More than four in five Singaporeans want their organisations to introduce flexible working arrangements, as they believe this is the best way for employers to boost their mental health.
This is according to a recent study by UOB’s ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study, which surveyed 1,000 Singaporeans.
The study found that the most in-demand flexible work arrangement is hybrid work, with 85% of respondents saying they would like to work from home part-time and in the office part-time. Other popular flexible work arrangements include working from home full-time (21%) and having entirely flexible arrangements (25%).
Only 16% of respondents said they are willing to return to the office on a full-time basis.
The study also found that there is an ongoing disconnect between employers and employees in Singapore when it comes to flexibility. While 83% of employers claim to offer flexible work arrangements, only 61% of employees believe this is the case.
The demand for flexibility comes as more than half of the employees surveyed (59%) said flexible working hours is a measure they would like their employers to provide as a form of mental health and related support.
Other measures to boost mental health include cashing in unused annual leave (37%), sabbatical leave (31%), mental health days (30%), and flexible workload options (29%).
The study found that only about 70% of local office workers in Singapore expressed satisfaction with the mental health support provided by their employers. This is behind the 81% when other respondents from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam are taken into consideration.
The country’s Ministry of Manpower has long urged employers to offer flexible working arrangements permanently to help employees achieve work-life balance.
