When Spanish café owners close for siesta, American workers are still refreshing their inboxes. Across the globe, what “balance” means depends on where you clock in.
Redefining Success Across Cultures
There is a significant difference in how humans balance their work and personal lives, whether that is in Spain or Egypt. Every country, culture and religion has distinct values on where these two important aspects intertwine.
“It was a big culture shock for me when I arrived in the US. Everything is so fast paced here and in Spain. We take various breaks throughout the day,” said Veronica Dumas, a Spanish psychologist who recently moved to Miami. In the United States, people define success in terms of their financial income statements coming in at the end of the month. For many US citizens, their purpose in life is solely where they will be on the corporate ladder the next year.
“I think that the mental health of the average American has gone down tremendously because of the mentality that work should be the most important thing one gravitates towards,” said Dumas. In other countries across the world, people emphasize their relationships and free time over their days in the office.
Work Laws and Labor Culture
In the 2025 World Happiness Report, the Netherlands claimed their spot at #5 for having one of the best reputations for quality of life and work-life balance. In contrast, the United States Global Happiness Ranking has dropped tremendously. Maarten Zonnenburg, originally from Bilthoven, Netherlands, is a junior at the University of Groningen studying international business and management. In August 2025, he decided to study abroad in the United States at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He hopes to have a career in the United States, but is worried about the work-life balance that comes with that life.
“I think on average Americans are more work focused and want to make a career at a younger age,” said Maarten. “Back at home I have no friends looking for internships, but here it feels like everyone is.”
The government plays an important role in work and labor laws. With regulating work hours, many countries limit the number of hours employees can work per week. Most European countries, including the Netherlands, have a strict 40-hour work week. These countries often shy away from having workers work overtime.
In the U.S., there is no legal maximum for jobs, which can lead to longer workdays. “People work way more hours in the U.S., but it looks like they really enjoy it. Americans love making money,” said Maarten.
The government also has weaknesses when it comes to being strict on paid leave policies, union and worker protections, and the right to disconnect. France even passed a law, the El Khomri law, preventing after-hours emails for certain employees. The U.S. has not enforced this national policy.
Land of Opportunity
Even though the United States struggles with work-life balance, people around the world continue to move here for its opportunities.
Olivia Attalla, a graduate journalism student at the University of Miami, moved from Egypt to New Orleans with her family when she was 17.
“I came here when I was 17 because I wanted to learn, but if I was in Egypt, I would be married with kids at this point and that’s it,” Attalla said. “A lot of Americans take it for granted.”
Attalla said many Americans don’t realize how different expectations are in other cultures. In Egypt, she said, women are often expected to stay home rather than pursue careers. “There is much less opportunity for equality in the workplace,” she said.
Even though she loved growing up in Egypt, Attalla said she is excited to build her career in the United States. She hopes to work for the NFL and said long hours and weekend work don’t bother her. “That is my passion. It does not feel like work,” she said.
She emphasized that equality in work opportunities is the reason she wants to stay in the U.S.
What Can Americans Learn?
The University of Miami strongly encourages students to study abroad. Through the U-Program, hundreds of students each year travel to countries across the globe. One after the other, these students come back with different views of the work-life balance globally.
The U-Program offers options in more than 30 countries, from semester-long exchanges to summer intensives. U-Rome hosts hundreds of UMiami students in their study abroad program.
Hunter Shanahan, a UM senior, studied abroad in Rome in the spring. “Once I got to my orientation in Rome, I quickly understood that the thing about America is that you live to work, but that’s not how it is supposed to be in Europe,” said Shanahan. “They believe in Italy you work to live.” He goes on to explain how in Europe they value family and activity time more, which includes daily three hour lunches. “I love [the U.S.] and how I will build my career, but Europeans have a much better way of life,” said Shanahan.
Work often comes first in the U.S., and personal time with friends and family comes second. Compared to European countries, where labor laws and a focus on free time create a healthier balance, Americans tend to work longer hours. This creates constant higher stress and burnout. While the U.S. offers opportunities to build a career, it often comes at the expense of mental health and personal life, showing just how unbalanced work culture can be in America.
words_ ian sauer & kathryn stein. photo_valentina gomez. design_charlotte deangelis
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