45% of Singaporeans work remotely

Telecommuting remains a trend for workers globally and locally, with 45% of Singaporean workers reportedly working remotely for at least half the working week.

This puts Singapore just slightly behind the global average of 48%, a study by Regus found.

The survey, which looked at responses from 26,000 business managers across 90 countries, also found 61% of Singaporean respondents believe effective management of remote workers is possible with special training, again ahead of the global average of 55%.

"The business people we speak with tell us that trust and freedom play a key role in remote management and, once these are in place, the benefits are clear for all to see: greater productivity, improved staff retention and lower operating costs," Mark Dixon, CEO of Regus, said.

In Singapore, 53% of respondents said they use specific efficiency-monitoring reporting systems, while 58% of remote managers use video calls to communicate with their teams.

Two thirds of local respondents added trust is a critical factor in telecommuting, and 38% said they believe remote management helps maintain a more professional relationship.

"Flexible working is a winner for all concerned when the management team takes the lead," Dixon said.