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Hong Kong workforce favours four-day office week post pandemic

Hong Kong workforce favours four-day office week post pandemic

 

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The new normal arising out of the coronavirus pandemic has thrown up a lot of new challenges as the world’s biggest work-from-home experiment continues to run. But it has already alerted us to a new way of doing things – one of which is how and where we want to work.

A recent survey conducted by Lingnan University has revealed that more than 80% of Hong Kong respondents prefer WFH for at least one day per week even after the pandemic abates.

More than 70% of respondents said WFH allowed them to have more time to rest, while 64% said the practice helped reduce work stress.

“Although 82% of respondents preferred WFH for at least one day in the long run, (there) was objection from management and the self-employed,” said Ada Wong, associate professor of teaching at the university’s School of Graduate Studies.

The research showed that 69% of management was positive about WFH, but that 31% opposed it.

“Countries including Finland, the Netherlands, the UK and Canada have already established acts governing home and flexible work arrangements, which aims to enhance employees’ satisfaction, foster work-life balance for employees and instill employees’ sense of belonging,” said Frankie Lam King-sun, associate dean of the university’s School of Graduate Studies.

Respondents also encountered challenges when WFH. With two-thirds saying they lacked office equipment (e.g. computer, printer), 66% said they were distracted by household chores and 64% said they were disturbed by family members, children or other co-inhabitants.

The survey was conducted by the university’s School of Graduate Studies during April, collecting almost 2000 online responses from Hong Kong citizens.

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