4 in 5 employers intends to make flexible working arrangements permanent due to improved staff productivity

Singapore firms are confident of their ability to respond to the fluid Omicron variant situation as they intend to make hybrid working practices permanent, as reported by The Straits Times.

Business continuity measures such as having split teams and tailoring hybrid work arrangements to meet organisational needs have generally been effective in keeping businesses going despite the fluctuating pandemic situation. Such measures are in addition to safe distancing measures and rostered routine testing. Firms have also invested in remote working infrastructure during the past 2 years and are promoting mental wellness to ensure high productivity levels even when employees are working from home. Some of these mental wellness initiatives include having “a right to disconnect” so that staff does not need to respond to work-related messages after working hours.

4 out of 5 employers interviewed by The Straits Times also intended to prioritize making flexible working arrangements permanent due to improved staff productivity during hybrid work. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have found it challenging to adopt hybrid working arrangements as the lack of teamwork from fewer face-to-face meetings have harmed company-wide alignment. Some companies also had to shoulder the additional costs of on-demand labour to make up for manpower shortages whenever their staff fell sick while meeting deadlines for projects.

Move towards permanent hybrid work a step in the right direction for talent retention and employee engagement

The above shift to a more flexible, hybrid working arrangement is a wise move by resilient companies who wish to make the best of a fluid pandemic situation while retaining their talents. In Reeracoen Singapore’s article about whether a full return to office is advisable, we shared 3 “stay” factors to increase employee retention. Previously, we also discussed how HR leaders need to relook at their top 3 priorities this year to enhance employee engagement and keep up with major shifts in the workforce. Further, we have also written about a data-driven approach to increase talent retention in the long term against the backdrop of the great resignation.

What do you think of the above move by companies towards making hybrid work permanent? How can we support and encourage SMEs to do the same?