'Commonly perceived tension' around work from home may not be true, says expert
A new survey from Hays has revealed that 72.7% of employees in Singapore agree with their latest work arrangement policy.
"Contrary to the commonly perceived tension between employers and employees, the majority of employees are receptive to the work arrangement adjustments needed to meet business priorities," said Tom Osborne, Managing Director, Hays Southeast Asia, in a statement.
There have been reported tensions between employers and employees worldwide regarding post-pandemic work arrangements, with employers pushing for a return to office and employees resisting.
In Singapore, the Hays survey found that among those who disagree with their current work arrangement policy, 70% are working on-site or at least four days per week in office.
Local firms likely to be fully on-site
By business, the survey found that multi-national companies are more likely to offer flexible working days to their employees than local firms.
Nearly half of local companies (48.2%) in Singapore are implementing fully onsite or a five-day in-office work week, much higher than the 29.6% of multinational companies.
There are also only 2.8% of local employers offering fully remote arrangements, lower than the 5.7% of multi-national companies that provide the same benefit.
Deciding on work arrangements
According to the report, 32.8% of the respondents said they want the decision over work arrangements to be made by employers, direct managers, working team, and themselves.
This is much higher than the 25.7% of employees who want their leaders to come up with this decision alone.
The findings come as employers and employees in Singapore don't see eye to eye when it comes to flexible work arrangements, according to an Indeed report.
The report found that 83% of employers believe they provide flexibility to staff, much higher than the 61% of employees who perceive their workplace is flexible.
Osborne said employers should continue engaging with their workforce to ensure that their work arrangements are tailored to benefit all parties.
"When crafting a compelling Employee Value Proposition or engaging in discussions about flexible working arrangements to attract and retain valuable candidates, it's vital to consider factors beyond just offering flexible working options," added John Borneman, Regional Director, Hays Singapore, in a statement.
"Supportive managers and career growth potential are also important for candidates in Singapore who seek connections they can trust and opportunities for career development."
