Work-life balance a priority for employees in Thailand

Employees in Thailand continue to seek jobs that push for work-life balance and wellbeing, and leaders can do more to push for organisational change.
By: | December 6, 2023

Employees in Thailand are placing more emphasis and meaning on work-life balance, physical and mental wellbeing, and the flexibility to work when and where they want to when it comes to choosing a new job, with an increasing number of employees looking to find a new job within the next year.

This was one of the key findings from Robert Walters, which surveyed 570 respondents in various roles and sectors in Thailand, reported The Nation. With three-quarters of employees looking to search for something new, factors to investigate when choosing a new job include looking into the company values of the organisation in question. Other factors influencing employees’ job decisions include organisational benefits, such as bonus schemes (89%), private health insurance (74%), flexible/remote working arrangements (59%), holiday entitlement (41%), and life/critical illness cover (30%). Over three-quarters of employees surveyed also prefer job positions that offer hybrid working arrangements, emphasise work-life balance, and provide well-being services.

Punyanuch Sirisawadwattana, Country Manager of Robert Walters Thailand, underlined the importance of organisations aligning their recruitment strategies with the evolving preferences of employees in Thailand. “Organisations need to prioritise factors that matter to employees, such as flexible work arrangements, mental health support, investment in learning and development, and a commitment to an ED&I workplace culture,” she advised.

In another study by human resource consultancy Kincentric (Thailand), consistent employee experience emerged as a crucial factor for organisational success. Surveying over 100 organisations, the study highlighted the link between consistent employee experiences and improved financial performance and customer satisfaction.

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Napas Sirivarangkul, Partner at Kincentric (Thailand), outlined three key elements for achieving consistent employee experiences: Consistency in designing core employee experience elements, connectivity to integrate employees’ experiences with the organisation’s objectives, and strong C-suite leadership.