The idea of work life balance has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among Gen Z workers who prioritise mental wellbeing and personal time outside of work.
Many now seek jobs with less overtime and more flexibility, hoping to spend more time with family, friends, and hobbies instead of constantly being tied to work commitments.
However, not everyone believes that work life balance should be the ultimate goal.
CEO says constantly seeking balance could signal a deeper issue
Iñaki Ereño, the CEO of one of the world’s largest healthcare companies, recently described the growing obsession with work life balance as a “red flag”.
Reported by mStar, he said people should ideally enjoy their jobs enough that they do not feel the need to constantly separate work from life.
“When work life balance becomes the topic of conversation, that means you have a problem,” he said.
You should like your job so much that you don’t feel like life needs balancing.”
According to Iñaki, people who constantly count down the hours until the workday ends may already be in the wrong career.
He also shared that he personally enjoys spending time on work related matters even during weekends.
Says he enjoys working even on weekends
I enjoy thinking about business on weekends. I answer emails, read newspapers and things like that,” he said.
“Do I feel like it is a huge pressure? No. I enjoy it.”
Because of that, he said he has never felt the need to actively think about achieving work life balance.
Instead, he encouraged people to spend more time figuring out what kind of work they genuinely enjoy doing.
“Don’t do a job you dislike until you need balance,” he added.
Other successful figures share similar views
Iñaki is not the only successful figure who has openly questioned the idea of work life balance.
AI entrepreneur Lucy Guo previously revealed that she wakes up at 5.30am and works until midnight.
If you feel like you need work life balance, maybe your job is not the right fit for you,” she said.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
READ ALSO:
