A job portal conducted a multi-pronged analysis to determine which US states have the best work-life balance
For many workers, the balance between work and personal life is a utopia. But “many” does not mean “all”. There is a workforce in certain US states that enjoys this privilege more, according to a new study.
The term work-life balance is coined by the Remote employment portal, in charge of the analysis, to describe that workers can enjoy both their professional and personal work in the same way, balancing their careers with their free time.
“A healthy work-life balance is about creating a harmonious relationship between our careers and our personal lives so that we can excel at our work without negatively impacting our well-being,” Remote clarifies. “Hybrid or remote work is a great start, but it’s not the only measure of a good work-life balance. To measure balance accurately, a variety of factors need to be taken into account.”
Remote’s index data analysis ranked US states on a work-life balance score out of 100, which considered factors such as minimum wage, sick leave, maternity leave, availability health care, overall happiness, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The 10 US states with the best work-life balance are:
1. Connecticut (66.86 points)
2. Washington (62.79 points)
3. New York (62.75 points)
4. California (61.26 points)
5. Rhode Island (59.52 points)
6. New Jersey (59.22 points)
7. Oregon (58.47 points)
8. Vermont (58.02 points)
9. Maine (55.66 points)
10. Massachusetts (52.99 points)
Among other results from the Remote study, 60% of American workers say that if they struggle to create a boundary between work and family life, their physical and emotional health may suffer as a result.
According to a 2021 American Psychological Association survey of work and well-being, compiled by Remote, nearly a third of American workers, 36%, reported feeling emotional exhaustion that year. Almost half of this study, 44%, also have physical fatigue.
“A healthy work-life balance means you can thrive in your chosen career without negatively impacting other areas of your life. You should be able to comfortably meet deadlines and meet your employer’s expectations without having to put in regular overtime or be ‘on’ all hours of the day,” Remote concludes.