Jobseeker preferences and current opportunities show that remote or hybrid work is here to stay in Southeast Asia. However, is it truly feasible and beneficial to the region?
Southeast Asian countries are known for strong filial ties and intergenerational support. Separating work and personal life is already challenging as it is—what happens when a high-sociability culture and virtual job setup converge, threatening to blur the boundaries even more?
Chief of Staff Asia took a look at economic, organisational, cultural, and infrastructural angles for HR to consider when contemplating remote or hybrid arrangements. Here’s some of what we find in our research:
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- Rising multiple employment or career cushioning: PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey revealed 1 in 5 employees work outside of their primary job, with 69% saying it is a response to economic uncertainty.
- Growing demand for work autonomy: Ivanti’s 2023 Everywhere Work Report revealed employees (44%) prefer hybrid work with control over their schedule, rather than in a completely remote setting (27%). They would also rather report to the office full-time (27%) than adhere to a hybrid schedule controlled by their employer (3%).
- Balancing workplace relationships with work efficiency: a Philippine-based tech company shared how they identified hybrid as most suitable in their case, given the need for in-person collaboration alongside staggering, heavy traffic that costs employees hours of delay.
The full report will be published on Tuesday, October 17, and available here for subscriber download.
