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Improving work-life balance Model project on unlimited paid leave in companies
It must be the dream of many employees – unlimited paid leave for as long as they want, without negative consequences for the company or their own employment. Does this sound utopian? In fact, ING Bank in the Netherlands had this exact working model assessed. The study was conducted by Christine Syrek, Professor of Business Psychology at H-BRS. Together with Dr Jessica de Bloom from the University of Groningen, Tim Vahle-Hinz, professor at the Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, and Viennese professor Jana Kühnel, Syrek investigated the question of whether this arrangement noticeably improves the work-life balance of employees.
For this purpose, the researchers set up a longitudinal study with monthly monitoring points. Data was collected from January to December 2020. In addition to the experimental group, which included 300 employees entitled to unlimited paid leave, a control group of employees with regular leave arrangements also took part. Both groups completed monthly surveys. The researchers also recruited a reference group to participate in the survey at the beginning and end of the pilot project to serve as a benchmark for both the experimental and control groups.
Deeper understanding through personal conversations In the scope of the project, personal interviews were conducted with about 20 employees from the experimental group. “The quantitative results from the surveys provide a good basis. But the personal interviews were crucial for putting these results in context and deepening our understanding of the overall project”, explains Syrek. By maintaining high ethical standards of data protection and transparency, the business psychologist and her team ensured a trusting research climate throughout the model project. Though the results are still being evaluated they are already being incorporated into the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. And this much can be revealed – the widespread introduction of unlimited paid leave is not out of the question.
