Younger workers, those between 18 and 34, are more reluctant than their older colleagues to return to the workplace full-time, amid Singapore’s reopening and employers encouraging staff to go back into the office.
These are results from the ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View that was published on July 4.
According to the survey of almost 33,000 workers in 17 countries, more than seven in 10 (71%) of 18-24 year olds and two thirds (66%) of 25-34 year olds would consider looking for another job if their employer insisted on a full-time return to the workplace, compared to 56% of the 45-54 age bracket.
In Singapore, more than five in 10 younger workers (between the ages of 18-24 and 25-34) would contemplate leaving if asked to return to work full-time. In comparison, only 35% of Singapore workers above 55 years old would contemplate quitting if this happened.
This could be a potential friction point as some industries, such as construction, manufacturing and F&B, may not be able to implement a hybrid work system. Industries like F&B and retail also have a higher reliance on younger workers, as compared to other industries.
Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR, ADP, comments: “As lockdowns have eased in different countries, the question of whether workers can be compelled to return to the workplace full-time is a divisive topic. For many it could be a pivotal issue, potentially triggering a decision to leave.”
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“It is worth investigating the willingness of workers to return to the office and balancing this with what would work best for the business. When workers return to the office, managers have important roles to make in-person collaborations meaningful to engage younger workers. This will help to build a more connected internal culture and enhance trust and loyalty between employers and staff,” adds Teo, who is aware of the challenges for certain industries such as manufacturing, retail and F&B, which have job scopes that tough to implement a hybrid or flexible work schedule.
Photo: Bloomberg
