Only one in 10 Singaporeans want to work five days a week onsite

About 38% in Singapore are ready to forgo pay raises for flexibility, a Morgan McKinley survey revealed.

Despite corporate mandates, only 9% of employees in Singapore prefer working five days in the office, as revealed by a Morgan McKinley survey indicating a strong demand for hybrid work.

“Four years post-pandemic, the global workforce is still grappling with the ongoing debate surrounding hybrid work models. Simply mandating a five-day-a-week office presence would likely encounter resistance and productivity dips. Our research underscores the resounding preference for flexibility, with 86% advocating for continued adoption of hybrid arrangements,” Gurj Sandhu, Managing Director, Morgan McKinley said in the press release.

Eighty nine per cent (89%) of Singaporean respondents express a strong preference for continuing in a hybrid or remote work model. Those in hybrid models are most content, with 38% willing to sacrifice pay raises for flexibility.

Despite employee preferences, 61% of companies urge staff to return to the office more regularly. Onsite workers exhibit higher rates of actively seeking new jobs compared to hybrid and remote workers.

Additionally, flexible working arrangements are crucial for talent attraction and retention, with 48% of hiring managers highlighting its importance. The preferred weekly working pattern for professionals in Singapore is 1-2 days in the office for 45%, while 37% prefer 3-4 days. 

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Globally, 56% of companies, including 61% in Singapore, are pushing for increased in-office presence, despite employee preferences, indicating a disconnect. Employees working onsite full-time are most likely to seek new jobs (56%) compared to hybrid (41%) and fully remote (44%) employees.

Regional differences exist in return-to-office mandates, with higher rates in Hong Kong (91%), Australia (65%), Japan (62%), Singapore (61%), and China (59%) compared to the UK (40%), Canada (40%), and Ireland (42%).

The Morgan McKinley Global Workplace Study gathered insights from over 3,400 professionals and 650 employers worldwide.

“Companies, therefore, need to implement a strategic and mindful approach to this remote rewind. Striking the balance between flexibility and practicality calls for close collaboration through open communication channels and understanding the motivations driving employees' desires for flexible work arrangements. 2024 will be a pivotal year to see if organisations see flexibility as not just a perk but a fundamental aspect of workplace cultures creating a more inclusive, productive, and resilient workforce.” added Sandhu.