Employers themselves should decide on work-from-home arrangement
PETALING JAYA: Employers are urging caution over calls to expand the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement, warning that a blanket approach could disrupt business operations.
As the government reviews the WFH proposal for civil servants, Malaysian Employers’ Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said any decision to expand WFH to private sector workers should remain with employers.
He said the decision should be based on operational requirements, the company’s digital readiness and the nature of the job.
Syed Hussain said this in response to suggestions that WFH be expanded as a measure to address global uncertainties, reduce daily commuting, save on petrol consumption, and ease the burden on fuel subsidies, particularly for RON95.
He said the WFH proposal would not be the key solution if implemented to counter possible energy supply disruptions or rising costs caused by West Asia conflicts.
He proposed that WFH be implemented using flexible guidelines rather than being made mandatory.
“The guidelines should take into account aspects such as productivity measurement, data security, working hours, as well as the responsibilities of employers and employees, so that the implementation of WFH does not create legal uncertainties or performance management issues,” said Syed Hussain.
He also said WFH should not be applied across all sectors, as their suitability varies by industry.
“A one-size-fits-all approach could affect the smooth running of business operations and the competitiveness of companies, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that have limited technological capacity and resources,” he said.
Syed Hussain added that any proposal to expand the WFH arrangement should be discussed through a tripartite dialogue involving the government, employers and employees or unions.
He said such discussions are important to ensure policies introduced are practical, realistic and do not create extra costs or administrative burdens for businesses.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association president Datuk Mohamed Mosin Abdul Razak cautioned that restaurants near government offices could see a drop in lunchtime customers.
“If a large portion of civil servants begin working from home, restaurants in these areas could see a noticeable drop in walk-in customers,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Mohamed Mosin added that daily revenue may also be affected, particularly for outlets operating in areas with a high concentration of government offices.
“The impact is not only on food operators. It can also be seen across the economic ecosystem, where the entire supply chain could be affected by this move. Many industries depend on these food outlets as well,” he said.
Mohamed Mosin said restaurant operators may need to adjust their strategies to remain competitive if the policy is implemented.
Included among the possible adjustments would be strengthening delivery and online ordering services to reach customers working from home, offering targeted promotions such as family meal sets or lunch deals in residential areas and reassessing operating hours if weekday lunch demand declines in office districts.
At the same time, Mohamed Mosin urged the government to clearly outline its stance on the WFH policy before it is implemented.
The announcement on WFH for the civil service is expected to be made on Tuesday.
