Guidelines for flexible work requests - how useful are they, and will they work? | Deep Dive podcast

[@stelselv]

In Switzerland and other European countries, employees can choose to work 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80% to 100%. I worked 40% to 60% in a spa. It is normal there. Flexi working hours is only going to make an employee happier, less stressful, the fighting in public transport n places may reduce. Hopefully this implementation benefits all employees and employers.

[@dokinglife]

There are growing numbers of singles who have responsibilities to look after aged parents as primary caregivers. My parent fainted at home last year and was rushed to A&E. It was very forunate that i was on leave on that day. Employees usually work longer hours at home by offsetting travelling time to and fro office for work or start earlier or end work later.

[@FairToComment]

On the contrary, the present young generation is far from being filial according to reports. They are not the sandwich generation that serves the old and the young. Many we have seen are ratter dependable on their parents and see it as their duty to bring them up in line with their peers. Even during festive seasons they don’t normally visit their elders nowadays.

[@steventay5834]

ThinkTalkListen We pampered our only daughter. She is well taken care of

[@ratmaazizah4703]

👍🏻👍🏻 happy work, happy home and happy family so keep it on encouraging in new work culture within flexible work arrangements

[@wahkaoz]

With so many skeptic remarks about employers can always find a reason to reject FWAs, its clear majority of companies in Singapore are either micromanage or toxic politics environment (I for one had been to so many companies in the past which are all toxic). If this FWAs is non-legally binding, I can only guess this will be a flop and doesn't help employees be happy. Take hiring foreigners ratio quota as an example, its a total flop as companies here overcome this law by just having foreigners working in their own country. All it takes is just frequent zoom meetings to monitor work progress.

[@CattleFarmer667]

My company has FWA. I think govt job also has FWA. You can try apply for govt job if you need FWA

[@chickeabiddy]

Should continue this FWA conversation a few months down the road to see if there is really improvement for both employers and employees.

[@MySherline]

Crispina.. finally I know how you looked like.. I have been listening to your podcast... Great topic of discussion for the latest announcement by MOM

[@anziar3038]

The flexible work arrangements for workers is a clear sign that PAP is the only responsible and caring party in s'pore. Awesome!❤❤

[@avatart183]

PAP a caring party, many higher paying civil servant in the Polytechnic were asked to down the pay grade(cutting 30% of the monthly salary after more than 15 years in the role) stating performance did not met the target(so that they do not need to pay retrenchment benefits), at the same time thay are employing lots of adjunct and younger lecturers. How is the government taking care of employee!

[@megantan89]

Flexible work arrangements only works for highly disciplined and responsible staff only.

[@teyhoonboon5853]

Flaxible work gives people the time to rest and work ，this may improve the efficiency of worker and company productivity.

[@roboticsforfun5000]

It all comes down to the value of the work that is produced for the company. There is no standard. So I feel still can get good pay increment. Both parties cannot be petty.

[@Alba_1108]

We’re on hybrid and barely see each other but my boss just rejected my request to wfh in my home country overseas and said that the company’s direction going forward is to outsource and hire workers from the PH or MY since it’s a lot cheaper to employ them than Singaporeans/PR.. so unless the FWA is legally binding, it is useless!

[@FairToComment]

Although I am not an employer, it is rather unfair to the company and those whose job cannot accommodate flexi work hours. So the best is for All employees to be paid according to hours worked in the company and working at home will be at a lower rate as employees salary is based on 191 hours thereabouts before flexi hours was introduced.

[@marcusong9321]

Agreed not all FWA are for everyone...even within a organisation.

[@zraiderz]

hmm so what constitutes as a valid reason for requesting FWA? compared a person with caregiving duties (taking care of children/elderly) vs a single who just needs that flexibility of work from home to study/rest at home, is the caregiver more important or more valid? this may cause some unwanted biasness in the team.

[@CattleFarmer667]

The reason should be about maintaining productivity while improving workers work-life balance. Simple example is if someone need to write software code for 3 days, they can work from home for 3 days.

[@melissavirk3848]

Has anyone addressed the cost borne by employees working from home?

[@gweejiahan9336]

Leaving it purely to the employers to decide if FWA is approved based on whether it makes business sense is not acceptable la. There is a million and one reasons not to. MOM and NTUC needs to discuss and provide a list of appropriate reasons that businesses can use to reject. Of course, one of the reasons would be if the employee has been errant in past FWAs or in general poor performance while on FWA arrangement.

[@charlespropnex]

Excellent Sharing

[@cheenangng4050]

Will work load be reduced to match a 4 day week? I would rather keep to 5 day and have a “leave me alone day” on Friday

[@nathangnesh6790]

How this flexible work guide line will adopts in Construction industry. Very keen to know any one pls.

[@gregfam6250]

That's why only some jobs are suitable. Some are clearly not candidates.

[@LonganLee]

Why not ERP at house main door gantry?

[@paparoti4006]

Mindef MHA also can work from home ?

[@ysngngys7753]

24:30 And share predicament, grudges on social media, bloating the issue, inflating their balls should they did not get what they want...

[@subramanyamshankar1767]

what about WFH for bus drivers, pilots, doctors,etc ? why only few people get that privilege?

[@avatart183]

The question you have to ask is, do u want your job to be replaced by AI? If one can sit at home and control the bus and airplane, then job lile bus driver and pilot will become obsolete(finally replaced)....

[@LonganLee]

Steve Chia will be leaving or getting promoted? Won't be sacked right?

[@avatart183]

On the topic of working from home, is a new trend that evolved out of covid19 lock down. Things change and company realises they can operate via zoom and without a physical office. This also brings down their office floor space(cam downsize) and electrcity and utilitu bills(Not just the benefits of employee being able to work from home). Also the new sustainabklity 101, scope 1, 2 & 3 requires company to cut down carbon footprint. Working from home facilitated it as curreny they are only at scope 1 & 2.....So pls do not be too naive to think that companies arr thinking for employee...to the company, is always survival and P&L

[@danlin8310]

People becoming lazy, productivity coming down, business costs soaring, SG losing competitiveness, companies/people bailing out of SG, repeating this viscous cycle. Perhaps a 4-day work week for large companies who can afford, not practical for small businesses with less than 10 people

[@anghockseng5686]

Some need to work in The office some need To work at home

[@eyemadam97]

Can’t wait to formally apply so I can get formal rejected 🙏

[@MyVideoHome2012]

Could employers also have flexible salary arrangements where they can inform the employees that they cannot afford to pay them their salaries at times, and just pay less for the months ? Could we have flexible road speed where drivers can choose to drive at any speed ?

[@Hs5687]

Only Way to Continue to Prop Up Pty Prices …

[@markusong6022]

Want to work i heartedly, cannot just say bye bye lah😂😂😂

[@LonganLee]

Steve chia not contentious enough? Is he not able to offer more critical views? Or can we engage AI to help him work?

[@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG]

Don’t fall for such half hearted policies which doesn’t install confidence for Working parents. It all boils down to whether you have a good and understanding boss. A close friend of mine working at ST Engineering Aerospace Defence Services was given a so called “Poor Performance” Grading for his appraisal. Which means ZERO bonus which was then followed by a PIP program. It was a plot to punished him by the management for taking Paternity and unpaid Infant-care leaves to care for his wife whom had just given birth. If NASTY employers can’t penalise you on leaves which you had to apply as a Caregiver, they could VERY WELL penalise you on something else using it as a guise…

[@mysticery]

The set needs more work. It feels so rigid. Time to get inspired by other podcasters set up.

[@markusong6022]

I am not human, i am Al robot 😂😂😂😂

[@XianLongLee]

CNA podcast is bad. Steven was annoying. Crispina was outright rude. GSH was making needless remarks. The only people adding value to this conversation were Aslam and Wan Ting. Flexible work arrangement is private affair between employer and employee. PAP government has no say in this issue and should avoid intervention, even at making guidelines. The free market can sort this out by itself and provide good solutions.

[@jbrkjferkjbekjb]

Too many voices in the room, should stick to having one host (really liked Steve before), or at least have the hosts more clearly align their direction/questions/roles. I sense that the hosts are asking the questions independently without really communicating with each other beforehand.

[@markusong6022]

Hr multi task just lesser their task lah, bring more hr in, or me lah cheap and can see the game😂😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

Iam very hardworking till today, i just dont want to work😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

All industry i see

[@markusong6022]

😂😂😂ok tomorrow i see the ceo😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

Talk easy,, i say more easy😂😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

I no sweat i dont work😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

I going tariff on bank account reaching 1million 😂😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

Because five speaker all bank very rich with no sweat😂😂😂😂

[@martinchew4128]

State owned media program

[@anghockseng5686]

Save bus fare Save time Can take care of family Children or old people Hope your job will not Taken over by forirngner

[@josmeiong]

agree

[@josmeiong]

better think carefully

[@Neutral-z1p]

It would be really nice if all Singaporeans can sleep at home and get paid 10 k per month with a maid and car provided by company.

[@Buttercookies0]

I second it. You can be that employer.

[@markusong6022]

Fair pay wont lack of worker,😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

Flexible retirement with no income or saving😂😂😂😂like me, people thinking i am rich, i work partime investment 😂😂😂😅

[@mpdmpd8118]

ppl that ask flexible work is an excuse to slack...

[@markusong6022]

Dont tell me got kids got family 😂😂😂you want it you suffer it

[@antihunter]

My boss wants the whole team (white collar) to be in office 4 days a week. was 3 days. Sometimes you cant understand this boss (VP) level and his thinking. he has no trust for staff to "WFH" and he wants to see you. If you are not in office, you need to "justify" why. There is no such thing as "flexible" like what you preached. So your justification for this sustainability is simply bullsh.t

[@Buttercookies0]

If nobody is around, he wouldn't feel like a boss.

[@markusong6022]

😔😔😔😔

[@LonganLee]

Will there be new tax on tax payers working from home? How to account for the lost petrol revenue if tax payers stay at home more? Less COE purchased? Why not have a tax called work-from-home tax?

[@markusong6022]

😂😂😂😂cannot run even your money somewhere, i am Al robot

[@Its_a_me_WSA]

Short answer: no

[@markusong6022]

Why your not saying cleaner, maid, why teacher why all high salary why😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

Stupid businesses, partime cut pay,😂😂😂

[@markusong6022]

I hate society 😂😂😂😂all nonsense

[@zenweaver]

The rental so expensive, so you encourage work from home.End up the MNCs and some SMEs will ask themselves why need to employ people from Singapore which is expensive.Thread carefully here on this.Stick to flexible work arrangements on temporary basis for now.

[@Humorousguy64]

This flexibility of working hours should not be raise at the first place ...now creating a mess and unfair for many employees and employers. Hahaha just discuss when you need to work less hours and let HR or boss to plan for you ..thats all correct ? There's no solutions to these....different company has different kinds of work or job ...it cant be using one rule for this....

[@Humorousguy64]

Boss pay you to work in the office cos they want to be sure you the one doing the job ...if many chose to work from home or have the right to work from outside then what is office for ? Boss will lose money on office space ....