The four-day work week: 1 in 3 Singapore workers predict it being the norm

02 April, 2024

Survey reveals that 32% of Singapore workers expect a four-day work week to be the norm within five years.
21% of Singapore workers say their employers already offer four-day work weeks.
However, less than half of Singapore workers are satisfied with their flexibility of hours (46%) or location (47%) – the lowest in the APAC region.

Singapore – 2 April 2024, In Singapore, nearly a third of workers (32%) believe a four-day work week will be the norm in the next five years, according to the People at Work survey conducted by leading payroll and HR solution provider ADP.

When asked about the common workplace practices within five years, Singaporean workers expressed a preference for flexible working arrangements (FWA). Apart from the four-day work week, the other two top trends are a hybrid working model (34%) and full flexibility over hours based on productivity and results metrics (32%).

The four-day work week is not just wishful thinking – 21% of Singapore workers surveyed say their employers already offer this to promote positive mental health at work. This is the highest percentage in the APAC region among countries like Australia (11%), China (14%) and India (20%). Meanwhile, nearly seven in 10 (67%) Singapore workers say they have some or complete flexibility over their working arrangements.

Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR APAC at ADP, says, “The four-day work week is gaining popularity for its potential benefits like improved work-life balance, increased productivity and reduced burnout. Flexibility is not a perk but a foundational expectation. Our research shows Singapore employees value flexibility as the third most important factor to them in a job, after salary and job security. Employers today must offer FWA to attract and retain talent.”

While workers do currently have flexibility over their working arrangements, they still feel more could be accorded. Less than half of Singapore workers are satisfied with their flexibility of hours (46%) or location (47%) — the lowest in the APAC region.

Yvonne adds, “More can be done in creating flexible work arrangements. By understanding the specific concerns and preferences of their employees through open dialogue, employers can then provide tailored solutions to accommodate their diverse needs and preferences. Striking a balance that considers both the company’s needs and the well-being of its workforce is crucial to fostering a more positive and inclusive work environment.”

“Employees who desire flexible work arrangements should be proactive and have open conversations with managers to work out the best solutions.

“Flexible work arrangements can benefit everyone, whether employee or employer. But effective implementation and communication are key to their success,” Yvonne concludes.

The People at Work annual study of workers across 17 countries explores employees’ attitudes towards the current world of work and what they expect and hope for from the workplace of the future. The full report can be downloaded from ADP’s website here.

ENDS

About the research

People at Work 2023: A Global Workforce View explores employees’ attitudes towards the current world of work and what they expect and hope for from the workplace of the future.

ADP Research Institute® surveyed 32,612 workers in 17 countries around the world between 28 October and 18 November 2022 including over 8,613 working exclusively in the gig economy. This included:

7,721 in Asia Pacific (Australia, China, India and Singapore)
15,290 in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK)
5,751 in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil and Chile)
3,850 in North America (USA and Canada).

Within the worker sample gig workers and traditional workers were identified. Gig workers were identified as those who work on a contingent, temporary, or seasonal basis, or as a freelancer, independent contractor, consultant, gig worker, or use an online platform to source work. Traditional employees were identified as those who are not working in the gig economy and instead have a permanent full or part-time position.

The survey was conducted online in the local language. Overall results are weighted to represent the size of the working population for each country. Weightings are based on labour force data from the World Bank,^{^[1]} which is derived using data from the ILOSTAT database, the central statistics database of the International Labour Organization (ILO), as of February 8, 2022.

About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)

Designing better ways to work through cutting-edge products, premium services and exceptional experiences that enable people to reach their full potential. HR, Talent, Benefits, Payroll and Compliance informed by data and designed for people. Learn more at ADP.com

Media Contacts:

Ying Wang
PR & Brand Voice Manager, APAC
Ying.wang@adp.com

Ally Chua

+1 857 423 4481
hello@distilleri.sg

[1] Source: The World Bank, Labor force, total, World Development Indicators database, February 8 2022