A shorter workweek is coming for one of Asia's top business hubs

Singapore's new guideline kicks in December 1 for all workers – but employers don't have to agree to their request.

• Singapore employees can formally request flexible work arrangements starting December 1.
• The guideline is part of a global trend toward workforce flexibility.
• While not legally binding, workers can approach unions for support if requests are not considered.

Employees in Singapore will be able to formally request arrangements like working from home, shorter workweeks, and flexible hours.

The new guideline, which kicks in on December 1, ensures that bosses officially consider requests for flexible arrangements that help workers manage their personal and professional lives, according to a Tuesday government release.

The announcement highlights a global effort by governments to give employees more flexibility and relax in-office policies. The UK, Ireland, and Australia have implemented similar arrangements.

In Singapore, 73% of young employees said they preferred remote jobs, according to a 2023 survey by research firm Universum. 

While the guideline is not legally binding, employees can seek assistance from the national trade union or their individual union if they feel their request was not properly considered. Employers can reject the request if they believe it affects the company's productivity and ability to meet a client's demand.

Women and older workers are more likely to request flexible work arrangements, the government noted. Women are more likely to work from home than men: 41% of women, compared with 28% of men, worked remotely in the US, according to the 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey.

"Flexible work arrangements can be beneficial for both employees and employers," said Gan Siow Huang, Singapore's minister of state for manpower, in the press release. "They enable employees to achieve better work-life harmony, and give employers a competitive advantage in talent attraction and retention."

Singapore's version of the guideline applies to all businesses, regardless of size. It includes all workers once they have completed probation, the trial period at the beginning of the job when the employer can asses if someone is a good fit.

Having a formal process in place for workers to make requests can improve employees' mental health and work-life balance, Theodoric Chew, CEO of workplace mental health platform Intellect, told Business Insider.

If early adopters, like government agencies, show that flexible work helps employees without sacrificing productivity, companies will follow, Chew said.

Several American leaders, including Bernie Sanders, Point72 CEO Steve Cohen, and IAC and Expedia chairman Barry Diller, have called for, or predicted, four-day workweeks.