Luxembourg doesn’t get everything right, but at least in terms of work-life balance, it appears to be doing better than most of Europe.
It’s hardly surprising that Remote, a global business HR platform, ranked Luxembourg as Europe’s top destination for employee work-life balance.
While these policies may appear commonplace, it’s crucial to acknowledge their rarity. Benefits like 37 days of annual leave (26 paid vacation days + 11 public holidays) or a minimum wage of €14.86 per hour are exceptional, particularly for those accustomed to working in countries such as the US, India, or China.
To put Europe to the test, countries were analyzed based on healthcare, minimum wage, maternity leave, statutory annual leave, sick pay, overall happiness levels, average working hours, and lgbtq+ inclusivity. From Paris to Poland, Luxembourg scored the highest on all these parameters, with an overall score of 85.3/100.
What troubles the employees at work?
The “Quality of Work Index,” published by the Chamber of Employees indicates that in inability to have flexible work hours and lower salaries are a big concern among employees. Almost a quarter of those who polled for the survey expressed their interest in changing jobs to resolve their current circumstance.
In Luxembourg, the normal working hours are 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, but according to the survey, an ideal working week for a majority of people is 34.4 hours a week. If you’re working more than 8 hours a day, you can recover overtime worked or be paid accordingly.
Where to find work-life balance?
Despite the rankings, if you’re someone who’s struggling to find peace at work, feel like you’re overworked and have not been able to focus on your personal life, here’s what you should know.
Understanding your rights is crucial before tackling any problem, so let’s understand the benefits you have at your disposal.
Various leaves
Annual and maternity leave: Employers in Luxembourg offer annual and maternity leave to their employees, which helps them maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Salaried workers are entitled to a minimum of 26 working days of paid leave annually and 11 public holidays. Maternity leave begins 8 weeks before the expected delivery, extending up to 20 weeks. Paternity leave grants fathers 2 days or more.
Parental leave options are available for both parents and sick leave is included in the calculation of 77 days of continuation of pay. Family hospice leave supports those caring for seriously ill relatives, and bereavement leave is granted for personal reasons.
Employees are encouraged to consult local legal counsel for a comprehensive understanding of Luxembourg’s leave laws.
Career breaks: Luxembourg employers are quite open to offering employees career breaks or sabbaticals to pursue personal interests, study, or train for a new skill.
Examination and study leave: this policy allows employees to take time off from work to prepare for and take exams or pursue further education.
New laws and policies: a new law has been passed in Luxembourg, which creates two new extraordinary leaves and a new right to request a flexible work arrangement for employees, focusing on the work-life balance of parents and caregivers
Flexible working arrangements
Flexitime is a policy that allows employees to adjust their working hours to better balance their personal and professional lives. This can mean starting your day at 7 AM and wrapping up at 4 PM.
Many young parents and cross-border workers opt for this.
This further extends to special consideration for every parent of a child under 9 years old and every caregiver who has been working with an employer for over 6 months.
Under this, employees can request remote working, flexible working hours or a reduction of working time for a determined period that cannot exceed one year.
Wrapping up
In a nutshell, Luxembourg is known for having one of the best work-life balances in Europe. Luxembourg has strict labour laws in place to protect employees, which means most people have a good work-life balance and are paid well.
Every year, new methods of enhancing a work-life balance, such as the creation of virtual teams or working from home keep getting introduced and accepted.
This has resulted in a general moral boost in employees as they have been able to reconcile their work with family life, private life, and work, which is important in enabling women to participate in the labour market. Overall, Luxembourg’s strong economy and high standard of living make it an attractive destination for those seeking a good work-life balance.
