a flexible attitude towards work-life balance is mutually beneficial to employers and employees.

• 56% say that their employer expects them to be available outside of their regular working hours.
• 43% choose to handle work-related matters during their holidays because they like to stay involved/updated. 
• 67% sometimes handle private matters during working hours.

According to the latest Randstad Workmonitor, it seems that people allow their work to intertwine with their personal life as 59% claim that they respond immediately to work-related calls, emails and text messages, outside of their regular working hours. In India people are the most swift in responding (92%), whereas in The Netherlands they are reported to be the slowest in reacting immediately (38%). Having said this, when asked if they would respond at a convenient time, the percentage for the Dutch significantly increases to 64%. The Chinese rank at the top with 89% and the global average for this statement is 65%.

The above may not appear to be totally voluntary, as 56% say that their employer expects them to be available outside of their regular working hours. This is most often the case in China (89%) and the least in Japan (37%) followed by Denmark and Sweden (39%). Interestingly, 48% of the French respondents stated this, despite the French law ‘the right to disconnect’ that came into effect in January 2017.

employees are committed, but feel pressured

Apparently, people are committed to what they do, as 43% choose to handle work-related matters during their holidays, because they like to stay involved/updated. People in India seem to be the most involved (84%) and in Austria the least (24%). Ironically, people in India (75%) also feel the most pressured to respond to work-related calls, emails and text messages, when they are on holiday which is strikingly higher than the global average of 35%. People in the Czech Republic feel the least pressured (17%) which corresponds with the fact that they can easily let go of work when they are on holiday (87%). Respondents from Turkey have the most difficulty in letting go (51%) and globally 72% state that they are able to let go of their work easily.

Another finding to support the interconnection between an employees’ work-life balance is that when one has to work during private time, it has become commonly accepted to handle private matters during working hours. Globally, 67% say they sometimes do so. The number of respondents from Hong Kong SAR stating this is the highest (87%) and the lowest from respondents in Italy (54%).

economic and financial outlook

The expectations for 2020 are positive as 70% of the global respondents expect their employer to perform better than in 2019. Employees in India are the most positive (93%) and in Japan the least positive (46%). In regard to the economic situation in their country or market, again people from India and China expect this to improve next year (89%) whereas people from Japan have the least faith that this is going to happen (26%). 

When looking at a personal level, 56% expect to receive a financial reward/bonus at the end of the fiscal year and 61% expect to get a pay rise. In accordance with the economic expectations, these beliefs are the highest in India (91% and 94% respectively) and the lowest in Japan (23% and 30% respectively).

quarterly recurring observations

mobility index flat at 114

The number of employees worldwide that expect to work for a different employer in the coming six months was trending upward in the third quarter and has now stabilized, keeping the overall Mobility Index on 114. Mobility increased the most in New Zealand (+8), Germany, Switzerland (+5), Mexico, Luxembourg, Hungary (all +4). Mobility decreased most in China (-6), Norway (-5), and in Sweden and Italy (-4). There’s no shift in mobility in Chile, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia and Spain.

actual job change again highest in India and lowest in Luxembourg

Actual  job change shows an upward trend since the first quarter of 2018 and increased in Germany, Hungary, India and New Zealand compared to last quarter. In Chile, China, Greece and Poland the job change decreased. Job change in India was 51% and in Luxembourg 12%.

appetite to change jobs highest in India, lowest in Turkey

The job change appetite – the desire to change jobs – increased in Belgium, India, Luxembourg, Mexico and Spain compared to last quarter. In Canada, China and Sweden, the job change appetite decreased. In India it is the highest (60%) and in Turkey the lowest (18%).

job satisfaction - like previous quarters - highest in India, lowest in Japan

Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction increased in Hungary and India and decreased in Brazil, Denmark, Malaysia, New Zealand, Romania and Switzerland. In India, job satisfaction rose to 89% and in Japan it remained stable at 42%. 

Country data are available in the global report:

about the randstad workmonitor

The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in 2003, and now covers 34 markets around the world. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility visible over time. The Workmonitor’s Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next 6 months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market. Besides mobility, the survey addresses employee satisfaction and personal motivation as well as a rotating set of themed questions.

The study is conducted online among employees aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimum sample size is 400 interviews per country. The Dynata panel is used for sampling purposes. The fourth survey of 2019 was conducted from 22 October until 6 November  2019.