More than 4 in 5 employees in Singapore said they want flexible working arrangements, according to the latest study commissioned by Randstad.

About 85 percent respondents said they prefer agile working as it helps them maintain a more balance lifestyle. The flexibility to do a remote working is popular among Singaporeans, as 87 percent said that having the autonomy at work increases their productivity, creativity and job satisfaction.

Compared to other countries in Asian markets, Singapore workers are found to have the most freedom to decide for themselves, where, when and how they want to do their work. Three in four employees in Singapore have the flexibility to work from home and outside of stipulated business hours. When it comes to gender, women workers in Singapore are less likely to feel that agile working has interfered with their personal life as compared to men.

Commenting on the finding, Managing Director at Randstad Singapore, Jaya Dass said, “Employees in Singapore are known to be hard workers and often clock long hours at work. There is also a risk of presenteeism, which is mistakenly accepted as having a commendable work attitude. Unfortunately, this behaviour impacts workplace productivity and business profitability.

See: OCBC to Cut Teller Jobs by Half and Retrain Those Affected in Digital Banking Initiative

The Workmonitor research noted that despite the increasing demand for flexible work arrangements, more than half employees surveyed (55 percent) felt that such freedom would interfere their personal lives. This sentiment is attributed to the increasing volume of digitalisation in the workplace.

As more and more employers provide their workforce with digital devices such as smartphones and laptops, workers in Singapore might feel compelled to be ‘always-on’ even when they are outside the working hours. Owing to this reason, they are not always sure how and when to disconnect themselves from work. The study revealed that 56 percent employees found it difficult to disconnect from work.

Mr Jaya said, “Digital devices should not cause any unnecessary stress and employers who entrust their staff with the flexibility to work outside of the office at a time that works best for them are encouraged to respect employees’ working hours. Employees who are given the freedom should also have a clear sense of their responsibilities, provide timely updates to their coworkers and keep to their deadlines.”

Read also: Flexible Wage Increment Proposal to Share ‘Productivity Gains’ with Workers