Americans are finally getting a life!

That seems to be the logical conclusion of a new survey from Robert Half, an employment staffing firm, about the priorities of U.S. workers.

Read: Federal employees embracing work-life programs

In a poll of more than 1,000 employees, just over half (54 percent) said they are more committed to their personal lives than a year ago. In contrast, only 5 percent said they were less committed to their life outside of the office.

Only 38 percent of workers said they were more devoted to their careers than they were last year. However, a mere 9 percent said they were less committed than before.

The more specific the questions about work, the less commitment employees voiced. Only 34 percent said they were more committed to their job, 31 percent said they were more committed to their company, and 29 percent said they were more committed to their boss.

Read: With 338 vacation days saved up, CEO sets tone for company

Fourteen percent said they were less into their job than before, while 16 percent said the same about their company and their boss.

So the numbers don’t suggest that employees are fed up with work, but it does appear that they are deriving greater fulfillment from their non-work lives. Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half, attributed the increased emphasis on life outside of work to improving economic conditions.

"In a strong job market, professionals have more confidence in their career prospects, which gives them the breathing room to focus on interests outside of work," he said. It’s another indication, he argued, for companies to offer perks that allow workers flexibility and time to enjoy their personal lives.

Instant Insights /

Are we getting that work-life balance thing finally?

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