Singaporeans embrace remote working but half of bosses want return to pre-coronavirus modes

A survey found 91 per cent enjoy digital transitions such as working from home while 46 per cent of executives want to walk back these changes

A higher-than-average proportion of Singapore workers worry their companies will put profits before their safety

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Singapore workers are seen outside their office building during their lunch break, after people returned to their workplaces as Covid-19 restrictions were eased. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:45pm, 14 Oct 2020Updated: 2:51pm, 14 Oct 2020

As Singaporeans return to their offices, a survey has found that a vast majority said they liked new digital changes such as being able to work from home, and about half of employees said they would leave their companies if they do not provide flexible working hours and some guaranteed remote work. But about the same proportion of bosses are banking on returning to pre-coronavirus modes of working.

These were the views of 100 Singapore-based C-suite executives and 1,000 employees working in companies hiring 500 or more employees.

They were polled last month as part of a survey commissioned by digital workflow firm ServiceNow and conducted by market research firm Wakefield Research across 11 countries.

The survey also found that a higher-than-average proportion of Singaporean employees worry that companies will not look out for their best interests, and would put profits and performance ahead of safety.

Nearly three in four (72 per cent) employees believe that their company will prioritise business continuity over workplace safety as more workers return to work in their offices.

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