Life-work balance

August 2, 2024

MANILA – The Philippines ranked 59th out of 60 countries in the human resource services firm Remote’s Global Life-Work Balance Index 2024. Remote defines “life-work balance,” a reversal of the traditional “work-life balance,” as a system of ethics that ensures workers can “perform to the best of [their] capabilities when at work while enabling [them] to live a happy, healthy life outside of the workplace.” The index focused on business provisions such as minimum wage, leave benefits, safety, inclusivity, and health care. While companies and employers can do a lot to contribute to workers’ well-being, it made me wonder what else constitutes a thriving life-work balance for Filipinos?

I have been incredibly lucky that I have the kind of career that continues to flourish under work-from-home conditions. I was able to fulfill my work duties remotely, save for a few mandatory in-person meetings and events. Yesterday was one of those rare occasions, where I was compelled to leave my baby at home and commute to an interagency meeting in Manila. I dreaded the travel time—it was longer than the actual duration of the meeting itself—and the significant expense of the Grab ride that reached almost a thousand pesos.

The meeting itself was pleasant; in-person interaction was always more enjoyable than work-focused Zoom meetings. If not for traffic, I would’ve even looked for a snack after work, maybe take a quick look around and looked at the vendors’ wares. But the feeling of apprehension never left me and I immediately set for home, hoping to avoid the brunt of rush hour.

If I were to create an alternative universe for that day, it would be this: work would not be too far from home, travel time would be predictable,