Mad as hell but we still take it: 57% of Singaporeans complain work/life balance unattainable

Employers believe employees’ better work/life balance translates to increased productivity and improved staff retention and loyalty.

Is work/life balance really attainable? 42.53 percent of Singaporeans think it is – but say a flexible employer is the key.

In a survey by recruiting experts Hays, a further 36.02 percent said work/life balance is attainable, but that it is up to them to make it work. 21.46 percent feel work/life balance is not attainable, according to a Hays report.

“As this survey shows, most Singaporeans now believe work/life balance is achievable, provided they either find the right employer or they take matters into their own hands,” said Chris Mead, General Manager of Hays in Singapore.

“This is good news for job seekers because the recent conversations we’ve had with them shows that work/life balance has shot up their priority list. It’s replaced job security now that we’re seeing such strong jobs numbers.

“While salary and career progression are also important factors in a job seeker’s decision, it’s the potential for work/life balance that can be the deal breaker in an offer that otherwise ticks all the boxes.

“The most common work/life balance approaches we see are compressed working weeks and part-time work. Job sharing and working from home are also becoming more common.

“The employers we speak to that have practical and flexible working options in place often say productivity has increased and staff retention and loyalty have improved because their employees’ work/life balance is better. Employers that offer flexible working options to support their employees also gain a good reputation in their industry,” he said.

According to Hays, simple, flexible working options can make the difference between keeping and losing staff at a critical time, when the best employees are needed to drive recovery.

“The key is to make available the flexible working options most sought after by employees,” added Chris. “A one-size fits-all approach will not work. That’s why over one third of our survey respondents said work/life balance is only attainable if they make it work. It’s important for employers to speak to their staff about the options that will allow them to achieve the desired work/life balance.

“Ultimately, we see flexible working policies as a positive move for both employers and employees and we hope to see continued improvements in this area,” said Chris. 

The survey was conducted on www.hays.sg. 783 people responded.

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.