Where is the best place in the world to raise a family as a working parent? A global study reveals the nations that are prioritising work-life balance for parents, with Europe leading the way and America at the bottom of the list.
Today, working parents make up over 34% of the workforce, highlighting just how important it is for employers to recognise the rights and needs of parents in the workplace.
But support for working families is not only about implementing fair parental leave policies. Factors such as affordable childcare and access to education are equally important considerations for working parents, and this includes same-sex couples, surrogate parents, and those who choose to adopt.
What is parental life-work balance?
An extension of the general term life-work balance (or ‘work-life balance’ as it’s traditionally written), parental life-work balance specifically addresses the challenges working parents face, stressing the importance of support for working families and allowing them to combine family responsibilities with the demands of a career.
Parental life-work balance goes beyond formal policies such as maternity and paternity leave. Although statutory leave and pay are crucial for working parents, additional factors such as childcare, education, healthcare, and cost of living are equally important for the wellbeing of families in countries all over the world.
Why is parental life-work balance so essential?
For working parents, maintaining a healthy life-work balance means they’re able to excel in their careers without having to sacrifice important family time, and vice versa. Flexibility and support in the workplace enable parents to adjust to the demands of working while raising a child, and also helps them transition back to work after taking parental leave.
Supporting working parents through fair policies has many benefits for employers, too. For instance, parents who feel supported are less likely to experience burnout and will invariably be more productive. Businesses are also more likely to retain employees who have (or are considering having) children and will be able to attract these candidates to open roles.
It’s also important to note that not all families follow a ‘traditional’ structure, which makes fair and inclusive parenting policies even more critical. Regardless of the sexual orientation of parents — or whether their child has joined the family through surrogacy or adoption — employers have a responsibility to provide parental support.
To find out which countries lead the way for parental support in the workplace, global employment specialists Remote created a data study analysing the world’s leading countries for parental life-work balance — and here are the results.
Top 10 leading countries for parental life-work balance
Starting with 20 leading countries based on population and global economic presence, each nation was ranked on a number of factors specific to working parents, including statutory maternity and paternity leave, childcare costs, cost of living, and safety.
1. Norway
Famed for its Viking history and beautiful fjords, Norway has one of the most generous parental leave policies in Europe — making it a great place to raise a family as a working parent. And while the country has a high overall cost of living, Norway spends more than many other nations on family benefits and offers generally affordable childcare.
2. Sweden
The birthplace of ABBA, Norway’s neighbor Sweden has excellent childcare provisions — spending more of its GDP on pre-primary education than many other nations while also having very low childcare costs. The country also has a strong commitment to gender equality, giving both parents equal opportunity to take time off with their children.
3. Denmark
Denmark is considered one of the safest places to raise a family, with high public expenditure on childcare, family benefits, and pre-primary education. The Danes are considered to be among the happiest people in the world, and this is helped by the country’s healthy work culture — as well as being the birthplace of hygge, of course.
4. Spain
Boasting 3,000 hours of average annual sunshine, Spain also has a healthy overall working culture that prioritises wellbeing. The country has the most generous combined statutory maternity and paternity leave policies (offering 12 weeks of paid paternity leave), while a relatively low cost of living makes Spain an affordable place to raise a family.
5. New Zealand
Often voted the world’s most beautiful country, New Zealand is also seen as one of the safest countries to live in, making it ideal for family life. While childcare tends to be quite expensive, New Zealand doeshave one of the highest minimum wages worldwide. New Zealanders also enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement and a high overall happiness score.
6. Poland
With a rich cultural history, Poland is also one of the most affordable places to raise children, with a low cost of living, economical childcare costs, and a high state contribution to family benefits. Parents in Poland may share up to 32 weeks of parental leave, but it’s important to note that the country does not recognise LGBTQ+ couples and therefore same-sex parents are not afforded the same rights.
7. Italy
Families in Italy tend to be very close-knit and there’s a strong emphasis on spending time together. The country also has a surprisingly low cost of living, with childcare costs also below the average of countries studied. Moreover, Italian parents can take advantage of nine months of leave, with three months allocated to each parent and the remaining three shared between them.
8. France
The French lifestyle is all about savoring small moments, but the country is also known for striking a healthy balance between life and work. France boasts the most generous statutory annual leave entitlement of any country on the list, while it also makes the highest financial contribution to family benefits — though this is somewhat offset by a high cost of living and steep childcare costs.
9. Germany
One of Europe’s largest and most populous countries, the German spirit is often associated with precision and pragmatism — but the country still caters reasonably well to working families. In particular, Germany spends a high proportion of its GDP on family-related benefits, while it also has reasonably low childcare costs compared to nations such as France and the United Kingdom.
10. Japan
Japan is often characterised by its hard-working culture, with long working weeks not uncommon. However, while Japan’s holiday and parental leave policies are quite restrictive, the country is considered one of the safest places for families. It also has a relatively low average cost of living, with childcare costs lower than the majority of nations assessed.
The United Kingdom narrowly misses out on the top 10, mainly because the country has some of the highest childcare costs in the world. The United States ranked right at the bottom of the 20-country study, with a lack of statutory leave and a complex healthcare system that can present financial challenges for low-income families.
conclusion
Parental life-work balance is more than a mere box-ticking exercise for businesses. Looking at minimum statutory requirements and expectations in each country provides a fair baseline for parental life-work balance culture, but individual companies have the power to go further — setting a global standard for parental support that benefits all families.
Author: Matt Willis – Senior Copywriter, Seeker
Photo credit: StockCake
