The survey by International Research Institutes (IRIS) showed that the majority of the working population worldwide (69 per cent) did not have a complete work/life balance and nearly half said their personal health and their private lives were affected by this imbalance.

The countries with the highest levels of people affected by this problem are Mexico, Russia and Japan.

The poll in August surveyed 13,832 people aged 18 or older, working as full-time employees for more than one year in 24 countries.

In most countries, the main reason for the imbalance in their lives is the number of hours spent at work, 62 per cent of those interviewed said.

Australia, Greece, Spain and the UK had more than 80 per cent of the working population saying that hours spent at work was the main cause of the imbalance.

More than half of the respondents have made changes in their life in the last two years to improve it, with a third leaving their jobs as a result.

The interviewees said the way to get greater control over their working lives is by having more flexible working hours, cited by 60 per cent, or being able to work from home, some or all of the time (42 per cent).

Thailand is the most important supporter of these ideas with 90 per cent pleading for a more flexible working programme and 74 per cent wanting to work from home.

About half of the people interviewed across the world agreed that governments should intervene so that people have a better work/life balance. This belief is stronger in countries such as Greece, Spain, Brazil and Thailand, where more than 80 per cent expect governmental intervention.

In Thailand, only 29 per cent of the working generation is completely satisfied with their work/life balance. This group defines work/life balance as having a good quality of life in general, having flexibility towards home issues, and having a good relationship with their employers. Yet only 17 per cent consider work/life balance an issue, and as high as 46 per cent have not even tried to improve the balance at all.

The biggest concern of Thais that contributes to an imbalance is the compensation or pay with which 73 per cent are dissatisfied.

Also, because it is a tradition that Thais take good care of their parents and children, more than 70 per cent of the working class sees this responsibility as one of the causes contributing to the imbalance in their work and life. The most preferred solutions to improving the balance are starting their own businesses, improving working hours flexibility, and working from home.

In most cases, many felt that technologies such as mobile phones and desktop computers can help manage and realise the balance. The study indicated that the Thai workforce aspires to more work flexibility.

The IRIS is a network of independent marketing research companies in Europe, Asia/Pacific, Africa and North and South America.

As an IRIS member and a Thai representative, InfoSearch Ltd has also contributed to the survey.