Nearly 1 In 3 HK Workers Have Resigned Due To Lack Of Flexibility
HONG KONG – A research by Randstad found out that 29 percent of employees in the Chinese territory have quit their job because it did not give them sufficient flexibility, reported Coconuts Hong Kong on Monday afternoon (29 August, SGT).
According to the HR consulting company, flexibility is more important to younger workers, as about 40 percent of staff between the ages of 18 and 25 said they would rather resign if their employer doesn’t offer enough flexibility.
However, this sentiment dwindles as people get older. Comparatively, only 19 percent of Hong Kong employees between the ages of 45 and 54 said they would leave their job due to lack of flexibility.
55 percent of respondents stated that it’s crucial to have the flexibility to decide their work location, with 32 percent saying they would not accept an employment opportunity if it doesn’t give flexibility regarding where they work. However, only 41 percent of the respondents shared that their bosses gave them the option to choose the place where they want to work from.
Randstad Hong Kong’s Regional Director Benjamin Elms pointed out that the new generation of employees joined the labour force under very different circumstances compared with the older workers.
“They tend to use their laptops and smartphones to reply to emails, attend meetings and take notes. Some of them started work during lockdowns and have only experienced remote working. While these new technologies help them to be more efficient at work, it is critical for companies to redefine how work flexibility should look like for their workforce and offer employees more flexibility to choose when and where they want to work.”
Still, Elms noted that versus other markets, Hong Kong staff would still prefer to work in the office as their homes may not be conducive for work.
“However, it’s still important to offer flexibility to them as they may want to work remotely from a cafe or library to focus on their work rather than be in the office where they may be distracted by their colleagues or workplace chit chats.”
“When people have more flexibility to choose when they want to work, it gives them more autonomy over their tasks. Rather than letting the stipulated office hours decide when they should work and rest, they can plan their time more efficiently to meet deadlines as well as have enough time for their personal life,” he explained.
Randstad Hong Kong’s latest study involved 1,000 Hong Kong-based employees aged between 18 and 67 years old. The survey was carried out between 21 February and 13 March 2022.
