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Why almost a quarter of firms in Singapore still don't offer flexi-work

More firms in Singapore are now offering flexible working arrangements for their employees - but looks like there's some time to go before employees can take full advantage of such arrangements.

In fact, around 27% of firms are actually afraid that employee teamwork will decline with prevalent flexi-work, according to a recent survey by Vodafone.

The survey of 8,000 business professionals across three continents revealed that 57% of Singapore employees feel they do not have a usable flexible policy in place at their job.

This is despite the fact that 53% of companies in Singapore who have introduced flexible working have seen increased profits since its implementation.

The figures were, however, lower across firms in Hong Kong.

More than three (33%) who have not implemented flexible working have not done so due to fears that employee teamwork will decline, while 66% of employees felt they do not have a usable flexible policy in place at their job.

Globally, 20% of firms stated they have not implemented flexi-work arrangements for their employees.

The study drew on responses from small and medium-sized businesses, public sector organisations and multinational corporations (MNCs) in 10 countries.

Respondents stated -- to a striking extent -- that they believed performance had been enhanced as a result of flexible working.

In Singapore, particularly,

  • 77% of Singapore companies who have implemented flexible working have seen an increase in employee productivity.
  • Teamwork has improved in 54% of Singapore organisations utilising flexible working.
  • 54% of Singapore workers leverage flexible working to improve work/life balance.

Staff morale has also increased in 75% of these organisations.

Vodafone Global Enterprise Asia Pacific President Ben Elms said: "Vodafone's research reveals a profound and rapid shift in the modern workplace. Singapore employers are telling us that flexible working boosts profits while their employees tell us they're more productive."

"We truly are in an era when work is what you do, not where you go."

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