In Malaysia, 50 per cent of locally-based respondents are not afraid to resign from their jobs if it prevents them from enjoying their personal life. This is most significant among millennials aged between 25 and 34 years old, with 55 per cent sharing the same sentiment.
Fahad Naeem, Head of Operations at Randstad Malaysia said, “Millennials are the drivers of change in the world of work today. They are changing the meaning and purpose of work, as well as the role of the employer for the other generations as well. Instead of living in the shadows of their jobs, they want to have the flexibility and freedom to enjoy life outside of work. There is also a much greater focus on mental health and work-life balance among the workforce, and fewer people are willing to sacrifice their time and health for work.”
Randstad – the world’s leading human resources solution agency – today released the results of their H2 2022 Workmonitor survey in Malaysia. The bi-annual survey highlights the workforce’s latest sentiments and perceptions of the local job market. One in three respondents in Malaysia said that they would rather be unemployed than feel unhappy at work.
Naeem stressed, “We spend one-third of our adult lives working, it is hence critical that employees feel satisfied and happy in our jobs to make it worth our time. If workers feel unhappy in their jobs, it can have a consequential impact on their personal relationships as they may find themselves complaining more than spending quality time with their family and friends. Business leaders are instrumental in creating a positive and supportive environment that gives employees the opportunities to realise their true potential so that they can be happier and more productive at work.”
95 per cent of respondents said that it is important to have a good work-life balance. One in three respondents had resigned from their jobs before because of inflexibility, with this sentiment being the most prevalent among Millennials (37 per cent). Work-life balance is top-of-mind for many Malaysian workers, with at least eight in 10 respondents saying that it is important that they have flexibility in terms of working hours (89 per cent) and location (86 per cent).
To further highlight the significance of work flexibility in Malaysia, 43 per cent of respondents said that they will not accept a job if the company does not offer them the option to work remotely. Close to half (47 per cent) of respondents said that they would not accept a job if they are unable to choose when they want to work.
Naeem said, “Employers that continue to offer work flexibility to their workforce are more capable of attracting and retaining talent who value autonomy in today’s candidate-short market. During the great work-from-home experiment over the past two years, many employees and business leaders realised that when given the right tools and resources, they can be more productive at home. It is also a very desirable option to employees as they get to save commuting time and cost, and focus better in an environment where there are fewer distractions.”
“These flexibilities allow employees to gain more responsibilities over their workload and deadlines. Working from home or at their own pace also allows employees to strike a better balance between work and personal life, as they can plan their own time and activities around work. A happier and balanced workforce can also strengthen the company’s ability to attract more talent to work for them,” Naeem concluded.
The latest 2022 Randstad Workmointor study was conducted between 21 February 2022 and 13 March
2022 with 750 locally based respondents who are employed and aged between 18 and 67 years old in
Malaysia.
