New report reveals flexibility in work location, hours still important to satisfaction
The number of employees under hybrid work in the Asia-Pacific region dropped in 2023, potentially indicating a declining popularity of the workplace arrangement.
ADP's People at Work 2024 report revealed that the percentage of hybrid workers declined to 36% in 2023, down from 39% in 2022.
"The Asia-Pacific region saw the largest drop in hybrid work, but even that change was slight (from less than 39% to 36%)," the report read.
Source: ADP's People at Work 2024: A Global Workforce View
Globally, Europe and Latin America also recorded declines in hybrid workers, with only North America registering an increase (+2%) in 2023.
The drop in hybrid workers in APAC comes as the number of employees fully working on-site went up to 53% in 2023, up from 49% in 2022. The percentage of employees in the region who worked remotely, however, remained the same at 12%.
The findings come despite measures from various countries in APAC to ensure that flexibility in workplaces remains popular after a boom during the pandemic.
In Singapore, employees will be required to consider formal requests for flexible work arrangements from employees starting this December.
In fact, the ADP report found that flexibility in working hours and location remains important job attributes for employees in APAC.
According to the report, location flexibility is popular among APAC employees between the ages of 18 and 24 (18%). Flexibility in working hours is also highly popular among employees aged 55 and above.
Source: ADP's People at Work 2024: A Global Workforce View
"The last few years have fundamentally reshaped how we think about work in Asia, with flexibility emerging as a key consideration for employees and employers alike," said Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR APAC at ADP, in a statement.
"While the shift back to office-based work is gaining traction, it's clear that flexibility in working hours and locations remains a vital aspect of employee satisfaction."
