While the concept of work-life balance appears to be taking hold within the corporate cultures of many businesses in Hong Kong, those promoting corporate social responsibility believe this concept could soon be outdated. The latest trend overseas and among the younger generation of employees is increasingly towards life-work balance, with the emphasis on 'life'.
Shalini Mahtani, founder and chief executive of non-profit organisation Community Business, which has spearheaded the drive for promoting work-life balance in the city, believes Hong Kong has some catching up to do.
'We're too late in talking about work-life balance. It has been observed that with the younger generation, life comes before work and work fits around what they want out of their lives.'
The group's most recent study of employees in India and China released in June found that in the latter, employees who felt the pressures of an excessive workload for an extended period of time were more likely to leave their jobs, particularly with the younger generation who were more at ease with taking time off in pursuit of their hobbies.
The study also found the younger generation was more impatient with achieving their career goals, and if these were not satisfied within a defined time, they would be more likely to change jobs.
Not only are they in search of grander job titles and bigger pay packages, they are also fickle, and lack loyalty to their employers.
