Singapore needs better workspaces to make burnt out citizens happy

The city-state requires more than a well-stocked pantry to deal with extreme exhaustion.

The price of success is nowhere more evident than in Singapore, where people work long hours to enjoy one of the highest living standards in Asia.

But Singaporeans are also one of the most stressed out in the world, with many citizens struggling to balance work and family life amidst state efforts to raise the official retirement age each year.

Three of five Singaporean workers are experiencing burnout, according to recruitment platform Employment Hero’s 2024 Wellness at Work report. The 61% burnout rate is only slightly better than the 62% in 2022.

The cutthroat work environment, plus the stigma of seeking help for mental issues make it harder to deal with depression and anxiety. 

“Workplace wellness comes in two forms — tangible and intangible,” Kong Wan Long, co-founder and chief commercial officer at JustCo, told the Singapore Business Review.

“But beyond tangible amenities that support and enhance wellness at work, fostering a welcoming work culture also has a huge positive impact on employees' well-being,” he said.

Kong noted that as professionals increasingly prioritise well-being at work, many businesses, including co-working space provider JustCo, are investing more resources to foster a conducive environment where workers can be well looked after.

In Singapore, more than half of SME employees consider productivity and well-being amongst the top five priorities when choosing a job, according to a survey commissioned by JustCo and conducted by Milieu Insights. One in three workers have cited the lack of wellness facilities as a workspace challenge.

Kong said wellness amenities in the workplace have become a priority for professionals working for small and medium enterprises, which employ about 70% of Singapore’s workforce.

A well-stocked pantry and nap rooms or relaxation areas are amongst workers’ most preferred wellness amenities at 47% and 37%, according to JustCo. They also prefer ergonomic furniture such as chairs.

A separate survey for JustCo found that 80% of its employees appreciate its commitment to enhancing the work experience, prompting the company to focus on improving the intangible aspects of wellness.

“Employees want to work in better workplaces that have a more positive work environment,” Ooi Sze Jin, founder of A Kind Place, a Singapore-based psychology clinic, said. These may include positive messages from their bosses, flexible work arrangements, and management showing care for its workers, she said.

“They also want to work at a place where they can get along with their colleagues and feel safe at work,” said Ooi, who is a psychologist.

She noted that sometimes, a burnt-out worker might have to undergo therapy sessions to help them manage their emotions better, set better boundaries at work, and manage their panic attacks. 

“Wellness at work goes beyond simply going for team bonding with colleagues or having a good coffee break,” Kong said.

‘Two-pronged approach’

Whilst physical comfort boosts employee productivity and well-being, their needs do not end there. More employees are now openly discussing their mental health struggles which are largely driven by work-related stress.

As the demand for work-life balance grows, addressing mental health becomes even more crucial.

Ooi said that through counselling, employees could be encouraged to speak up and demand fair treatment from their employers. “Many of our clients were able to find the strength to set better boundaries at work, ask for better working arrangements, or choose to leave their workplace for greener pastures.”

A Kind Place provides counselling and assessment services to companies and people with anxiety, depression, and burnout. The clinic also supports clients with ADHD who face difficulties with motivation, procrastination, self-doubt, and feelings of shame.

“Workplaces can start small,” Ooi said. “Instead of just engaging external organisations such as ourselves for talks and workshops, they can engage us for an organisational ‘check-up’ to find out how their employees are doing and what changes they can make.”

Management should do a self-awareness check and know that they can help create a healthier and happier workplace, she added.

“The two-pronged approach of focusing on both physical and mental well-being is key to boosting self-care at work, and ultimately creating a healthy workplace where our members thrive,” Kong said.

While Singapore’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which employ 70% of its workforce, agree about the importance of employee well-being, finding optimal workspaces can be a problem due to budget constraints. 

But companies are becoming more open to flexible workspace solutions including hybrid work models. Kong said this not only optimises space and cost but also allows companies to integrate wellness features in the office.

JustCo offers a workspace solution that includes nap rooms, pantries and communal areas for events or simple breaks, all at no additional cost.

“SMEs can simply commit to the number of workstations they need and share access to these wellness amenities with other members,” Kong said. “In the process, they can even form a strong network of mutual support within the JustCo community.”

The Singapore-based co-working space provider has partnered with technology company Razer, Inc. and Secretlab, known for its gaming chairs, to bring their ergonomic products to JustCo centres in the city-state.

JustCo believes that co-working spaces — shared work environments that provide a physical space to freelancers, entrepreneurs and people who need a dedicated space for their work — benefits an organisation’s collective mental health and promotes higher productivity, more creativity, and lower stress levels across the board.

“We've been working with external organisations to organise wellness-related programmes like coaster-making workshops, mini-bazaars showcasing healthy food options, and healthy diet-sharing sessions, all aimed at raising awareness about healthy living and self-care,” Kong said.