"Does High Salary Mitigate the Negative Impact of Long Working Hours on Work-Life Balance?"

Abstract

Work and life conflict has become a major problem in modern businesses, especially in high-salary occupations where people work hours at a time. In our study, we find that if the employees are paid more, they feel less depressed about their work/life balance because they’ve worked so long. Even in the midst of an increasingly competitive labour market, those working in finance, consulting, law or tech sometimes have to compromise between a good-paying job and family. This research explores whether the financial gain of working long hours is more valuable than individual costs to mental health, family and wellbeing.

So, we surveyed 200 employees with high salaries who work long hours to find out what salary, working hours and work-life balance are related to. Researchers employ descriptive and inferential statistics as well as techniques such as regression to study how salary influences the work-life balance during the high hours.

The results are clear: a good salary ensures employment, but it doesn’t erase the negative effect of long hours on workers’ private lives. Organizing help, work flexibility and having the flexibility to detach from work are other important components of a good work-life balance.

This paper ends by suggesting ways for organizations and workers to improve the work-life balance and says that salary will not help alleviate the effects of long hours.