69% of respondents want to continue working from home, survey shows

 

The fear of being infected continues to weigh heavily with Malaysians, who prefer to work from home where possible.

PETALING JAYA: Sixty-nine per cent of respondents in Malaysia have indicated their preference to continue working from home until the Covid-19 vaccine has been widely distributed, a survey by Randstad, the world’s leading human resources solutions agency, showed.

In addition, 73% of respondents said they will not feel safe in their workplace until their co-workers are vaccinated

The H1 2021 Workmonitor survey, carried out twice a year, highlights the workforce’s latest sentiments and perceptions of the local job market.

According to Randstad, the 69% preferring to work from home is the highest in the region, with Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong trailing at 67%, 45% and 48%, respectively.

In a statement, it said more than seven in 10 respondents in Malaysia said they would feel unsafe in their workplace until others around them were fully inoculated against Covid-19 – 12% higher than their Singaporean counterparts (61%).

Of the respondents who were working on-site amid the pandemic, 55% said they felt continuously at risk of infection. Almost three in five (59%) saw their productivity levels suffer as they were perpetually stressed about getting infected at their workplace and compromising the health of their loved ones.

Despite their health and safety concerns, less than one in two respondents (47%) said their employers have incentivised them to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Fahad Naeem, head of operations at Randstad Malaysia, said: “It is not a surprise that people put a premium on their health and safety during a pandemic.

“In doing so, workers also expect their employers to take added precautionary measures to safeguard their health and safety. At the minimum, companies should implement stringent health and safety procedures and allow those who are able to work from home to do so.”

Fahad said employers should also strengthen their workforce’s herd immunity by actively encouraging workers to take the vaccine.

In spite of the potential health and safety implications and sharp spikes in the number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia, 64% of respondents said their employers would like them to work on-site. However, only 49% of the respondents agreed that their job cannot be performed remotely.

Naeem added: “Although many companies are eager to return to pre-pandemic activity levels, there is no rush to do so especially when the country is still experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.

“At the same time, companies should prepare for how the return to work would look like after the pandemic. We already know that many employees find themselves more productive and less stressed when working from home, so there is a clear rising employee expectation for hybrid or remote work options.

“It is hence critical for leaders to start reimagining the future of work, which will drive home the need for new work policies, digital investments and revised office designs to enable hybrid work arrangements and higher work productivity.”

The survey was conducted in March across 34 markets around the world with a minimum of 400 respondents in each market. - FMT