A new study by IWG, the world’s largest operator of flexible and hybrid workspaces, has revealed that working parents in Singapore face significant challenges in arranging childcare during the school holidays.
The study found that 62% of the respondents is having issues arranging childcare for the school holidays. As a result, many parents are forced to use their annual leave to meet childcare responsibilities. Over half (55%) of parents surveyed said they use their annual leave for childcare, while over 1 in 10 (12%) use their entire annual leave entitlement in the process.
The study also found that parents are willing to make significant changes to their work arrangements in order to reduce the stress of childcare during the school holidays. For example, 38% of parents said they would be willing to work from home more often, and 34% said they would be willing to work flexible hours.
The study’s findings highlight the need for employers to offer flexible working arrangements to working parents. Flexible working arrangements can help parents to balance their work and childcare responsibilities, and can also lead to increased productivity and employee satisfaction.
IWG Chief Commercial Officer Fatima Koning said: “This research shows that the flexibility afforded by the hybrid model can be a game-changer for families during the school holidays, especially those with young children.
“Hybrid working has made a vital difference in my life: I am empowered to co-parent my daughter, take good care of myself and progress in my career – priorities that would be far more difficult to manage successfully if I were travelling back and forth to a central office every day.
“Offering hybrid working options is such an important and straightforward way for businesses to show commitment to employees by freeing up their time and giving them greater control over their schedules to manage their family responsibilities. Organisations that have adopted hybrid working are not only seeing healthier and happier workforces, but more engaged and productive teams.”
IWG is expanding its network of flexible workspaces in Singapore to meet the growing demand from working parents. The company plans to add 1,000 new locations globally in the next year, predominantly in rural and suburban areas, to provide accessible workspaces for parents seeking flexibility.
