More firms offering flexible work arrangements: MOM survey

FACED with a tight labour market, more firms are providing flexible work arrangements via part-time work, staggered hours and formal tele-working.

This is according to the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) latest Conditions of Employment report - published once every two years - released on Tuesday morning.

The proportion of establishments which provided at least one formal flexible work arrangement improved steadily from 38 per cent in 2011, to 47 per cent in 2014.

Of the various formal flexible work arrangements, part-time work remained the most prevalent, offered by 36 per cent of all establishments. This was followed by flexi-time (12 per cent), staggered hours (11 per cent) and formal tele-working (5.8 per cent).

MOM's survey effectively covered 3,800 establishments in the private sector - each with at least 25 employees - and the public sector, achieving a response rate of 91.6 per cent.

Other findings also showed that employers are increasingly going beyond statutory requirements, to provide various leave benefits - such as compassionate and marriage leave - to help their employees with family commitments.

Absenteeism due to illness was stable over the years. The proportion of employees who took outpatient sick leave (58 per cent) and the average duration taken by them (4.7 days) remained the same as in 2011.

The share of employees who took hospitalisation leave, however, edged up one percentage point to 5.2 per cent in 2013.