Work-life balance: redefining and rethinking the support framework

In light of the impact of new social risks (NSRs), finding a balance between work and other aspects of life has become an unavoidable challenge for paid workers. However, despite the policy trends promoted by organizations related to work-life balance, substantial improvements in individuals’ well-being are not apparent. Furthermore, a widespread misunderstanding of work-life balance permeates society and exerts a reverse influence on individuals. This paper aims to clarify the concept of work-life balance by providing a clear description, examining practical policies, and suggesting a new support framework. To achieve these objectives, this paper will proceed in three sections. Section 1, clarify a series of misunderstandings about work-life balance theory, gather literature reviews that describe the concept, and establish a specific definition of work-life balance. Section 2, examine the policies promoted by the EU and Japan building on the renewed perspective, and highlight the disparities. Section 3, taking into account the identified gaps and illusions, a reimagined support framework will be discussed. Regarding work-life balance, this paper underscores the misconceptions and disconnections, emphasize the necessity of challenging social conventions, and advocates for revising the support framework with a focus on the well-being of paid workers, rather than solely concentrating on the macro level. It is noteworthy that the new definition provided in this paper is not limited to any region or culture but encompasses a broader sphere that is universally applicable. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.