Work In Progress: Welsh Rank Work-Life Balance More Positively Due To Pandemic
New research reveals the work-life balance of Welsh residents has risen during the pandemic to hit an average rating of 6.7 out of 10. The average work-life balance rating in Wales before the pandemic stood at 6.6 out of 10, dropping to 6.1 mid-pandemic.
The work-life balance of Brits has risen during the pandemic to hit an average rating of 7.2 out of 10.
MoneySuperMarket spoke to over 2,000 households across the country to find out how the pandemic impacted their work-life balance.1 On a scale of one to 10, with zero being low and 10 being high, the results showed that the average rating for work-life balance improved by 0.4 when compared to before the pandemic.
Experiences of work-life balance throughout the pandemic varied based on gender. Overall, nearly one quarter (23%) of Brits agreed that their work-life balance has improved because they spend less time commuting. However, men are more likely to feel this way than women, with 30% of men agreeing in comparison to only 17% of women. This has resulted in men having a higher work-life balance rating than women at 7.3 compared to 7.0 respectively.
Average work-life balance of Brits:
| Time frame | Average work-life balance rating | Average work-life balance for men | Average work-life balance for women |
| Before pandemic | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.8 |
| During pandemic | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.7 |
| Now | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.1 |
Looking across the UK, Plymouth, Bristol, and Sheffield report the highest work-life balance scores at 7.5 out of 10, with Plymouth showing the biggest difference from before the pandemic to now – rising 0.8 points.
At the other end of the scale, Belfast, Glasgow, and Leicester all score only 6.8 out of 10 for their work-life balance scoring. Moving up only 0.1 places, residents in Glasgow and Leicester are least likely to be happy with their work-life balance.
Average work-life balance of cities across the UK and the impact of the pandemic:
| Cities | Average work-life balance rating before the pandemic | Average work-life balance rating during the pandemic | Average work-life balance rating now | Difference from before the pandemic to now |
| Plymouth | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 0.8 |
| Bristol | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 0.5 |
| Sheffield | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 0.3 |
| Manchester | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 0.2 |
| Newcastle | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 0.5 |
| Birmingham | 6.9 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 0.3 |
| London | 6.9 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 0.3 |
| Edinburgh | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 0.2 |
| Oxford | 6.2 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 0.9 |
| Norwich | 6.6 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 0.5 |
| Liverpool | 6.7 | 6.6 | 7.1 | 0.4 |
| Leeds | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 0.3 |
| Southampton | 6.7 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 0.3 |
| Brighton and Hove | 6.4 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 0.5 |
| Cardiff | 6.5 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 0.4 |
| Belfast | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 0.2 |
| Glasgow | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 0.1 |
| Leicester | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 0.1 |
Neal Cross, life insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, commented: “There has been ongoing debate around the pros and cons of working from home during the pandemic. On one hand, with no commute, there has been increased family time or time to enjoy hobbies, but equally employees may feel pressure to work additional hours while at home. There are also some who have lost their jobs or been unable to work, and for who any extra time at home may be less welcome. Overall, however, the story is more positive, with nearly a quarter (23%) of people stating that their work-life balance has improved.
“The pandemic has caused Brits to increase their work-life balance score by 0.4 points to give a total average score of 7.2 out of 10. Although this is a step in the right direction, many have experienced first-hand the impact of the pandemic, whether it has been causing an improvement or decline in their work-life balance, created a change in family dynamic, or even resulted in the loss a salary. As we adjust to these changes it’s important to make sure we have our priorities front of mind.
“One of those priorities is ensuring that you’re thinking forward and ensuring your loved ones are covered financially whatever the situation. Considering life insurance options is a vital part of this, and it’s always worth shopping around to ensure you get the best deal on your policy. Comparison sites, like MoneySuperMarket, have a range of options from different providers to purchase, offering immediate cover at varying levels and prices to suit your budget and needs.”
You can find out whether you need life insurance via the MoneySuperMarket website.