Companies offering poor conditions have dominated the news recently; from the "Victorian workhouses" of Sports Direct to drivers suing Uber asking for holiday pay and a pension.

But it isn't all low pay and zero-hours contracts. A new study reveals the employers offering the best work-life balance and the results may come as a surprise, with banks, oil companies and supermarkets all winning plaudits.

Heavy hitters in the top 20 include Apple and Lloyds Banking Group, while co-operatively owned Waitrose, John Lewis also feature.

The study by jobs site Glassdoor named recruiters Goodman Masson at number one, followed by technology firm Cisco Systems and home insurers HomeServe.

Diarmuid Russell of Glassdoor said: “Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be tough in today's environment, with ever-increasing demands on our time.

“As millions of employees head back to work after the Bank Holiday, our report shows there are companies that offer a good balance between their home and work life.”

“Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be tough in today’s environment, with ever-increasing demands on our time. However, as millions of UK employees head back to work after enjoying the August Bank Holiday, our report shows there are companies that offer a good balance between their home and work life.

What’s encouraging for job seekers is that there are representatives here from many industries, including recruitment, tech, finance, manufacturing and retail.”

The full list:

1. Goodman Masson

2. Cisco Systems

3. HomeServe UK

4. LOLA Staffing

5. Screwfix

6. American Express

7. BP

8. Peninsula Business Services

9. ARM Holdings

10. Unilever

11. Thomson Reuters

12. Kantar Worldpanel

13. Atkins

14. Téléfonica

15. Credit Suisse

16. Rolls-Royce

17. John Lewis

18. Waitrose

19. Lloyds Banking Group