Majority Singapore employers offer flexi-work

More Singapore companies are offering flexible work arrangements, according to the latest report by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

The report stated that the provision of flexible arrangements had the greatest impact on staff retention among various workplace practices.

Last year, 72% of employees worked in companies that offered a flexi-work option, slightly up from 70% in 2017.

A greater number were offered ad-hoc arrangements: 87% of employees, up from 81% in 2017. The report also found more firms offered ad-hoc leaves such as paid marriage leave as well as for family care.

Additionally, about 22.7% of companies here offer at least two types of flexi-work arrangements, up from 16.8% in 2017.

Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad endorsed the continued adoption of flexi-work policies, saying it “makes business sense”.

“Employees…when offered flexible work arrangements, see it as a sign that they are valued by the company and that the company is willing to accommodate employees' responsibilities outside of work,” he said.

“It is also about trust. Employees feel, ‘you trust me to get the work done even though I'm not sitting at my desk’.”

Besides flexi-work options, the report found that increases in annual leave entitlement and reductions in the number of work days per week also led to the biggest decreases in resignation rates, reported The Straits Times.