FILIPINO workers are better off than their Southeast Asian counterparts in terms of work-life balance, online career and recruitment firm Monster Philippines reported.
In a statement, Monster Philippines said nearly two thirds or 65 percent of working professionals in the country said they were “generally satisfied with their current work-life balance” but 28 percent of workers surveyed said they would like more options to spend time with friends and family.
The study also found that 41 percent of Filipino professionals feel “content” with the balance of their personal and professional lives—significantly higher than employees in Singapore and Malaysia where just 24 percent and 32 percent, respectively, reported feeling content.
“The Philippines is considerably ahead of its Southeast Asian peers in terms of fostering a work force that is satisfied with the equilibrium between their professional and personal commitments. This has a positive impact on the business, increasing engagement and boosting happiness levels, which in turn encourages higher productivity and overall business growth,” said Abhijeet Mukherjee, CEO, Monster.com–Asia Pacific and Gulf.
Monster Philippines said 59 percent of Filipino professionals said flexible working hours suit their needs, while 51 percent said leaving work on time was crucial in attaining work-life balance.
The survey results showed, however, that 47 percent of respondents said they were striving hard to balance work and life.
On the employer side, bosses in the Philippines were more accepting of work-life balance, with 32 percent offering official flexi-work policies, more than double the numbers reporting the same across Singapore and Malaysia.
Data showed that 44 percent of Filipino respondents said their managers were supportive of their finding balance. Only 23 percent of workers in Singapore and 31 percent in Malaysia said their bosses were as considerate.
“A supportive company culture, understanding managers and clearly communicated initiatives go a long way in helping employees cultivate better balance. As more professionals seek nonfinancial incentives, employers need to be proactive in taking necessary steps to attract and retain quality talent,” Mukherjee said.
Overall, Monster Philippines said almost half of respondents across all three countries rated their current overall work-life balance as “average, but could have more balance.” More than 80 percent of the respondents felt good work-life balance can enhance productivity and positively impact the business.
The data was gathered from more than 1,000 respondents across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines as part of Monster’s #WorkLifeBalance campaign, which aims to explore working professionals’ sentiments around work-life balance and raise awareness among employers as to what aspects of work-life balance were most valued by their employees.
Monster.com is launching its first #WorkLifeBalance campaign this March, aiming to highlight the importance of ensuring that professional responsibilities do not overpower other aspects of the lives of employees, and to encourage employers to formulate policies that promote a wholesome, complete and harmonious life.
