TechHR
ex
L&D
UNPLUGGED
Sphere
About Us • Contact Us
People Matters ANZ
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

Follow us:

Privacy Policy • Terms of Use

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

People Matters Logo
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Login / Signup

Categories:

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
Are Southeast Asians open to compressed 4-day work weeks?

Story • 14th Feb 2022 • 2 Min Read

Are Southeast Asians open to compressed 4-day work weeks?

Employee RelationsEmployee Engagement

Author: Mamta Sharma Mamta Sharma
8.4K Reads
A Milieu Insight study findings say that with work compressed to four days, people are expecting a better work-life balance, however, more than half are worried that the arrangement comes at a cost of their pay, and 47% think that extended 10-hour days could be stressful and tedious.

The idea of a four-day work week has been discussed for a long time with few companies actually implementing it, as employers raise doubts about productivity and salaries of their employees.

However, the pandemic has highlighted employees’ desire for better work-life balance, which put the spotlight back on the discussion yet again.

While employers largely remain sceptical towards the idea of employees working fewer hours, what about compressed 4-day work weeks?

Compressed work weeks typically require employees to clock in the same number of hours every week, but within four days instead of the typical five. In this arrangement, an employee is expected to still work 40 hours/week (i.e. 10 hours/day), and will have three days off instead of the usual two every week.

Consumer research and analytics company, Milieu Insight, has released the results of their “4-Day Work Week” study, conducted with N=6000 employed respondents across Southeast Asia.

The study aims to find out opinions about compressed 4-day work weeks and some of the concerns surrounding this arrangement.

Malaysians are less receptive towards a compressed 4-day work week

The survey found that working five days a week is typical in most Southeast Asian countries except Indonesia and Vietnam, where six days work weeks are more common.

Receptiveness towards compressed four-day work weeks is rather positive, with at least seven in 10 in Southeast Asia indicating at least an eight from a 0 to 10 scale when asked how much they would like this arrangement to be implemented at their workplaces - this includes Vietnam (78%), and Indonesia which is slightly below the average at 69%. However, there’s a stark exception in Malaysia where only 48% voted so.

Some willing for a small paycut, but most think it is not needed 

When asked what the percentage pay cut they are willing to take to implement this work arrangement, the most common response is ‘0% - it does not make sense to adjust salaries with this policy’. This is most strongly felt in Singapore and Thailand, where 73% and 61% respectively chose this option.

Interestingly, only 24% in Vietnam chose this option, and responses are more spread out across the range of pay cuts, with 19% being able to tolerate a 20% pay cut even.

Better work-life balance top voted benefit, but paycut a worry

With work compressed to the four days, people are expecting to get better work-life balance (67%) and also getting more time to spend with their loved ones (64%). However, more than half are worried that this arrangement comes at a cost of their pay, and 47% think that extended 10-hour days could be stressful and tedious.

More seniors worried about team management

Not much difference between seniors (managerial level and above) and juniors (below managerial level) when comparing receptiveness towards the compressed 4-day work week arrangement, however, seniors tend to be worried about ‘difficult team management’ (34% vs 27%) - the new arrangement may require managers to maintain the same, if not higher, levels of productivity.

 The study is based on Milieu surveys with N=500 seniors (managerial level and above) and N=500 juniors (below managerial level) each in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, conducted in December 2021.

Read More

Did you find this article helpful?


You Might Also Like

Return to office: the legalities

STORY • 30th Apr 2025 • 3 Min Read

Return to office: the legalities

Employee Relations#EmploymentLaw
Employees tired of subpar workplace practices

STORY • 14th Apr 2025 • 4 Min Read

Employees tired of subpar workplace practices

Employee Relations
The "Great Resignation" 3 years down the road

STORY • 9th Apr 2025 • 3 Min Read

The "Great Resignation" 3 years down the road

Employee Relations
NEXT STORY: Values-driven performance management will rise in importance: Go1’s Chris Eigeland

Trending Stories

  • design-thinking-hr

    Skype is dead: Did Microsoft's leadership let a billion-doll...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Keeping the C-suite in the C-suite - how do we reduce execut...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Return to office: the legalities

  • design-thinking-hr

    The trust factor: Why modern leaders can’t afford to overl...

People Matters Logo

Follow us:

Join our mailing list:

By clicking “Subscribe” button above, you are accepting our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Company:

  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Contact:

  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Get the latest Articles, Insight, News & Trends from the world of Talent & Work. Subscribe now!
People Matters Logo

Welcome Back!

or

Enter your registered email address to login

Not a user yet? Lets get you signed up!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

People Matters Logo

Welcome! Let's get you signed up...

Starting with the absolulte basics.

Already a user? Go ahead and login!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

Let's get to know you better

We'll never share your details with anyone, pinky swear.

And lastly...

Your official designation and company name.