Over 1 In 3 Millennial Employees May Work Remotely In 2021
SINGAPORE – More than one-third of millennial workers in the city-state, or those age 25 to 34 years old, believe that they will be permitted to work remotely in 2021, reported Staffing Industry Analysis (SIA) on Thursday (3 December).
Specifically, 36 percent of the surveyed millennial employees in Singapore think they will continue to work from home next year, while 38 percent believe that they will be granted some form of versatile work arrangement by then, according to a research conducted by Employment Hero.
The survey by the HR software & payroll platform also revealed that 42 percent of millennial staff here expect that they would render additional work hours without extra pay because of remote working.
Nonetheless, 48 percent of all respondents across all age groups expect to receive additional support from their employers to sustain remote working in 2021. A slightly lower proportion of 41 percent across all age groups are anticipating more financial support from their companies so they can cope with the higher cost of living and working brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Blended working models are no longer perceived as a novelty but rather a necessity for SME talent in Singapore. The changing nature of work is ultimately leading to new expectations and demands from employees, and employers must remain cognisant of their needs,” said Employment Hero’s CEO and Co-founder Ben Thompson.
“While technological support to enable ongoing remote working is necessary, this must be improved in conjunction with plenty of support and tools to ensure the safety of everyone’s mental health going forward,” he added.
Meanwhile, 51 percent of those polled across all age groups agreed that ensuring work-life balance is important in keeping employees happy and satisfied over the coming year. Notably, this sentiment was higher for entry-level staff (64 percent), who want employers to prioritize the work-life balance of their employees in 2021.
For entry-level workers, the top motivator for changing jobs is the lack of a salary raise, followed by better working conditions and availability of flexible work set-ups. For millennials, the leading motivator for switching jobs is career advancement.
