List Of Top 10 Countries With Toxic Work-Life Balance: Check Which Country Leads In Poor Work Culture

Top 10 Countries With Toxic Work Culture: Work-life balance has become one of the important challenges in today’s fast-paced world. Staying balanced between job and life is tough these days. In many nations, heavy schedules, tight deadlines, little rest time, or no private moments make it hard to live well. Too much work hits the body, causing tension to build up, headaches, sleep issues and chronic fatigue. Apart from the body, mental health also suffers as it leads to anxiety, exhaustion, emotional fatigue and happiness slips away slowly.

This problem grows worse over time - damaging personal relationships, lowering productivity, and decreasing the daily living standards. Sadly, several nations around the world struggle with deeply toxic job environments. Some areas push workers to stay late, skip vacations, and manage heavy tasks while dealing with endless pressure to perform better. In this condition, employees barely get little time for family, rest or simple joys.

Top 10 Countries With Toxic Work-Life Balance: OECD Better Life Index Reports

In this list, we look at the top 10 countries with the worst work-life balance as per OECD(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and why their work culture is considered unhealthy for workers. Understanding these patterns promotes awareness and pushes companies to create healthier workplaces.

Source: Statista (taken from OECD Better Life Index)

1. Mexico

Countries with toxic work culture (Image: Canva)

Mexico leads the list due to extremely long workweek hours - often hitting 48 or even 50 hours. Low wages push people to do extra shifts, while job insecurity increases the pressure. Holidays are rare, so rest time plus quality moments with loved ones are limited.

2. Colombia

Colombians struggle with long working hours, stress popping up in both public and private sectors.. Workers often juggle job insecurity while carrying way too much on their plates. Talking about urban workers, they face long commutes, leaving almost no personal time for life outside work.

3. Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a high number of staff putting in over 44 hours each week. Even though it's a peaceful country, job demands plus little rest time leave people feeling stretched thin. Salaries are lower than the cost of living, which also increases pressure.

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4. Turkey

Countries with toxic work culture (Image: Canva)

Turkey’s working hours are among the longest in the world. Many industries there demand extra time but don’t pay fairly for it. Economic instability makes things harder, yet employees still have to manage kids or home duties on tight timelines.

5. Japan

Japan is globally known for its intense work habits - some people even die from overworking, called "karoshi." Employees here deal with tight schedules, endless shifts or sky-high targets. Taking time off feels risky because bosses expect constant presence.

6. South Africa

South Africa deals with long work schedules, employment insecurity, and broader financial struggles. Workers across various industries handle multiple tasks, which drains their energy. Stress runs high while access to emotional care stays low, making things feel even more off-kilter.

7. South Korea

South Korea’s work scene often means long hours, strict rules at offices, plus fierce rivalry among employees. Although the government have tried to reduce work hours, plenty of firms still demand overtime, which affects rest time and personal life.

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8. Israel

Countries with toxic work culture (Image: Canva)

In Israel, the tech and finance sectors demand that people work late while chasing high results. Employees get piled with pressure and tight schedules. Meanwhile, living costs are continuing to go up, and employees here get an overload of family responsibilities as well as a job.

9. United States

In America ( the United States), many employees put in extra hours due to competitiveness and high job expectations. Fewer leave policies and high living costs push workers to stay continuously active; people hardly get breaks. This takes a real toll on bodies and minds both.

10. United Kingdom

The UK is dealing with rising work pressure, high job demands, endless travel times, plus goals that feel impossible. Many employees struggle with burnout, especially in hospitals, schools and banks. Working from home has improved some flexibility, yet it mixes the boundaries between work and home.

Where Does India Rank in Work-Life Balance?

Though India isn't a full member of the OECD, rankings comparing it with those nations usually place it toward the lower end. Take the latest Global Life-Work Balance Index from 2025 - India came in at number 42nd among 60 countries. The reason? Workers here clock some of the longest weekly hours worldwide, often beyond 45. On top of that, weak sick leave policies and spotty healthcare access drag performance down.