NEW YORK, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- NOP World today launched its Culture
Score(TM) Index, an ongoing series that offers a global perspective on
lifestyle issues across 31 countries. Focusing on Work/Life balance, the
first index reveals Sweden striking the most precise balance, with 36.7 hours
per week at work and 36.4 hours per week at "play."
Play activities are defined as watching TV, reading, socializing with
friends and spending time with children and grandchildren. Hours were self-
reported, and the global averages spent per week are 40.6 hours at work and
39.2 hours at play (setting the index baseline of 100).
The countries in which employed people most equally divide their time are:
Mean Weekly Hours Spent
-------------------------At Work------Total at "Play"----Work/Life Index
- Sweden..................36.7...........36.4................97
- China.....................40.9...........40.4................98
- Spain.....................37.8...........37.3................98
- Indonesia...............42.9...........42.2................98
- Egypt.....................49.4...........48.6................98
Employed respondents in the US and the UK report spending more time at
"play" (41.7 hours in the US per week, 39.2 hours in the UK) than at work
(38.3 hours in the US per week, 36.1 hours in the UK). However, they are not
among the most "life-oriented."
The top five life-focused countries are:
Mean Weekly Hours Spent
--------------------At Work-----Total at "Play"---Work/Life Index
- Philippines........32.0.........41.1...........75
- Thailand...........47.4.........54.1...........85
- Brazil...............40.7.........46.4...........85
- Argentina.........42.8.........48.3...........86
- Canada............34.8.........38.0...........88
In contrast, the five countries most focused on work are:
Mean Weekly Hours Spent
--------------------At Work-----Total at "Play"----Work/Life Index
- Korea............50.7........30.7.........159
- Hong Kong.....48.6.......34.8..........135
- Turkey...........56.8.......42.3..........130
- India.............45.4.......35.1..........125
- Singapore......44.1.......34.9..........122
"In today's global economy, people across the world are feeling pressure
and economic tension," says Paul Leinberger, Global Director, NOP World. "As
shown in the data, the majority of the countries who are focused more on play
still spend at least 40 hours a week at work. The longer work week is
becoming a social norm, transcending local culture."
[This is an excerpt from] The complete findings of the Culture Score(TM) Work/Life Index are as
follows:
Mean Weekly Hours Spent
-----------------------At Work--Total at "Play"--Work/Life Index
==Total Global Employed..40.6.........39.2..........100
- Korea......................50.7.........30.7..........159
- Turkey.....................56.8.........42.3..........130
- Germany.................37.1..........31.6..........113
- Mexico.....................41.6..........36.2..........111
- Japan......................38.9..........34.3..........110
- Russia......................40.3..........36.2..........107
- Taiwan.....................50.9..........47.5..........103
- France.....................34.1..........33.1...........99
- China.......................40.9..........40.4...........98
- Sweden....................36.7..........36.4...........97
- UK...........................36.1.........39.2...........89
- USA.........................38.3.........41.7...........89
- Canada....................34.8.........38.0...........88
About the Culture Score(TM) Work/Life Index ...
The Culture Score Index Series is based on further analysis of the NOP
World Roper Reports Worldwide(R) survey, which includes in-depth personal
interviews with more than 30,000 people age 13 to 65 across 31 countries. The
data is weighted to the sampled population in each country. The Work/Life
Index for each country compares the work-life ratio for each country with that
of the global population surveyed. The work-life ratio is the number of
self-reported work hours, compared with the sum of self-reported play hours
(watching TV, reading, socializing with friends around town and spending time
with children and grandchildren) among employed people.
Upcoming NOP World Culture Score(TM) Indexes will cover global issues,
such as community involvement, health and spirituality: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-08-2004/0002397242&EDATE=
For more information about Culture Score, please contact Sara Preschel at
212-752-8338 / spreschel@psbpr.com or Anna Lovejoy at + 44 (0) 20 7890 9710 /
alovejoy@nopworld.com
