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Among employers surveyed, most were concerned about possibly incurring higher business costs (due to increased hiring or project delays).
By now, most employers and HR leaders around the world would be familiar with the concept of the four-day workweek. As a result of the pandemic, companies adapted to lockdowns and social distancing measures with a variety of virtual tools and flexible work arrangements. This has introduced the workforce to alternative work models, including the aforementioned shorter workweek.
Closer to home, the Asian region — known for its rigorous work culture — has seen many conversations around productivity and work-life balance as its workforce adjusted to new norms and standards. While flexible and hybrid work initiatives are now a mainstay across many markets in the region, the possibility of a shorter work weeks for Asia remains a question.
A recent report by Robert Walters examined perceptions about the four-day work week and its potential impact on talent and organisations in Asia. More than 5,000 professionals and companies across 11 Asian markets were surveyed, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand amongst others.
Overall, 89% of professionals want a trial of the four-day workweek. For the most part, employers find the idea feasible (66%). However, only 25% of them have plans, or are likely to trial or transition to a four-day work week.
With this considerable gap between intention and action, what exactly is holding employers back?
From the employee's perspective, 68% are concerned that they will face more stress as their workload remains the same. Certain employees also prefer splitting workload across five days (39%) while 36% worry about a possible pay reduction.
On the employer's end, most were concerned about possibly incurring higher business costs (due to increased hiring or project delays) (57%). Other worries include:
- Bad customer experience (as customers might not be able to reach staff) - 56%
- Difficulty in implementing across the entire office, resulting in employee unhappiness - 42%
Still, talent and organisations generally remain on the same page about the benefits of a four-day week — both businesses and workers believe it will have a positive impact on employee wellbeing and work-life balance.
Looking at results by region, the outlook for the four-day work week appears the most optimistic in Southeast Asia; 92% of professionals want a trial, and 52% feel it can increase productivity levels. Higher than the overall average, 72% of employers find the concept feasible.
More detailed insights from each market are as follows.
Singapore
Per the report professionals in Singapore are the keenest among all Southeast Asia countries to adopt a 4-day work week.
- 93% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 48% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 69% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and an equal share feel it can increase productivity levels (69%).
- 58% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same - 67%
- Prefer to split work across 5 days - 50%
- Possible pay reduction - 33%
On the employer's end, 73% perceived potential difficulty in implementing across the entire office, resulting in employee unhappiness.
Malaysia
- 94% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 50% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 79% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 74% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 36% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same - 70%
- Not possible in line of work- 37%
- Prefer to split work across five days/Workload increases from need to cover colleagues who are less productive - 33%
Similarly, 54% of employers perceived potential difficulty in implementing across the entire office, resulting in employee unhappiness.
Indonesia
- 88% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 55% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 64% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 71% feel it can increase productivity levels .
- 59% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same - 61%
- Not possible in line of work- 44%
- Prefer to split work across five days/Possible pay reduction - 28%
Meanwhile 55% of employers are worried they may incur higher business costs (due to increased hiring or project delays) and experience difficulty in implementing across the entire office, resulting in employee unhappiness.
Thailand
- 95% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 58% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 77% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 46% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 50% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial remained split evenly at 36% across:
- More stressful as workload remains the same
- Prefer to split work across five days
- Not possible in line of work
Meanwhile, 67% of employers worry about bad customer experience (as customers might not be able to reach staff).
Philippines
- 89% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 41% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 75% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 57% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 43% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same - 67%
- Increased expenditure due to more time spent outside of work - 50%
- Possible pay reduction/Want to spend more time at work for career progression - 33%
Meanwhile, 73% of employers worry about bad customer experience (as customers might not be able to reach staff).
Vietnam
- 88% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 62% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 54% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 76% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 66% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same/ /Prefer to split work across 5 days - 40%
- Increased expenditure due to more time spent outside of work - 27%
Hong Kong
- 94% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 48% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 66% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 45% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 47% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same - 59%
- Workload increases from need to cover colleagues who are less productive - 47%
- Possible pay reduction - 41%
Mainland China
- 93% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 59% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 60% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 64% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 43% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same - 62%
- Not possible in line of work - 52%
- Possible pay reduction - 48%
Taiwan
- 90% of professionals want their employers to implement a 4-day work week trial and 58% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 74% of employers consider the 4-day work week a feasible and 76% feel it can increase productivity levels.
- 50% of them are unlikely to trial or transition to a 4-day work week in the next one to two years.
Top concerns against a trial:
- More stressful as workload remains the same - 78%
- Prefer splitting workload across 5 days - 46%
- Not possible in line of work/Possible pay reduction - 33%
Lead image / Robert Walters
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