Professionals’ in Singapore most pessimistic on hybrid work in APAC: survey

Tailored strategies in the Singaporean context are encouraged

Professionals in Singapore were the most pessimistic on the impact of hybrid working on their career prospects and well-being compared to their counterparts in Asia Pacific (APAC), according to a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) report.

The report, which surveyed 800 respondents across APAC, showed that only 34% of Singaporeans felt hybrid work has a positive impact on their mental health, while only 33% felt the same for their physical health. Overall, this is the lowest in the survey covering Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia, in addition to Singapore.

HR delivery was also shown as an issue for the city-state, with 39% of Singaporeans surveyed identifying support for employees, as well as attracting, recruiting and retaining talent, as major challenges.

“Recognising the unique nature of the Singapore market, it's clear that a one-size-fits-all approach won't suffice in addressing the intricacies of our local landscape,” May Leng Kwok, CIPD’s global head of market development, said.

Kwok added that Singaporean organisations need to adapt to the evolving working landscape through creative problem-solving, “whether through dynamic career and skills development via job rotations, secondments, or robust support for professional qualifications and certifications.”

Notably, professionals in Singapore unanimously agreed that there is a need for a cultural reset to shift priorities towards improved employee experience and engagement, aligned with the trend of hybrid work, according to the report.

Professionals in the city-state also see flexible work setups and the changing demographics in the labourforce among the major drivers of organisational change in the workplace, behind only digital tech platforms and tech advancements, which ranked as the top drivers

Kwok highlighted that hybrid and flexible work setups transform the existing work culture and it is pivotal for leaders to consider its impact on both individual and business strategies in their approach.