has proven to affect our physical and mental health,” Bernhard noted. “Policymakers should be tackling these issues in tandem. As long as employees are stressed, they will not take advantage of the safeguards created for their well-being – no matter how progressive government and company reforms are.”
Image via Kisi
It’s important to note that this index was not designed by Kisi to be a city livability index, nor is it intended to highlight the best cities to work in. The index was designed to be “a guideline for cities to benchmark their ability to support the fulfillment of residents’ lives by improving the aspects of life which help relieve work-related stress and intensity.”
If you’re interested to know more about this study, you can check it our HERE.
via GIPHY
What do you think about the findings of the study? Is it accurate or exaggerated? Let us know in the comments!
Info via Star2 + Kisi