Why employers want workers back so often?

Flexi-work is still more common than before

Could office return spark a "domino effect"?

How are bosses weighing office return plans?

What to do if asked back to office more

Recent high-profile office return mandates belie a broader availability of flexi-work options from more firms.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Those of us who are humming along at a comfortable rhythm with hybrid work might have watched with worry recent developments of major firms insisting on five days in office a week by default.

After all, it seemed like an equilibrium was reached in the years following the Covid-19 pandemic of working remotely for at least part of the week.

Moreover, this comes after Singapore has issued landmark guidelines that make putting in place a process to fairly evaluate flexi-work arrangement requests compulsory.

To piece together what to make of this mixed outlook, ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a two-decade corporate veteran who now works with industry players to put in place progressive workplace practices.

His guest is:

Mr Aslam Sardar, chief executive of the Institute for Human Resource Professionals

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:20 What is driving some employers to get workers back in the office so often?

5:11 Flexi-work arrangements are still more prevalent than before

7:57 Is there a chance of a “domino effect” of firms issuing office return mandates, one after the other?

15:31 How are employers here weighing up their options for office returns?

21:07 What to do if your employer asks you to return to the office more often

Read about recent moves to make flexi-work more pervasive here: https://str.sg/tgoM

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg)

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

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Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#headstart

Recent high-profile office return mandates belie a broader availability of flexi-work options from more firms.
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
Those of us who are humming along at a comfortable rhythm with hybrid work might have watched with worry recent developments of major firms insisting on five days in office a week by default.
After all, it seemed like an equilibrium was reached in the years following the Covid-19 pandemic of working remotely for at least part of the week.
Moreover, this comes after Singapore has issued landmark guidelines that make putting&nbsp;in place&nbsp;a process to fairly evaluate flexi-work arrangement requests&nbsp;compulsory.
To piece together what to make of this mixed outlook, ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a two-decade&nbsp;corporate&nbsp;veteran who now works with industry players to put in place progressive workplace practices.
His guest is:
Mr Aslam Sardar, chief executive of the Institute for Human Resource Professionals
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:20 What is driving some employers to get workers back in the office so often?
5:11 Flexi-work arrangements are still more prevalent than before
7:57 Is there a chance of a &ldquo;domino effect&rdquo; of firms issuing office return mandates, one after the other?
15:31 How are employers here weighing up their options for office returns?
21:07 What to do if your employer asks you to return to the office more often
Read about recent moves to make flexi-work more pervasive here: <a href="https://str.sg/tgoM">https://str.sg/tgoM</a>
Read Tay Hong Yi's articles:<a href="https://str.sg/w6cz"> https://str.sg/w6cz</a>
Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/AAxy">https://str.sg/AAxy</a>
Host: Tay Hong Yi (<a href="mailto:hytay@sph.com.sg">hytay@sph.com.sg</a>)
Produced &amp; edited by: Amirul Karim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong &amp; Joanna Seow
Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wB2m"> https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wuN3"> https://str.sg/wuN3</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/wBr9"> https://str.sg/wBr9</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter:<a href="http://str.sg/headstart-nl"> https://str.sg/headstart-nl</a>
---
Follow more podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
ST Podcast website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
ST Podcasts YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa"> https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#headstart

Get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Podcasters: Sue-Ann Tan & Tay Hong Yi

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
Podcasters: Sue-Ann Tan &amp; Tay Hong Yi
Produced &amp; edited by: Amirul Karim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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