How National Culture Influences Work-Life Balance: Insights from Hofstede’s Dimensions
Purpose: This study investigates the concept of work–life balance from a cross-cultural perspective. It reviews the current state of work–life balance across countries, analyses cultural differences, and evaluates the extent to which such differences shape national patterns of work–life balance. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study draws on a literature review and an examination of the Global Life Work Balance Index alongside Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions. The empirical analysis employs correlation methods to explore the relationship between culture and work–life balance. The central research question is: How does national culture (NC) influence work–life balance (WLB)? In response, the study advances the hypothesis that national culture differentiates the level of WLB across countries. Findings: The findings indicate cross-national variation in Global Life Work Balance (GLWBI) index values, reflecting differing levels of work–life balance across countries. Moreover, national cultures are shown to vary systematically according to Hofstede's cultural dimensions. The analysis demonstrates that cultural factors such as power distance, individualism, long-term orientation, and indulgence significantly influence employees' work–life balance across cultural contexts. Practical implications: This study contributes to understanding the relationship between work–life balance and culture, offering valuable insights for managerial practice. The findings guide managers in designing work–life balance strategies, particularly within international organizations where culturally diverse employees interact. Furthermore, the results may serve as a foundation for shaping work–life balance policies not only at the national level but also within international institutions. Originality/Values: Previous studies on the relationship between culture and work–life balance have primarily focused on organizational culture, with relatively few addressing the issue from a cross-cultural perspective. Those that do often limit their scope to specific groups of countries, such as developed or developing economies. The originality of this research lies in its global approach, analysing the impact of national culture on work–life balance across a wide range of cultural contexts. This contribution is enabled by integrating the Global Life Work Balance Index with Hofstede's cultural dimensions.