The work-life balance is a concept that we hear about many times throughout our lives, but the importance of this balance can not be overstated. In fact, the work life balance is one of the most important factors in maintaining a healthy, happy, and high quality life. With this in consideration, it is important to understand that people who are not able to attain a healthy balance between work/school and personal life may experience a life that is the opposite of this. The country of Mexico has one of the worst rates of work-life balance in the world, with 27% of employees working more than 50 hours per week. It is time for a change.
Many companies and businesses nowadays do not take into account external factors or occupations that people may be spending their time on, and expect unwavering attention to their company at all times, which restricts them from helping to provide a healthy work-life balance for their employees. For example, Lear Corporation in Mexico is one of the world’s largest auto part manufacturers. This company subjects its workers to labor intensive work for hours on end with no consideration for the lives that workers may have outside of working. In addition, because of the harsh work that these employees are put through with little pay or time for self care such as physical or mental health, up to 104 workers for Lear Corporation have passed away in Mexico as of May 2024.
The disregard for the need for a work life balance is extremely apparent, and this disregard can have extreme effects on both physical and mental well-being. In mexico, full time workers devote less of their day to personal care such as spending time with friends and family, hobbies, self care, religion, etc. than to hours spent working. Some drastic effects of this unequal balance are 1. Increased stress and decreased self perception which can occur when employees are perfectionists and despite the time they are spending on work, still feel as if they are not doing enough because of the expectations placed upon them. 2. Extreme health risk which can include a plethora of risks such as anxiety and depression, and ultimately an increased risk of stroke or heart disease, and 3. A lack of satisfaction with life which may occur if employees begin to feel that their only purpose in life is to work. With this in mind, it is no surprise that these thoughts can lead to more severe problems.
Knowing the detrimental effects of an unequal balance between work and life, it is extremely saddening to see the mistreatment and imbalance of work and life with people in Mexico. It is not fair that these people are having to experience harsh work conditions along with low mental health, and there are many ways that we can improve this such as advocating for workers in Mexico or donating to programs that help the cause. In order to prevent this from happening to you, it is important to make sure that you devote time to doing things that you love or finding ways to get your work done while still leaving time for your own well being.
Spanish Translation
El equillibrio trabajo-vida es una concepto nosotros escuchamos muchas veces durante nuestras vidas, pero la importancia de este equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida es uno de los factroes mas importante para mantener una vida saludable, feliz y de alta calidad. Teniendo esto en cuenta, es importante entender que las personas que no son capaces de alcanzar un equilibrio saludable entre el trabajo/escuela y la vida personal experimentar una vida que es lo contrario de esto. El pais de Mexico tiene una de las peroes tasas de equilibrio entre la vida laboral y personal del mundo, con un 27% de los empleados que trabajan mas de 50 horas a la semana. Es tiempo por un cambio.
Muchas empresas y negocios hoy en dia no tienen en cuenta factores externos ocupaciones en las que las personas puedan estar dedicando su tiempo, y esperan una atencion inquebrantable a su empresa en todo momento, lo que les impide ayudar a propocionar un equillibrio saludable entre la vida laboral y personal para sus empleados. Por ejemplo, Lear Corporation en Mexico es uno de los fabricantesde piezas de automoviles mas grandes en el mundo. Esta empresa somete a sus trabajadores a trabajos intensivos de mano de obra durante horas sin tener en cuenta las vidas que los trabajadores pueden tener fuera del trabajo. Ademas, porque de duro trabajo que estos empleados hacen con poco salario o tiempo para el cuidado personal, como la salud fisica o mental, hasta 104 trabajadores de Lear Corporation han muriendo en Mexico a mayo de 2024.
El desprecio por la necesidad de un equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida es extremadamente evidente, y este desprecio puede tener efectos extremos en el bienestar fisico y mental. En Mexico, los trabajadores de tiempo completo dedican menos de su dia al cuidado personal, como pasar tiempo con amigas y familia, pasatiempos, autocuidado, relgion, etc. que a horas dedicadas a trabajar. Algunos efectos drasticos de este equilibrio desigual son… 1. Aumento del estres y diminucion de la autopercepcion que puede ocurrir cuando los empleados son perfeccionistas y a pesar del tiempo que dedican al trabajo, sienten que no estan haciendo lo suficiente debido a las expectativas que se les ponen. 2. Riesgo extremo para la salud que puede incluir una pletora de riesgos, como ansiedad y depresion, y en ultima instancia un mayor riesgo de a de enfermedad cardiaca. Y 3. Una falta de satisfaccion con la vida que puede ocurrir si los empleados comienzan a sentir que su unico proposito en la vida es para trabajar. Con esto en mente, no es de extrañar que estos pensamientos puedan conducir a problemas mas graves.
Con este conocimiento, es extremamente triste ver el maltrato y el desigualdad del trabajo y la vida con las personas en Mexico. No es justo que estas personas tienen que experimentar condiciones de trabajo duras junto con una baja salud mental y hay muchas maneras en que podemos mejorar esto, como abogar por los trabajadores en Mexico o donar a programas que ayudan a la causa. Para evitar en tu vida, es importante para dedicar tiempo a hacer las cosas que te gustan o encontrar maneras de hacer tu trabajo minetras dejas tiempo para tu propio bienestar.
Works Cited
Crossa, Mateo, and James M. Cypher. “Essential–and Expendable–Mexican Labor | Dollars & Sense.” Dollarsandsense.org, 2020, dollarsandsense.org/archives/2020/0720crossa-cypher.html. Accessed 3 May 2025.
Hallstrom, Camilla. “Top Work-Life Balance Statistics in the US and Worldwide (2024).” Lifehack Method, 9 Nov. 2024, lifehackmethod.com/blog/work-life-balance-statistics/.
Toshev, Yordan. “What Are the Consequences of a Poor Work-Life Balance and How Can I Avoid Them? | MEAVO.” MEAVO Office Phone Booths & Soundproof Pods, 6 Dec. 2023, meavo.com/post/what-are-the-consequences-of-a-poor-work-life-balance-and-how-can-i-avoid-them/.