Always‑on culture grips 63% of employees, Jobstreet says

About 85% of employers expect them to remain reachable outside working hours.

Nearly two-thirds of employees in Singapore, or 63%, feel pressure to stay always-on, or remain reachable even outside working hours, despite greater workplace flexibility, according to a Jobstreet study.

The SEEK Singapore Workplace Culture Study found that 85% of employers said their organisations expect employees to be always-on at least somewhat often.

More than half, or 52%, of employees believe workplace culture has become more stressful since 2019, whilst 46% said their job scopes have become more demanding. Only 27% reported greater flexibility and work-life balance.

Amongst employees who experience always-on pressure, 63% said it has reduced their energy levels, and 47% reported lower job satisfaction.

Some 63% of them said they respond quickly to requests, and 52% remain available outside working hours. Only 32% said they demonstrate commitment by taking initiative.

About 62% said being constantly available had made no difference to their career progression, whilst 59% said it had not affected recognition at work. Only 6% believed always-on working was a way to get ahead.

Employees are also setting their own boundaries, with 26% saying they work intensely when necessary but otherwise protect their personal time.

Amongst organisations that expect employees to be always-on, 66% said the practice may provide short-term gains but increase the risk of burnout over time, whilst 15% associated it with disengagement and staff turnover.

Despite this, 48% of employers said they had no plans to introduce policies addressing always-on working in the foreseeable future. Half of employees said they received none of the forms of support covered in the study, compared with 22% of employers who said their organisations offered none.

The study found that employees and employers generally see responsibility for always-on working as shared, with 55% of employees and 45% of employers saying both sides contribute equally.

The report called for a shift towards outcomes over availability, sustainable flexibility with clear boundaries, and workplace support that employees can actually use for a more sustainable performance.

The study, conducted with Milieu Insight, surveyed 600 employees and job seekers and 200 employers and hiring decision-makers in Singapore.