The comparison of satisfaction levels among salaried and self-employed people

Abstract

Work-life balance and occupational burnout are now seen as crucial psychological factors that affect employee well-being, productivity, and mental health. Salaried employees often deal with organizational pressures, deadlines, and role expectations, while self-employed individuals face unique stressors like income instability, long work hours, and difficulty separating work from personal life. This study aimed to compare work-life balance and burnout between self-employed and salaried individuals, as well as to explore the relationship between these factors. A total of 100 participants (50 self-employed and 50 salaried individuals) aged 20–60 from Faisalabad city were selected for the study. The results showed that self-employed individuals reported higher work-life imbalance and greater burnout levels than salaried individuals. A significant negative correlation was found between work-life balance and occupational burnout, indicating that those with poor balance are more likely to experience exhaustion and disengagement. The findings suggest that having autonomy in self-employment does not necessarily protect against burnout and may actually increase stress due to financial uncertainty and lack of support structures.