Dell Technologies discovered that eight in 10 (84 per cent) of employees in Singapore (APJ: 81%) feel prepared for long-term remote work in their inaugural Remote Work Readiness (RWR) Index, but foresee productivity challenges.
The RWR Index captured the data of over 7,000 working professionals aged 18 and above from the Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ) region (of which 1,030 were from Singapore) — to find out their readiness for long-term remote work and their views on the factors that would contribute to its success.
The study showed that the blurring line between work and personal lives is the main concern for employees, with 35 per cent (APJ: 34 per cent) citing that it is a top concern should remote work arrangements continue long-term.
Participants also revealed that they would like their employers to provide more resources for productivity to support them, with less than four in 10 (39 per cent; APJ: 46 per cent) finding that their employers were fully supportive of long-term remote work.
“Employees had to pivot to a remote work arrangement overnight, and it is not surprising that they have concerns about long-term remote work,” said Eric Goh, vice president and managing director, Singapore, Dell Technologies. “The good news is that employees are ready to continue working remotely, but they hope to see greater support from their employers.”
Singapore employees’ top technology challenges:
- Access to internal company resources (35 per cent)
- Stability of remote network, including Internet bandwidth (29 per cent)
- Use of personal productivity equipment or tools for work (28 per cent)
APJ employees’ top technology challenges:
- Stability of remote network, including Internet bandwidth (31 per cent)
- Access to internal company resources (29 per cent)
- Use of personal productivity equipment or tools for work (28 per cent)
In terms of technology resources, participants identified the access to company resources once circuit breaker (CB) measures were implemented as their greatest challenge. They were also hindered by the instability of their remote network and Internet bandwidth. Furthermore, employees had to contend with using personal productivity equipment or tools for work, which should be of particular concern for organisations given the IT security risks that it could pose.
Separately, only 38 per cent (APJ: 40 per cent) of those surveyed felt that their employer was doing everything they could to provide them with the HR support needed to successfully work remotely.
Singapore employees’ top technology challenges:
- Access to internal company resources (35 per cent)
- Stability of remote network, including Internet bandwidth (29 per cent)
- Use of personal productivity equipment or tools for work (28 per cent)
APJ employees’ top technology challenges:
- Stability of remote network, including Internet bandwidth (31 per cent)
- Access to internal company resources (29 per cent)
- Use of personal productivity equipment or tools for work (28 per cent)
Both Singapore and APJ surveyed employees cited the top challenge for HR support being the lack of in-person communication. Other significant challenges were gaps in areas such as team engagement initiatives, learning and development sessions, including training for virtual tools, and outdated policies for remote work.
In order for employees to successfully navigate long-term remote work, more than half (51 per cent; APJ: 47 per cent) want best practice training for remote working, learning and development sessions (46 per cent; APJ: 48 per cent) and team engagement initiatives (45 per cent; APJ: 46 per cent).
“Work today is no longer anchored to one place and time,” added Goh. “Instead, it is focused on outcomes. Forward-looking employers must be ready to help their employees realise both their professional and personal roles effectively regardless of where they will be working – this is work redefined.”
