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NEW DELHI: India is a country of contradictions. This is evident from its score in a global study on corporate work-life balance. According to the study, which shows a worldwide improvement in work-life balance since 2010, India doesn’t fare too badly. But it doesn’t fare too well either.

The study conducted by Regus, a flexible workplace provider, surveyed over 16,000 professionals in 86 countries. It shows a 24% rise in work-life balance in 2012 as compared to 2010, with more than 60% saying this balance had improved since 2010.

While 69% enjoyed work more than in 2010, 59% were happy with the amount of time they spent with their family. Over two-fifths felt their companies were actively involved in reducing staff commutes, with India ranked No 2 where professionals feel this way. Take the case of a Gurgaon media professional who would commute daily to Noida. His company now allows him to work from home. The biggest improvement in work-life balance, the study found, was for BRIC countries. India tops countries whose professionals say they are achieving more at work now than in 2010.

But India is also high on the list where professionals who had taken on additional work during recession say these duties are yet to be assigned to a new staffer. China and India are the top nations where employees spend more time at work and less with family. in stark contrast to countries like Netherland and Australia.

Indian academician Ashutosh Mishra, who lives in Australia, saw a dramatic improvement in work-life balance ever since he left India. "In India, I worked on Saturdays and received office calls all through the weekend. I was exhausted and had little time for family. In Australia, everyone from the director of my institute to colleagues and friends take family time very seriously," says Mishra. He now spends weekends golfing, taking his kids for a swim and watching movies and rugby matches.

Paritosh Mishra, who worked in the Indian corporate sector for 15 years before shifting to Australia, says that working beyond 5 pm there is seen as a sign of inefficiency.

Madhukar Kamath, CEO and MD, Mudra, says that while every company wishes to achieve this balance, it’s not high priority, though a gradual move towards it is being made. It makes sense to do so. "Lack of family time greatly contributes to mental health issues," says B N Gangadhar, professor of psychiatry, Nimhans, Bangalore.

But there is a reason why India had poor work-life balance. R N Sharma, former professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, says it had much to do with the complete dismantling of labour movements in India. "Foot-loose labour, once meant for hawkers, now applies to white-collar workers too. With weakening labour movements, employees don’t have bargaining power."

But Chandrajit Banerjee, DG of CII, says India is at a stage in its economy where the work force needs to put in more hours. But many companies, he says, are helping employees achieve a better balance, be it flexible work options or engaging their families.

"As Indians, we love work. We work two Saturdays a month, 48 hours a week. We don’t go for holidays every quarter or an outing every weekend," says Dr Gibson Vedamani, former CEO, Retailers’ Association of India. This isn’t necessarily unhealthy, he says. "In India, we’re in touch with home even during work."

Milind Sarwate, group CFO, Marico, says, "If you’re working from 9 am-6 pm, it doesn’t mean you won’t take personal calls or check Facebook." He has a problem with the term work-life balance. "Isn’t work a subset of life?’’