The rise of COVID in 2019 led a lot of companies to switch to hybrid work setups, and many stuck with it even after the pandemic. But some have decided to go back to working fully in the office, which brings us to today’s discussion.
There’s been a lot of talk in Asia about productivity and work-life balance as people get used to new ways of working. Robert Walters recently carried out a study to explore whether a 4-day work week could be the region’s next move for boosting productivity.
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Is Asia ready for a 4-day work week?
According to their report titled “The 4-day work week: Is Asia ready for it?“, 94% of Malaysian professionals are interested in trying out a 4-day work week, and half of them (50%) believe it could boost their productivity.
On the employer side, 79% think it’s a workable idea, but many still have concerns about making it happen. Only 29% of Malaysian employers are planning or considering switching to a 4-day week in the next 2 years, which is lower than the Southeast Asian average of 37%.
Still, when you look at the numbers, 74% of employers who see a 4-day work week as a good idea think it could boost productivity, which is higher than the regional average of 66%. While 68% believe it could help them attract and keep employees at their company.
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“A good way for companies to keep retain top employees”
The Director at Robert Walters Malaysia, Raja Ahmad Muzamir, noted that many talents in Malaysia are re-evaluating how work balances with their personal lives.
Focusing on employee well-being and trying out flexible options like a 4-day workweek might be a good way for companies to keep their best people.
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36% of employers are open to flexible hours on Fridays
Companies in Malaysia are leaning towards a slower shift to a 4-day work week compared to other Asian countries. About 36% of employers are open to giving flexible hours on Fridays instead.
The biggest worries for those sceptical about the 4-day work week include challenges in rolling it out without causing employee resentment (54%), potential business costs from delayed projects or needing to hire more staff (50%), and concerns about productivity dropping after a long weekend (36%).
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The methodology used for the study
The report surveyed over 5,000 professionals and companies across 11 Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
This survey, done over 6 weeks in March and April 2024, set out to learn what people think about the 4-day work week and how it might affect talent and organisations in Asia.
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What are your thoughts on this? Share it with us down in the comments!
Also read: Study: Employees in Malaysia Ranked the 2nd UNHAPPIEST at Work in Southeast Asia
