S2E16: Will working in the office 5 days a week return?

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 ([email protected]) 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: [email protected] Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- 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 --- 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 --- #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.