Employees want flexible work, but many still hesitate to ask, says MOM

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) have become the most important factor influencing job choices, surpassing leave benefits and Employee Support Schemes, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) latest Report on Employees’ Working Conditions released in May 2026.

The findings highlight a growing preference among workers for greater control over when and where they work, rather than relying solely on traditional workplace benefits, reported by Singapore business review.

Approval gap

Despite strong demand, many employees remain reluctant to request flexible working arrangements.

MOM found that formal and informal request rates remain relatively low, even though around 94% of FWA requests are approved. The ministry said the gap points to informational, cultural or procedural barriers rather than employer resistance.

Concerns about workplace perceptions appear to be a major factor. More than one in three respondents, or 36%, cited bias or negative perceptions as the top concern during the FWA request process, according to a joint survey from NTUC Women and Family and the PAP Women’s Wing.

Guidelines in focus

Against this backdrop, the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests (TG-FWAR), introduced in late 2024, are expected to encourage greater use of flexible work arrangements by providing clearer processes and workplace expectations.

The report suggests that FWAs are no longer viewed as a special privilege.

In 2024, 84.5% of employees were provided with at least one type of scheduled FWA they required, signalling that flexible work has become a mainstream employment practice.

Usage remains high

Among employees who received the arrangements they needed, utilisation reached 96.2% in 2024. This is more than double the pre-pandemic level of 46.8% recorded in 2018.

MOM said the sustained uptake reflects the normalisation of FWAs and reduced stigma surrounding their use.

Preferred options

Scheduled teleworking remained the most sought-after arrangement in 2024, with 32.3% of employees requiring it.

This was followed by flexible working hours at 23.2% and employees' choice of days off at 21.2%.

The ministry noted that demand patterns have changed little since 2023, indicating continued preference for flexibility in work location and scheduling over reduced-hour options such as part-time work or job sharing.

Around seven in 10 employees who requested teleworking, flexible hours or choice of days off received those arrangements in 2024.

Sector differences

Demand for and access to scheduled FWAs remained particularly strong in the Information and Communications, Professional Services, and Financial and Insurance Services sectors.

MOM said the popularity of flexi-time and flexi-place arrangements is likely linked to the workforce's composition, which is heavily weighted towards professionals, managers, executives and technicians.

Younger workers lead demand

The report found that resident employees aged between 25 and 34 were more likely than older workers to require FWAs and view them as an important factor in deciding whether to remain in the workforce.

Tertiary-educated employees and women were also more likely to identify flexible work arrangements as a key retention factor.

By occupation, Clerical Support Workers and Professionals were among the groups most likely to stay in the workforce when FWAs are available, underscoring the growing role of flexibility in attracting and retaining talent.