Most S’pore firms let employees work from home: survey

Almost nine out of 10 employers in Singapore allow their staff to work from home, according to a survey by recruitment firm Robert Half.

87 percent of Singapore bosses let employees work from home compared to the global average of 79 percent, it said.

Only Hong Kong (94 per cent) and Switzerland (94 per cent) have a higher percentage of employees allowed to work from home, while Italy (45 per cent) and Chile (38 per cent) have the lowest percentage of employees allowed to telecommute, the survey showed.

While the vast majority of companies allow employees to work from home occasionally, a more significant statistic is the number of companies that have institutionalised it, the recruitment firm said.
 
In Singapore, 60 per cent of companies have a formal policy in place to manage employees who work remotely, compared to a global average of 47 per cent, the survey found.

Noting the benefits to embracing the work-from-home practice, Stella Tang, director of Robert Half Singapore, said, ““Offering the opportunity to work from home is an attractive way to attract and retain talent. For professionals with family commitments who cannot commit to working in an office full-time, the option to work from home allows them to contribute their skills and continue with their career.”