Singaporean Companies 'Not Happy' With Flexi-Work Option; Considers Overseas Recruitment Instead

By Thea Felicity

Apr 18, 2024 11:16 AM EDT

SINGAPORE-LIFESTYLE-ECONOMY-ARCHITECTURE
Pedestrians walk below the highrise office buildings at the financial business district of Raffles Place in Singapore on August 8, 2022.
(Photo : ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Recently, VCPost reported that a new rule would begin in Singapore requiring companies to offer a flexi-work setup option starting in December. However, Singaporean companies are not meeting the idea with the same enthusiasm as employees, prompting them to reconsider their hiring strategies. 

READ NEXT: Singapore: New Tripartite Rules Requiring All Firms to Offer Flexible Work Options Will Begin in December

Singaporean Companies Reaction to Flexi-Work Setup

In response to newly announced guidelines requiring fair consideration of flexible work arrangements, employers are voicing out their struggles with the implementation across various roles. 

According to Channel News Asia, they do acknowledge the benefits of flexible-work, including enhanced employee well-being and loyalty. However, companies are facing challenges in ensuring fairness and productivity across different functions. 

Concerns about maintaining confidentiality and managing dispersed workforces have emerged, particularly in frontline roles where flexibility gives unique challenges.

It also does not help that Singaporean companies actively advocate for better skills to meet evolving demands. Therefore, businesses are contemplating overseas recruitment to ensure all needs are met.

Companies are considering hiring employees from overseas due to lower labor costs and the desire to access a wider range of skills and expertise. However, even as they contemplate this shift, they recognize the importance of maintaining a positive work environment and clear communication within the organization to ensure a successful transition.

To address these challenges, entrepreneurs and HR professionals stress the importance of clear communication, trust-building, and evaluating the impact of flexible work arrangements from the outset. They advocate for a dialogue-based approach to decision-making, trial periods to test arrangements, and pressing flexibility's potential benefits to secure managers' buy-in. 

While the guidelines aim to reconcile the interests of both employers and employees, the dynamic nature of work necessitates ongoing adjustments and a commitment to skill enhancement.

READ MORE: American Companies Are Exploring 4-Day Workweek Setup; Is It Really Possible?

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