Work-life balance is the pinnacle of corporate wellness; that delicate equilibrium of career, family and individual time. However, not only is work-life balance the ideal you strive for, it’s a must-have employment condition workers are demanding over attractive pay packets. This is according to a survey by recruitment business OneShift, which found that 45% of us rank work-life balance as the number one priority for any job.


 


The results of the study revealed that just 20% of workers see remuneration as the top priority and 26% believe contribution to career development is the crucial factor at work. But surely job stability would win out over the ability to finish the work day at 3pm? Not according to the 1,500 people surveyed; 69% reported that they would trade the security of full-time employment for a job with flexible work hours, and some of the respondents had even resigned from jobs that couldn’t offer flexibility. 7% threw in the towel due to poor work-life balance, while 8% felt forced out because of horrible bosses.


 


OneShift managing director Gen George, 22, commented on why today’s workforce is shunning the traditional nine to five jobs in favour of shift work, job sharing, contract and part-time work. George noted, ‘There is an emerging shift towards prioritising work-life balance. Being able to have the power of choice and have flexibility is so important.’ This shift is the most prominent in the Gen Y demographic, as fewer and fewer of those born after the 1980s stick with the ideal of buying a house and staying there until it’s paid off. George explained, ‘They’re in love with the idea of jumping on a plane to live and work anywhere they like. It’s all about getting out there and seeing new things.’


 


George hatched the idea for OneShift while waiting for a month to start a job working on a boat in the south of France. She had postponed university to live and work in Europe for eight months from June 2012, but became frustrated at the lack of shiftwork sites for casual workers, and so set up a similar site when she returned home. With the new survey results under her belt, George now hopes to further cater for the workforce’s demands for flexible hours, by integrating a 12-month calendar into each job-seeker’s profile so they can block out any days or weeks they may be unavailable.


 


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