Singapore

52% of Singaporeans would quit their job if they couldn't work hybrid anymore

FlexOS, a new Singapore-based platform that recently raised $1 million to help companies manage their hybrid teams and offices with a focus on the employee experience and company culture, partnered with the leading global innovation platform and venture capital firm Plug and Play on new original research that shows hybrid work is here to stay.

Key findings from "The State of Hybrid Work in Singapore":

  • 52% of Singaporean hybrid workers say they would quit their job if there were no longer an option for flexible work.
  • Collaboration (1), Doing Focused Work (2), and Socializing with Colleagues (3) are the key reasons for employees to still come to the office
  • 67% of hybrid workers in Singapore would be motivated to come to the office for social, creative, well-being, and training workshops
  • A whopping 90% of Singaporean employees want to take an active role and create small events like lunches or doing something fun after work to ensure the team stays connected.
  • 60% of employees in Singapore say that when they work from home, they have experienced Fear of Missing Out about what's happening in the office.

Singaporean hybrid workers refuse to go back to the office full-time

Hybrid Work combines work from home, office, and 'third places' like cafes and coworking spaces. And it's taking the world by storm. According to McKinsey, over 90% of companies are switching to hybrid work long-term.[1]

Hybrid workers report higher levels of job satisfaction, engagement, and commitment.[2] No wonder Stanford researchers have proven that hybrid work increases employee retention.[3]

And once you have it, like many Singaporean employees, it's hard to go back. According to the research, conducted in October 2022, 1 in 2 (52%) of Singaporean employees currently practicing hybrid work say they would quit their job if there were no longer an option for flexible work.

This number goes up even further for Millennials (25-34), where 57% say they would quit without a hybrid working option. These insights make it clear that companies and employees have good reasons to be in the office; asking employees to come back entirely is at the companies' peril.

People are the reason to come back to the office

While working from home has many benefits, employees in Singapore still have good reasons to come back to the office. Amongst all options, collaboration (1), doing focused work (2), and socializing with colleagues (3) were ranked the highest.

Interestingly, Gen Z (18-24) wants to be in the office for on-the-job learning so they can get direct feedback. This makes sense, given that about 80% of learning happens by shadowing others – something that's hard to do at home.

On the other hand, millennials (25-34) choose to come into the office for the right environment and vibe to do work more than other age groups.

Creative, well-being, and other Workshops are the #1 driver for Singaporeans to come to the office more than required

Human connection, which happens organically in a 9-to-5 office culture, needs to be more 'designed' in the hybrid workplace. Employers who are wondering how to attract employees back into the office should look no further than workshops.

Our research shows that 67% of hybrid workers in Singapore would be motivated to come to the office for social, creative, well-being, and training workshops.

Get-togethers such as team lunches, coffee breaks, co-working sessions, and other group activities organized by managers (53%) closely follow workshops.

Knowing that their favorite colleagues are in on a certain day is the reason to return to the office for 45% of employees.

The motivators listed above are true across all age groups, except for 54+, for whom face-to-face work meetings would be the primary motivation to come in.

Employees want to take an active role in staying connected to their colleagues

Hybrid and remote teams have a weaker sense of connection and community. But according to this study, a whopping 90% of Singaporean employees want to take an active role and create small events like lunches or doing something fun after work to ensure the team stays connected.

Of these employees, 58% would do it without any reward, whereas 42% think getting rewarded for taking the initiative would be motivating. Especially Gen Z and Millennials say they'd do that, but only if their employer rewarded them for it.

Up to 60% of Singapore hybrid workers have experienced Office FOMO

Sitting at home and realizing you're missing out on a great social moment in the office can make you feel like you're missing out. Especially in companies where these social moments get shared liberally on internal messaging platforms like Teams or Slack, people may feel left out.

The FlexOS study shows that 60% of employees in Singapore say that when they work from home, they experience Fear of Missing Out about what's happening in the office. For the 35-44 range, this number even goes up to 69%.

 

Access The State of Hybrid Work in Singapore report here to get the full read on the findings from the original research.