Survey: Four in 10 workers in Singapore choose remote work over bigger bonus


Tech companies such as Facebook announced last year that workers of all levels can request to work remotely full-time after the pandemic while Twitter has said that its employees can work from home ‘forever’ in a company-wide email back in 2020. — Asian work photo created by tirachardz - www.freepik.com

If given the choice, 41% of workers in Singapore would rather continue working remotely than be offered a bigger bonus, according to a survey by recruitment agency Randstad.

In a Business Times report, the company’s Singapore and Malaysia managing director Jaya Dass said remote work may have allowed employees to enjoy benefits such as saving time and money from commuting, which allowed them to experience more personal time and better productivity.

“Employers that intend to make hybrid work a permanent feature of their workforce culture after the pandemic should also start to roll out policies as soon as they can to retain their workforce,” she said.

Randstad revealed the findings in its 2022 Salary and Bonus Expectations survey which collected responses from 300 employees based in Singapore. It was conducted online from Feb 7 to 14.

The survey aims to highlight how employers are rewarding workers following a year of economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since the pandemic began, various companies pivoted to remote work as part of a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Tech companies such as Facebook announced last year that workers of all levels can request to work remotely full-time after the pandemic while Twitter has said that its employees can work from home “forever” in a company-wide email back in 2020.

A CNBC report also revealed that tech companies such as Amazon, Intel and Pinterest acknowledged in their filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that not offering flexible work arrangements could affect their ability to hire or retain workers.

In February, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government encourages employers to allow employees to work from home or implement a rotation system in the office due to the Omicron wave.

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read