Changing Workforce, Changing Companies
Singapore’s workforce is changing in two important ways. First, a growing number is from Generation X (born 1965-1977) and Generation Y (born after 1977). Studies have shown that, for these people, family commitments and personal aspirations are as important as work responsibilities.

Work-life programmes give them what they want – and they give back to the company. The more they are engaged in the company and feel appreciated, nurtured and trusted by the company, the more they go the extra mile for the company’s success.

And it gets results:

For every $1 invested in a work-life programme, $1.68 flows back into the company in the form of higher productivity and reduced turnover.

It is boosting companies globally. In the US, 7 in 10 managers said flexible workplace improved the quality of work.

When Hewlett-Packard introduced a compressed working week in the US, the number of transactions went up by 200% daily.

In a study in Britain, 97% of people in workplaces
with work-life programmes reported above-average
financial performance, compared to 59% for those
in typical workplaces.

One study showed that flexible work arrangements increase shareholder returns by 3.5%.

And a study of Fortune 500 companies showed that when a company announced a new work-life programme, its stock rose nearly half a per cent.