Just like durian, working from home is something you either love or hate.
Fans of telecommuting enjoy the extra hour in bed, the ability to work in pyjamas, and the option of pooping in a bathroom that doesn’t smell like a sewage facility.
For others, however, it’s the bane of their existence.
Advertisements
This is largely because they have to balance caregiving and work, something that’s easier said than done.
After all, trying to have a meeting while a baby is crying because you haven’t looked at it in the last three minutes can be impossible.
Over time, this can take a toll on one’s mental health.
Poll Finds That S’porean Workers Are Feeling Burnt Out Due to Greater Digital Workloads Amidst COVID-19
Thanks to greater digital workloads during the COVID-19 pandemic, workers in Singapore are feeling more burnt out than their peers around the world.
According to an online poll of 1,000 workers in January this year, 49% of workers here feel exhausted, while 58% feel overworked.
This is much higher than the global average of 31 markets, which stands at 39% and 54% respectively.
So, what’s causing this mental exhaustion?
Well, according to Ms Joanna Lim, Microsoft Singapore’s modern work and security business group lead, there are two main factors:
Advertisements
Reason 1 – Line Between Work & Family Life Blurred
Due to the incessant meetings and working overtime, many employees may feel like the line between their work and family life has been blurred.
When does my workday actually start and end?
According to global data from Microsoft 365, the time spent in online meetings rose by 2.5 times when compared to a year ago. Workers also sent 42% more chats per person after office hours.
As a result, workers can find themselves in a “vicious cycle”.
“It can feel that the tunnel is endless, with no distinct separation between work and life,” Ms Lim said.
Advertisements
This feeling of mental exhaustion is worse for those who are caregivers and parents with children who do home-based learning.
Also, unlike some other countries, working from home has been the default in Singapore even after the circuit breaker and Phase 1 ended, meaning employees here have had no respite from the work-related stresses of the pandemic.
Reason 2 – Lack of Face-to-face Interactions
Ms Lim also believes that employees working from home are lacking face-to-face interactions and connections which can often soften this feeling of burnout.
Bosses who can’t see their employees will also find it harder to assess how they’re feeling.
As a result, bosses are losing touch with their workers, which is supported by a statistic in the poll – 51% of employers here say they are thriving, but only 27% of workers feel the same way.
Advertisements
This may explain why nearly one in two workers are considering leaving their employer this year.
Possible Solutions
To prevent their workers from burning out, employers should respect their workers’ personal time.
They should also create a culture where breaks are not only respected, but encouraged, Mr Alvin Goh, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute, said.
If necessary, flexible work arrangements can also be implemented to cater to the varying needs of workers.
So, if you’re an employer and you feel like your workers need a break, give them one.
Boss: Is that a hint?
Advertisements
Oh no, my 10 minutes of rest time a day is more than enough for my meals, sleep, and bathroom time.
Boss: Good employee
Featured Image: Syda Productions/ Shutterstock.com
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
