Workaholic Singaporeans: 69% of employees work after hours

Are you one of the 45% who checks emails on holidays ?

The line between work and personal life is fast blurring for professionals in Asia Pacific, with increasing workplace connectivity and higher expectations from bosses keeping more workers connected to work at all times. According to Robert Half’s latest Workplace Survey, 69% of Singapore employees tune into work when they are out of the office or on holiday, higher than the regional average of 66%.

Reasons cited by Singapore respondents include the need to be available in case of an emergency at work (66%) and filtering through work emails to ensure less stress when returning to the office (60%), suggesting rising work pressures.

The survey also noted a high level of employee dedication, or "workaholicism", with many claiming they preferred to stay on top of work issues even when on holiday (45%), believing they should be available 24/7 as they are using a company mobile phone (29%) or simply finding it impossible to "switch off" (25%). A large number of respondents also cited technological advancements allowing access to work information from anywhere in the world (59%) as a key reason.

Commented Tim Hird, Managing Director, Robert Half Singapore and Japan, "The phenomenon of 24/7 workplace access made possible by technological advancements has led to hyper-connectivity and faster turnaround time, which is undoubtedly an advantage for businesses in this competitive world. However, the pervasiveness of constant work connectivity also result in the erosion of personal space, higher stress levels and overall decline in the quality of life for employees. Employers need to be realistic in their expectations to avoid overloading their staff and negatively affecting employees’ morale and work productivity."