Productive both in office and at home

WFH lets workers focus in flexible blocks

Speak up to managers about work policies

Are some ruining WFH for everyone else?

Be transparent with employers about movements

Govt should tackle tensions over flexi-work

Keeping the benefits of WFH alive

Is WFH short-changing fresh grads?

What strict RTO rules mean for employers

Hybrid work arrangements were once widely seen as the future of work, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic upended the daily grind we were used to.

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place every Thursday as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Now, some businesses and employers appear to be changing course.

Last week, the National University of Singapore raised eyebrows when it was reported that all full-time staff were required to work from the office five days a week, starting Oct 1.

The move follows similar return-to-office mandates by big companies, both in Singapore and abroad, including Grab and Amazon.

The discussion over where work should happen has been going on since the pandemic.

However, if staff are pushing back on a full return, why do some employers still insist on moving ahead with these mandates? If returning to the office becomes a requirement, how should the workplace accommodate different work styles?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I spoke with:
Ives Tay, a learning and development consultant who has experience with adult education, training quality assurance and workforce development, and
Nicole Chua, director in workplace consulting and People Strategy Lead in Asia-Pacific for global real estate services company JLL

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:57 We can be productive in the office - and at home

9:12 WFH allows workers to break their day into focused blocks

13:52 Have the courage to speak with managers about policies

18:07 Are some ruining WFH for the rest?

19:45 Employees should be transparent about their movements

22:57 Government should address tensions over flexible work arrangements

29:31 Ensuring the WFH benefits remain

31:53 Is WFH short-changing fresh graduates?

35:27 Consequences for employers enforcing RTO measures

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai and Chen Junyi

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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#tup #tuptr

Hybrid work arrangements were once widely seen as the future of work, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic upended the daily grind we were used to.
Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place every Thursday as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. Now, some businesses and employers appear to be changing course.
Last week, the National University of Singapore raised eyebrows when it was reported that all full-time staff were required to work from the office five days a week, starting Oct 1.
The move follows similar return-to-office mandates by big companies, both in Singapore and abroad, including Grab and Amazon.
The discussion over where work should happen has been going on since the pandemic.
However, if staff are pushing back on a full return, why do some employers still insist on moving ahead with these mandates? If returning to the office becomes a requirement, how should the workplace accommodate different work styles? In this episode of The Usual Place, I spoke with:
<ul>
<li>Ives Tay, a learning and development consultant who has experience with adult education, training quality assurance and workforce development, and</li>
<li>Nicole Chua, director in workplace consulting and People Strategy Lead in Asia-Pacific for global real estate services company JLL</li>
</ul>
Highlights (click/tap above):
6:57 We can be productive in the office - and at home
9:12 WFH allows workers to break their day into focused blocks
13:52 Have the courage to speak with managers about policies
18:07 Are some ruining WFH for the rest?
19:45 Employees should be transparent about their movements
22:57 Government should address tensions over flexible work arrangements
29:31 Ensuring the WFH benefits remain
31:53 Is WFH short-changing fresh graduates?
35:27 Consequences for employers enforcing RTO measures
Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (<a href="mailto:natashaz@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="mailto:natashaz@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">natashaz@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Natasha&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iSXm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/iSXm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/iSXm</a>
Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast</a>
Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/v6DN?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/v6DN?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/v6DN</a>
Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by: Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai and Chen Junyi
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producer: Lynda Hong
Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/5nfm</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/9ijX</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/cd2P</a>
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://www.awedio.sg/?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
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Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
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Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
--
#tup #tuptr

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producer: Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media