8 in 10 Singapore employees work harder for higher pay: Randstad

THE prospect of a higher income is the primary motivational factor that drives employees in Singapore to work harder, recruitment firm Randstad said on Monday.

According to the Randstad Award 2016 research results, 80 per cent of the respondents cited increase in income as the major reason to work harder. This was followed by career progression and personal development, at 41 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively.

For those hoping to work less, 67 per cent wanted to have more free time, while 66 per cent hoped for less stress and a healthier work-life balance. Four in 10 said they wanted to work fewer hours to be able to spend more time with their children.

According to the study, the majority of Singaporeans continue to work overtime despite the Ministry of Manpower's recommended limit of 44 working hours per week. Nearly half of all Singaporean workers, about 47 per cent, reported working more than the stipulated 44 hours. More than half of men (52 per cent) stated that they work more than 44 hours a week, compared to a slightly lower 41 per cent of women.

Jaya Dass, country director of Randstad Singapore, suggested that employees' willingness to sacrifice work-life balance for better pay and career prospects could be a reflection of the uncertain economic climate, "leading to employees wanting to work even harder than before".

"I expect to see the willingness to work overtime diminish in the longer term with a more bullish global and local economy," she added.