work life balance

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English

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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Oblea 1 Jennifer Oblea Mercado Professor Blanca Romero-Pino ENG 102 20 February 2023 Work life balance In an average person’s lifetime, they would have worked more than 90,000 hours, which can accumulate to working 24 hours every day for 10.27 years straight. Knowing that a large majority of an individual’s life is spent working makes many wonder where the balance is (Revise Sociology 2022). The balance of spending time with loved ones, time for oneself, time to live your life is in the hands of work. Many countries have an engraved work life balance which can be seen in many countries like the United States and Mexico, but what makes them different. The difference in quality of balance and life is a question and impression to oneself, but what can one know from each country that is considered fair or a necessity. Knowing that balance is a priority, the United States and Mexico have been known to have the worst work life balance. There are many factors that are included, but all come down to one thing, and it is the influence of their own country. The work life balance between the United States and Mexico are different based on the influence on each country. The importance of work life balance is necessary for every individual, not everyone can constantly work. The balance between work and every-day life activities is what is needed for one to survive, it can create a less stressful environment and elongate the life of an induvial. Many studies such as the one done by the OECD Better Life Index proves that “Evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardize safety and increase stress” (OECD). Knowing this makes the question on why governments don’t implement the idea of

Oblea 2 taking time off and self-care. What is deeply incorporated into the government system that makes people solely want to work, it is solely based on what life is in each country. The United States has been developed on the idea of hard work pays off, but at what cost? As early of the age of 5, children at school are sent to school to begin their journey and preparation of a lifetime of work. As complacency is the main factor for a preparation of work, as stated, “ It should be no surprise that as we place young children in artificial learning environments, separated from their family for long lengths of time, and expect them to comply with a standardized, test-driven curriculum, it will be too much for many of them” (McDonald). If the long lengths of time for a child is too much of them, the same thing can be said about adult individuals, where work is a complacency and had to be done in order to survive. Once done with the academic schooling and certifications, many are quickly forced to work as they have spent majority of their life studying or faced with many payments such as rent, food, gas, and the cost of living. These responsibilities are the driving factor on why many individuals work and are solely focused on living through. However, these responsibilities have a negative effect as they,” are vitally important that there is an appropriate balance between work responsibilities and home obligations or serious symptoms of stress can manifest themselves in various ways, e.g., poor health, hypertension, heart problems, indigestion, sleep problems, change in appetite, tense muscles, exhaustion. Personal behavior can be affected, such as constant worrying, feeling irritated or depressed, inability to cope and make decisions, excessive use of alcohol or drugs, just to name a few” (Miller 8). The negative affects of a non-existing work balance can possibly decrease the individual’s life and have a plethora of unhealthy long-term problems. The work life in Mexico has been brought on at a very early age as well. The hustle to survive is the main driving point to why many individuals work. However, there are many events

Oblea 3 and community engagement that is something many might not see throughout the world. This unification whether it might be a share of interest is what drives these individuals to continue as they enjoy life with whichever situation, they might possibly be in. The community engagement can include many sorts of things that are free like dances, festivals, holiday parties, and big parties that everyone is welcome to. As stated in the OCED, “27% of employees work very long hours in paid work , the highest level in the OECD, where the average is 10%” (OCED Mexico). Although Mexico enjoys and had many opportunities to send their life freely, there are many factors that drive them to have a high working hourly average. The currency of Pesos is something that is troublesome as the wages in Mexico are very little and could result in many individuals, majority parents in having to work longer hours in order to provide basic necessities. It is however hard to leave or have days off in any work stance, but in Mexico, every peso counts towards rent / housing, utilities, schooling, food, or everyday products one needs. The difference between Mexico and the United States is similar, where the work life is not fair, and survival is more important than work life. However, the work life balance is different as many Latin-American countries such as Mexico enjoy life and have many events such as dances, festivals, community events, and holidays that unite everyone, however the wages are not fair. In the United States, however, there is rarely community events held like in Latin countries that want to release the stress of responsibilities, and even so the outside events do cost money, so there is always money involved. However, there are similarities where physical and mental health are affected. Both the United States and Mexico are defined as countries with the worst work life balance stated by the OCED, which is a big factor for the declining health. There are negative effects to working long hours and having no break, as “Evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardize safety and

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