New report shows Singaporeans strongly consider flexibility in making career decisions
Flexibility remains a major factor for many Singaporeans when deciding about their next career step, according to a new report.
Roughly half (49%) say they would leave if they are required to work on-site more often, and 26% confessed that they already left an employer due to the lack of work flexibility.
Another 42% of respondents said they would also not accept a job that is too inflexible, with Gen Z poll participants saying they wouldn't work for a business that's not providing flexible work hours (68%) and location (61%), found Randstad's poll among 759 employees in Singapore.
Despite this strong desire for flexibility, 67% of respondents said their employers have become stricter about working from the office.
This is likely to change by the end of the year, after the Singaporean government ordered all employers to consider formal requests for flexible work from employees starting December.
Implementing a flexible work arrangement
Jaya Dass, Managing Director of Permanent Recruitment at Randstad Asia Pacific, told employers that the flexible work movement must be detached from the pandemic, which made it popular in the first place.
"Employees crave the flexibility to manage work alongside their lives," Dass said in a statement.
In fact, the Randstad report found that two-thirds of Singaporeans have already made significant life choices, such as getting pets or moving houses, with the expectations that flexible work arrangements will continue.
"Every employee requires different levels of flexibility and to cater to these unique needs, employers need to explore flexibility with intentionality when making changes to how they operate as a business," Dass said.
She said flexible work can help organisations meet their diversity and inclusion goals as it can accommodate more individuals into the workforce.
"We urge employers to shift their strategies towards building a strong team culture that thrives on trust and connection, so that they can enjoy the benefits that come from a productive and engaged workforce," Dass said.
To understand employees' flexible needs, Dass also advised organisations to have a "holistic understanding" for their workforce's unique priorities and perspectives.
"The employee experience is not simply about mandating a physical presence, but fostering an equitable environment and value system that merits workers for their contributions," she said.
