Employers in Singapore show strong readiness for flexible work arrangements, survey finds

Eight in 10 employers in Singapore are prepared to implement the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (TG-FWAR), according to a survey conducted by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

The survey found that 81% of employers feel prepared for the implementation of TG-FWAR. Moreover, 70% of organisations reported establishing processes for managing flexible work arrangement (FWA) requests.

The findings, detailed in the report Employers’ Perspective on the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, indicate a substantial shift towards flexible work options, particularly among younger employees in their 20s and 40s who seek better work-life balance and caregiving flexibility. As these demands increase, offering FWAs is anticipated to play a key role in attracting and retaining talent.

Dr Victor Seah, Director of the Behavioural Insights Centre of Excellence (BICE) at SUSS and Principal Investigator of the study, said, “While employers generally anticipate employee demand for FWAs, smaller organisations face challenges in implementation and are less convinced of FWAs’ potential to attract and retain talent. On the other hand, larger organisations see flexible work as a strategic advantage.”

While flexible work practices are widely adopted, the survey uncovered variations across industries. Organisations in the finance sector were particularly confident about their ability to comply with the TG-FWAR guidelines. On the other hand, industries with more rigid operational schedules, such as maritime and general manufacturing, reported lower confidence levels.

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Flexi-time and flexi-place arrangements are the most widely adopted, with 77% and 70% of organisations, respectively, offering these options. However, flexi-load—a more flexible work volume—remains less common, with only 26% of employers implementing it. Industries such as electronics and precision engineering, finance, and information and communications show higher adoption of flexi-load, surpassing 40%.

Hao Shuo, CEO of SNEF, concluded, “The introduction of the TG-FWAR represents a crucial development in reshaping Singapore’s workplace landscape. As noted in the study, employers recognise the value of FWAs and are willing to consider FWA requests that could be accommodated by their business operations, but it is important to employers that productivity can be sustained even when employees are on FWA.”