Pinoy professionals value work-life balance – study

CEBU, Philippines - Most Filipinos and global professionals prefer to choose a job based on its potential impact on work-life balance, putting more significance on juggling both a successful career and a full life outside work rather than just on money.

This according to the results of Accenture’s latest global research entitled “Defining Success” which also found that more than two-thirds of female professionals and two-thirds of male professionals around the world say they can “have it all.” 

However, it also revealed 50 percent saying they cannot “have it all at the same time.”

Accenture conducts the study each year in celebration of International Women’s Day.

In November 2012, there were 4,100 business executives from medium to large organizations across 33 countries, including the Philippines, which participated in the online survey.

Similar with their global counterparts, 75 percent of the Filipino respondents agreed that they can juggle their career and family life.

Yet, the global study revealed that significantly more Filipinos, about 80 percent, believed one can “have it all, just not at the same time.” 

Moreover, 52 percent of the total respondents admitted they have turned down a job due to concerns about its impact on work-life balance, describing such as the top definition for career success with 56 percent preference.

Money, recognition and autonomy ranked next with 46, 42 and 42 percent respectively.

In the local setting, Filipinos who were surveyed by Accenture echoed the same sentiment. About 63 percent proved the desire for successful career and full life influenced their job choice.

Fifty-six percent of these professionals also defined success by having work-life balance more than money at 46 percent, career advancement at 33 percent, recognition at 31 percent and independence at 25 percent.

Accenture chief leadership officer Adrian Lajtha said professionals will continue to define and redefine what success looks like over the course of their careers.

“For many, career goals and personal priorities will take precedence at different times.  As today’s professionals strive to find the right balance, leading companies will find innovative ways to help them develop, grow and thrive,” she said.

Meanwhile, the research also found that technology plays a role in achieving work-life balance although respondents expressed mixed feelings about its impact on their personal lives.

Seventy-eight percent of the respondents agreed that technology enables them to be more flexible with their work schedules while 80 percent reported such flexibility is extremely important to work-life balance. Yet, 70 percent said technology brings work into their personal lives.

Filipinos themselves, who admitted to check their emails even while on vacation, are guilty of trying to catch up with work-related tasks and act like they are on a regular work with the advent of technology.

“The fact that work-life balance continues to be critically important to employees holds tremendous significance for employers. Companies that can help their employees navigate both their professional and personal lives are likely to see strong employee engagement and enjoy an advantage as they recruit and retain high performers,” Accenture managing director for global inclusion and diversity Nellie Borrero said.

The company’s global research also covered a wide range of work-related topics that help define success in the workplace such as job satisfaction, rewarding workplaces, tenure, pay raises, vacation and work, leaving and job search. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento with PR/JMD