Work-life balance has become a top priority for employees, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to WorldatWork's most recent Worker Value Survey, 42% of respondents said they would take 30% less pay and a lower title to have a more balanced work schedule. Almost half of women surveyed (47%) would make such a trade. So which cities in the United States are doing better at that seemingly elusive work-life balance than others? Look no further than Kisi's 2020 Work-Life Balance Index. For the second year in a row, the keyless security provider takes a look at the levels of work intensity, legislation, and livability to produce a ranking of 50 cities based on their success in achieving work-life balance for its residents. Related: Blurring of work/life boundaries causes stress in remote workers Kisi took 19 factors into account, including hours worked, vacations taken, city safety, and inclusivity & tolerance levels. This year the researchers also looked at the effects of the pandemic regarding the severity of lockdown measures, overall economic impacts, and consequential employment changes. The top American cities overall for work-life balance were Colorado Springs, Co.; Omaha, Neb.; Virginia Beach, Va.; Salt Lake City, Ut.; and Sacramento, Ca. The bottom-ranked cities were Houston, Tx.; Boston, Mass.;, Detroit, Mich.; New York, N.Y.; and New Orleans, La. Kisi also cast its nets globally for an international list, including 33 cities known for offering work and diverse lifestyle opportunities. The top ranking city on that list is Oslo, Norway. Last on the list is Seoul, South Korea. Looking strictly at the impact of COVID-19, New York City was hit the hardest, according to the study. The biggest change in projected employment, however, was seen in Las Vegas, Nev. Internationally, Madrid suffered the most in COVID-related impact, while its effect on projected employment was steepest in Barcelona. See our slideshow above for the top five least and most overworked cities in the U.S., and click here for the full study. Read more:

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