Do Singaporeans enjoy work-life balance?

A recent study done indicate that 78% of Singaporeans feel burnt out. According to the data, burnt out is affecting the Gen X (83%), and women and caregivers (80%) the most. A shortage of manpower seems to be a key issue with a majority (80%) of employees surveyed indicating the need to report to work despite being unwell. These employees say that either no one is available to cover their duties or there is simply too much work to do.  

Despite the poor work-life balance reported by Singapore workers, 51% of employers still insist on returning their staff to the office full time. This is in stark contrast to what most employees want, as they prefer a hybrid or remote work setup.

Tackling employee burnout

Organisations can establish healthy boundaries at work by giving leave benefits, for a start. Other options include allowing flexiwork, giving management support and implementing a communication scheme.

Additionally, office workers feel bogged down by monotonous tasks, negatively impacting their overall well-being. Business leaders should thus seriously review how employees dedicate their skills and precious time during work hours. For example, the top reasons for employee frustration stem from menial tasks like creating datasets or responding to emails. Such tasks contribute to fatigue and burnout, as almost 97 per cent of employees reported feeling exhausted at the end of a workday at least once a week. There should be support for employees to alleviate such frustrations so they can focus on high-value work that brings about innovation and satisfaction.

Bosses should also pay attention to staff who stay when their co-workers resign, as they must take on additional workload. Greater workload, increased administrative tasks, and a lack of employee appreciation will lead to burnout. Eventually, these workers will leave as well.

Companies should also consider automation to ease the burden on their staff in view of a tight labour market. Give employees autonomy at work and understand employees’ needs from regular feedback sessions to make better-informed decisions. Workplace flexibility also affords employees greater satisfaction as they could have more control over their time management. Ultimately, employers need to create a better experience and environment to attract and retain their best talents.

What other factors should be considered when designing a better workplace experience for employees?