Employee Sentiment Pre & Post Covid in Singapore

12 April 2021, Singapore - A recent survey targeting employees in Singapore and their commuting sentiments and habits pre and post circuit breaker revealed some interesting insights. One such insight was that respondents largely agreed that transport provision or reimbursement will motivate them at work. The survey was conducted by a team of students for their field study project, led by Professor Vivien Lim of National University of Singapore’s Business School, with expertise in workplace health.

The research examined employees' perceived productivity and preferences for working at home versus in the office, views towards commuting pre and post circuit breaker, as well as the commuting factors that impact their perceived well-being.

Findings suggested that 30% of respondents felt less productive working from home, with almost 50% citing interruptions as the top reason for decreased productivity. Other factors were ineffective communication and technical issues. The survey found that age and gender played a factor in perceived productivity change.

Post-circuit breaker, almost ⅓ felt unsafe travelling by public transport, which was a 5-fold increase compared to pre-circuit breaker. Respondents below age 30 were most likely to feel safe travelling via public transport. Interestingly, post-circuit breaker, some of the respondents were willing to pay significantly more for what they felt were safer modes of transportation.

The length of commute and number of transfers both had an impact on perceived well-being. Contrary to expectations, the shortest commute time was not the most preferable. A noteworthy finding is that 70.6% of respondents felt that some form of transport provision or transport reimbursement would motivate them to work. There were variations to the degree of agreement depending on income level and age group, and the lowest income group was not the biggest proponent of having some form of transport benefit.

Lastly, interviews with some employers suggested that most did not find transport provision or reimbursement important for their employees. This suggests a disconnect between employers and what employees value, and should be a consideration for all companies.

The survey showed clear differences in commuting pre and post circuit breaker for employees in Singapore, and offers insights for optimal work from home arrangements as well as employee motivations.