The AESC (Association of Executive Search Consultants) surveyed senior executives from around the world to gain feedback on employee perception of work-life balance. The questions focused in particular on the relationship between executive compensation and work-life balance as well as the impact of new technology on work-life balance.

The survey was distributed on 1 May 2006 to the AESC's global database of senior executives,  and by 9 May received 1,311 responses. The majority or respondents were in the 35—54 age range with 41 percent representing companies with sales of over $1 billion.

Key findings revealed:

• Over half the respondents (53%) did not believe they had achieved a satisfactory work-life balance.

• 56 percent stated they would "maybe" refuse a promotion if it negatively affected their work-life balance, 24 percent stated they would definitely refuse.

• The large majority of respondents (87%) stated that work-life balance considerations were critical in their decision whether to join, or remain with, an employer. In contrast, an overwhelming majority of respondents (92%) stated their firm did not have a program to improve work-life balance. These results highlight a major gap between what the employee deems valuable and what the firm is offering.

• 50 percent of respondents stated they had considered taking a sabbatical during their time as a senior executive. Though interestingly, the survey revealed the majority of firms (83%) did not allow sabbaticals. Additionally, Europeans reported greater opportunities to take sabbaticals than any other region.

• 46 percent of respondents reported their work-life balance had changed for the worse within the past 5 years, reflecting an overall negative trend of employee perception of work-life balance. In contrast, 35 percent felt their work-life balance had improved, with the minority (19%) stating their work-life balance had remained the same.

• 59 percent indicated that new technologies, such as the blackberry and mobile phone, had negatively impacted their leisure time — just 7 percent felt they had more leisure time.

To View Full Survey Results:Click here to access the complete Work-Life Balance survey Global results