THE phrase work-life balance was coined in Britain in the late 1970s and popularised in the United States during the 1980s, propelled by the Women's Liberation Movement, which pressed for a fairer division between career and domestic responsibilities. Historians link its early usage to British campaigners lobbying for workplace reforms for working mothers. Since then, the idea has become a pillar of global human-resource practice, encouraging a blend of professional fulfilment and personal wellbeing.
Work-life balance does not imply an even split between office and home; rather, it is a flexible state in which work coexists with time for family, rest and self-development. When achieved, it boosts morale, productivity and health. When neglected, it erodes creativity, strains relationships and contributes to burnout. This is a universal concern, but in Bangladesh the issue has become pressing, shaped by social and economic pressures that leave little room for recovery.
Across garments, banking, media, IT and freelancing, long hours have hardened into expectation. Many employers still equate commitment with time spent at a desk, often without fair overtime pay. This culture of overwork may deliver quick output, yet it undermines the ingenuity and problem-solving vital to a competitive economy. It also depletes physical and emotional reserves, creating a workforce permanently close to exhaustion.
The toll is evident in the country's growing mental-health burden. Bangladesh records some of South Asia's highest rates of stress and anxiety, while stigma silences open conversation about wellbeing. People caught between relentless professional demands and personal duties suffer insomnia, depression, cardiovascular problems and fractured family ties. Women face a sharper challenge: beyond their jobs they shoulder most domestic chores and childcare, with few workplaces offering flexible schedules, inclusive leave or childcare support. Many scale back ambitions or quit altogether, deepening the gender gap in leadership.
Urban infrastructure compounds the difficulty. Commuters in Dhaka and Chattogram often lose three to five hours daily in traffic, leaving little time for rest or connection. Even home-based workers struggle with blurred boundaries and expectations of constant availability. Under such pressures, balance is elusive for millions.
Statistics underline the urgency. ILO data put Bangladesh's average weekly working hours at 48.8, far above the global mean of 42.9. Research by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies finds over half of Dhaka's private-sector employees exceed 48 hours a week, nearly a third surpass 60, and seven in ten describe workloads as heavy. These figures echo global warnings: WHO/ILO studies link 55-hour weeks to hundreds of thousands of deaths from heart disease and stroke each year.
The economic stakes are high. Bangladesh aspires to diversify beyond low-cost manufacturing towards a knowledge economy, but this requires workers who are not only skilled but also healthy and motivated. In a global market where creativity and innovation outweigh mere cost, a burnt-out workforce cannot compete. Nor can the country afford continued brain drain as young professionals seek employers abroad who respect their time and wellbeing.
Encouragingly, the pandemic proved that remote and hybrid models are viable even in Bangladesh. Younger employees, particularly Generation Z, now place flexibility, purpose and mental health alongside salary. Firms that fail to adjust will find it harder to recruit and retain talent, while those who nurture humane practices will gain a strategic edge.
Work-life balance should therefore be treated not as a privilege but as a national priority. Reasonable hours, flexible arrangements, parental leave and access to counselling are investments in human capital. Managers who judge staff by results rather than hours can spark innovation and reduce attrition. Public bodies must also address structural barriers: congestion, limited childcare, and stigma around mental illness.
Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. Persist with today's culture, and it risks a weary labour force, weakened families and stunted economic promise. Embrace balance, and it can cultivate an energetic, inventive citizenry able to steer the nation towards sustainable prosperity. Valuing life alongside labour is not indulgence but foresight -- and the dividends will extend far beyond the office door.