2 in 5 Singaporeans wouldn’t accept a job without time, location flexibility: report

Workers in the city-state crave the flexibility to manage work alongside their lives.

Singaporean workers revealed a strong preference for workplace flexibility, even quitting jobs that fail to meet this criteria, according to a survey by Randstad.

Nearly half (49%) of the workforce shared that they would leave jobs requiring them to work more in the office. About half (42%) also said that they would not be willing to work jobs that were inflexible.

More than a quarter (26%) of employees already reported quitting their jobs due to lack of work flexibility.

Two-thirds of employees and job seekers had already expected flexible working conditions to continue post-COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed them to make significant life choices like moving houses or getting pets.

“Organisations need to have a holistic understanding of their workforce’s unique priorities and perspectives to offer the flexibility and diversity they need,” Jaya Dass, managing director of permanent recruitment at Randstad Asia Pacific, said. “The employee experience is not simply about mandating a physical presence, but fostering an equitable environment and value system that merits workers for their contributions.”

However, the report found a disparity between talent expectations and employer practices, where more than two-thirds (67%) of respondents said their employers became stricter about working in-office.

This disconnect was felt more by younger generations such as Gen Z (74%) and millennial (72%) respondents.

Gen Z employees (69%) said they quit jobs that require more hours at the office. Gen Z job seekers also said they were unwilling to work jobs that did not provide flexibility in working hours (68%) and location (61%).

“We urge employers to shift their strategies towards building a strong team culture that thrives on trust and connection, so that they can enjoy the benefits that come from a productive and engaged workforce,” Dass said.

The report surveyed 759 locally-based employees and job seekers.