Prioritising workplace wellbeing support to create a healthy workforce
- Charles Chau
The hybrid work model, while designed to offer flexibility and work-life balance, is causing higher levels of stress in some working adults, according to a Cigna report, which found that those working in the hybrid model in Singapore are most likely to feel stressed (94% vs average 86%) and work outside normal hours at least once a week (90% vs average 74%).
With the hybrid work model involving more virtual meetings and known to cause virtual overload or fatigue, Singapore respondents ranked measures to tackle this issue among the top five well-being measures they would like to have at work. With only 8% of companies in Singapore currently providing such support, there is a clear need for employers to do more if they hope to maintain a satisfied and healthy workforce, said Cigna.
READ: Singapore leads work flexibility agenda in APAC
These work and well-being factors are prompting employees to shift careers to meet their lifestyle priorities. 35% of respondents in Singapore have changed jobs in the past year and 34% are looking to do so in the next 12 months.
People are also increasingly valuing time over money, with 57% of people in Singapore happy to take a less well-paid job for more time for themselves, much higher than the Asia Pacific (49%) and global (43%) average.