‘I want my life back!’: 80% of Singapore workers long to disengage after official hours

THE desire to disconnect is strong among employees here, with a recent survey showing that 80 per cent believe they should have the right to disconnect from work outside of official hours. The report also found that working after hours in Singapore is common, with 93 per cent of employees saying they have done so.

The survey from hiring platform Indeed shows that nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of respondents say they always work beyond their official finish time. Meanwhile, 39 per cent sometimes do, and 30 per cent occasionally do. The study surveyed 500 employees and employers each across industries such as professional services, built environment, public and social services, creative industries, and transport and logistics.

Fear of repercussions

A majority (71 per cent) of employees believe there would be negative repercussions if they failed to respond to work after hours. These include hindrance to promotions or salary hikes (40 per cent), delays in project progress (39 per cent) and potential damage to their reputation or job security (35 per cent). This reinforces the pressure many feel to remain connected outside of contracted work hours, said Indeed.

While the survey didn’t specifically ask employers about penalties for not responding after hours, 78 per cent of employers expressed concerns about a potential drop in productivity if they stop contacting workers outside of contracted hours.

“About 46 per cent of employers said they contact employees after hours to address urgent projects or deadlines,” Saumitra Chand, Indeed’s career expert, told The Business Times. These high-stakes situations can affect team performance, client satisfaction and overall business outcomes, which may fuel employees’ fears of missing out, he said.

“However, there’s no clear evidence from employers that they formally penalise employees for not responding. This suggests that the anxiety might come more from perceived expectations than actual company policies.”

Need to curb after-hours contact

What’s clear though, is that constant connectivity has taken a toll on employees, with 59 per cent reporting disruptions to their personal lives due to after-hours contact, and 37 per cent noting negative impacts on their mental and physical health. Indeed said this illustrates the strain placed on employees and raises questions about how much productivity is gained – or lost – by keeping staff connected outside work hours.

It pointed out that frequent after-hours communication can lead to employee burnout, disengagement and higher turnover rates – negatively affecting long-term business performance. Conversely, respecting work-life boundaries may, in fact, enhance productivity by promoting better job performance during standard working hours.

To address post-work hour communications, 54 per cent of the employees surveyed called for a clear work hours policy and 53 per cent suggested after-hours communication guidelines. Emergency protocols (47 per cent) and regular feedback or reviews (36 per cent) were also highlighted as essential measures to curb after-hours contact, indicating that employees are looking for structured and enforceable policies.

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Chand said it is encouraging that 92 per cent of employers in Singapore support the right to disconnect, but acknowledges that implementing it comes with challenges, especially with global business demands and a culture that values going the extra mile.

“Still, by building a work environment that prioritises well-being and mental health, companies can effectively reduce burnout, boost productivity and create a more sustainable workplace for everyone.”