'Singaporeans need to level up': Companies say flexi-work could push them to hire overseas

As flexi-work becomes the norm in Singapore, employers said they may rethink hiring local staff and look overseas for recruitment.Ms Tan Wan Ting, who founded digital marketing agency Weave Asia in 2017, currently hires 11 full-time employees in Singapore and 13 in Malaysia.

“Why do I need to hire full-time staff now if there are flexi-work hours? Might as well I gather a pool of talent, I pay them by the hour,” she said. “It will start to be more challenging for employees to look for a job… because employers will now truly compare their abilities and pay package against possibilities of hiring remotely overseas.”Employers who spoke to CNA after the guidelines were announced acknowledged the benefits of flexi-work, including employee well-being and loyalty. Many already implement them in some form, usually informally.

Performance evaluation models will need to be relooked to ensure they are outcome-driven, he added. It may also be challenging to manage a “dispersed workforce” where employees are working remotely or at different times. Confidentiality was another challenge. “While we aim to address individual needs sensitively, sharing specific details about one employee’s flexibility arrangements with others may lead to unintended consequences and feelings of inequity.”Old Hen Coffee Bar has 11 frontline employees serving customers and preparing food and drinks across two outlets. Mr Terry Lim and his co-founders handle backend functions.

“Employees who respect, collaborate with, and trust one another are much more receptive to each other’s personal needs than those who feel competition or inequality in the workplace,” said Mr Winthrop Wong, co-founder of online pharmacy Glovida-Rx. Measurements could include job satisfaction, staff well-being and impact on absence rates as well as key business objectives such as performance and staff retention.

The tripartite workgroup that developed the guidelines has said it will provide training and resources, including in skills like change management, performance appraisal and job redesign, which are deemed critical to flexible work practices.For a long-time advocate of flexi-work, the new guidelines are helpful for defining and standardising what flexible work arrangements are, but gaps remain.

Workplace Ministry Of Manpower NTUC SNEF

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Singapore Airlines flight bound for Singapore turns back to Sydney due to technical issueA Singapore Airlines flight bound for Singapore had to turn back to Sydney after a technical issue was discovered. The flight eventually took off again and landed in Singapore later in the day.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Longer SIA flights to Europe as airline avoids Iranian airspaceAll Scoot flights between Singapore and Athens will also take longer, says a Singapore Airlines spokesperson.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Singaporeans say Ronny Chieng ‘isn’t wrong’ for calling Singapore ‘a country of small island Karens’“I am a Singaporean, I’d say he’s not wrong. And if we take it too seriously… we are just proving him right,” one Singaporean commented
Source: IndependentSG - 🏆 9. / 63 Read more »

Is Renting in Malaysia and Working in Singapore a Good Idea for Singaporeans?More and more Singaporeans are considering renting in Malaysia while still working in Singapore due to the cost savings. However, the daily cross-border commute poses challenges for some. This article explores whether renting in Malaysia and working in Singapore is a viable option for Singaporeans.
Source: IndependentSG - 🏆 2. / 72 Read more »

Why is it so hard for bike-sharing companies to survive in Singapore?With SG Bike's impending exit from the market, only two operators are left in Singapore - down from over five in the heyday of bike-sharing.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Singapore's companies urged to improve cyber securityMore can be done to improve cyber security for Singapore’s companies and organisations, said Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo. Beyond strengthening digital infrastructure like cloud services and data centres, the cyber security of Singapore’s companies is important as it provides services that people use and defines their online experiences, she added.
Source: straits_times - 🏆 5. / 69 Read more »