Nearly half of Singapore professionals support four-day workweek: survey

49% of respondents in Singapore expect they would be more focused and efficient if their workweek was reduced to four days.

Close to half of professionals in Singapore believe that a four-day workweek would improve their productivity, according to a recent survey conducted by Hays.

The LinkedIn poll, which covered professionals across five Asian markets, showed that 49% of respondents in Singapore expect they would be more focused and efficient if their workweek were reduced to four days.

Amongst the countries surveyed, China led with 73% support, followed by Hong Kong SAR (69%), Malaysia (65%), Japan (54%), and Singapore.

In Singapore, 32% of respondents indicated dissatisfaction with their current work-life balance. Flexible work policies are becoming a key factor in employment decisions, with 38% considering them when evaluating job opportunities and 39% citing them as a reason for staying with their current employer.

Resistance to the four-day model appears low. Only 6% of Singapore respondents expressed concern about managing workloads within a shortened week, whilst 10% said the change would make little difference due to existing flexible schedules.

About 35% said the impact would depend on the specific nature of their job roles.

The study also pointed to potential organisational benefits beyond productivity improvements. Companies could lower operating costs by shutting down offices for an additional day each week, reducing expenses on utilities and overheads.

Such measures contribute to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, including cutting carbon emissions and promoting employee well-being.

Whilst adoption of the four-day workweek remains limited in Singapore, the government has introduced guidelines that allow employees to request shorter workweeks and other flexible arrangements.

Despite growing interest and supportive data, widespread implementation would require significant adjustments to long-standing work culture and management practices.

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