Some 90% of businesses in Singapore view the work model as viable due to its potential to improve employee well-being and 69% believe it will boost productivity, according to a survey on perceptions about a four-day workweek recently released by recruitment agency Robert Walters.
The survey, conducted in March and April, polled over 5,000 professionals and firms across 11 Asian markets.
Despite this, Singapore businesses are less keen on implementing the model compared to the broader Southeast Asia region. Only 18% of Singapore employers have plans to transition to a 4-day work week within the next two years, compared to the regional average of 37%.
About 20% of Singapore employers are open to offering flexible work hours on Fridays or a 4½-day work week.
Aslam Sardar, chief executive of the Institute for Human Resource Professionals, told The Straits Times that this reluctance might be linked to the competitive nature of the local business landscape.
Companies could be concerned about possible operational disruptions and the challenges of implementing the model in specific industries or job roles. He noted that adopting this work structure might lead to an initial adjustment phase, potentially affecting productivity temporarily.
Adopting the four-day workweek can also result in an initial adjustment phase that may temporarily impact productivity, he added.
Workers in Singapore are eager for a four-day workweek, with 93% of them expressing an interest in a four-day work week, citing work-life balance (91%) and more family time (60%) as their main reasons, while only 48% mentioned productivity.
However, 67% worried that the same workload condensed into fewer days could lead to more stress, and 50% still preferred spreading the workload over 5 days instead of 4, according to The Independent Singapore.
The idea of a four-day work week has gained traction in recent years, with large-scale trials in some other countries.
In Southeast Asia, the idea is most accepted in Malaysia (79%), followed by Thailand (77%) and the Philippines (75%). Vietnam (54%) and Japan (56%) showed the lowest support.
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