Female professionals in Singapore are calling it quits, as 77 percent respondents have set their sights on looking for better job opportunities next year, according to findings from a new study by Monster.com. The study, which surveyed over 2,000 respondents across Southeast Asia, sheds light on the challenges women and mothers face in the workplace.

Through the study, Monster.com wants to help employers understand how to bridge this disconnect and consider more flexible work arrangements to retain valuable female employees.

While close to 90 percent of female respondents in Singapore see work-life balance as a key factor in their job, 70 percent feel obligated to work overtime in their current role. To make matters worse, 77 percent of the women are never able to work from home, adding to their overall dissatisfaction.

The findings also suggest a bias and discrimination against mothers and women in the workplace. In Singapore, 71 percent of women still face some form of inequality or prejudice in the office due to their gender, including being passed over promotions (33 percent), being questioned about their desire to have children during job interviews (36 percent) and being talked down by a boss or a manager (25 percent).

Additionally, 7 percent of women who have answered the survey in Singapore said they have been victims of sexual harassment. 41 percent of Singaporean women also struggle to balance their demands at work, with the demands of their families yet nearly half of these respondents say their company currently offers no other maternity or flexible benefits, beyond what is legally required.

Despite these glaring issues, 51 percent respondents said their employer currently offers no gender diversity programs.

See: Singapore Encourages Career Opportunities for Women in Tech

“Singapore’s transformation into a leading global economy has occurred because of the equality of men and women – their access to jobs, education, health care, and equal pay. However, as vital as this is to the country’s success, there are still gaps that employers need to focus their energies on to ensure business remains productive. This can only be achieved through equality, and ensuring we don’t disengage half of the population,” said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director – Monster.com APAC and Middle East.

In a bid to show support and encourage more mothers to rejoin the workforce, Monster Singapore has launched the #SheMakesItWork campaign to raise greater awareness on the issues women across Southeast Asia face at work.

“This Mother’s Day, we wanted to raise awareness that there are still many issues women face when making decisions around career and family. Mothers are a huge untapped talent resource across Southeast Asia. Our survey shows that many Singaporean women want to re-enter the workforce after having children, but struggle to find a balance that makes it work for them. To address this, employers must find a way to encourage and promote female participation by bolstering the business case for diverse leadership and flexible arrangements,” Modi added.

Also read: 59% Women in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia Least Satisfied With their Jobs

Feature image credit: freedigitalphotos.net