11-06-2025
Posthaste: Canada's work-life balance standing slips globally
Canada has slipped in a worldwide ranking of work-life balance, but still remains well ahead of its southern neighbour.
The country ranks seventh on Remote Technology Inc.'s Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025, falling from fifth last year, but is still the only country in the Americas to crack the top 10.
Canada's score increased compared to last year, meaning its drop in the rankings is a result of other countries improving.
The country scored highly for its statutory sick pay, universal health care and support for LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
'Canadian workplaces tend to value punctuality and dependability, but employees typically maintain a healthy separation between work and family life,' the report said.
New Zealand landed in the top spot for the third year in a row, with an index score of 86.87, in part due to a strong minimum wage, happy workers and statutory sick pay.
'Why is New Zealand so life-work-balance-friendly? Well, it helps to be surrounded by such diverse, breathtaking scenery, but while the country doesn't rank at No. 1 for every factor we assessed, it scores consistently well across the study,' the report said.
New Zealand and Ireland (81.17) are the only two countries to score above 80 on the ranking; Belgium (75.91), Germany (74.65) and Norway (74.2) rounded out the top five, while Canada's score was 73.46.
At the other end of the spectrum, the United States (31.17) ranked 59th of the 60 countries in the report, above only Nigeria (26.67).
Still, the report said the U.S.'s low rank can provide opportunity for employers looking to attract talent.
'Statutory provisions for annual leave, sick leave, social security and health care are comparatively low in the U.S.,' the report said. 'That means employers who can provide these benefits as part of an employee-focused (system) will find great success when attracting and retaining top-quality U.S. candidates.'
While Canada ranks high globally when it comes to work-life balance, there is certainly some room for improvement.
Work has interfered with 32 per cent of Canadians' home and family life, according to a 2024 report by Statistics Canada.
The agency also said 33 per cent of Canadians are unable to complete personal tasks at home due to their work commitments.
to get Posthaste delivered straight to your road trips to the U.S. from Canada have fallen for the fifth straight month as Canadians look to stay local amid a trade war.
Return trips by vehicle among Canadians fell 38.1 per cent in compared to a year ago. More than 2.5 million fewer cars have crossed the border since January compared to the first five months of 2024.
Canadians made up more than 25 per cent of visitors to the U.S. last year, but many Canadians are looking to fight back against protectionist U.S. trade policies this year.
Read more.
Conference of Montreal Day 3
Today's data: Canadian building permits for April, U.S. consumer price index for May
Today's earnings: Oracle Corp., Chewy Inc., Victoria's Secret & Co., Dollarama Inc.
Canadian businesses trading with U.S. look to 'pivot' as profits decline and expenses rise
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Smucker says tariff-fuelled price hikes will weigh on profit
For those looking to retire in the next few years and use profits from a home downsizing as a nest egg, be prepared for disappointment when it comes to the exact size of that nest egg. As Jason Heath puts it, Canada's real estate is under pressure and may be for some time, meaning anyone banking on profits from a sale should temper expectations. Read more here.
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Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister's Financial Post column can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won't want to miss. Plus check his mortgage rate page for Canada's lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily.
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Today's Posthaste was written by Ben Cousins with additional reporting from Financial Post staff, The Canadian Press and Bloomberg.
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