How Malaysian Employers Manage Flexibility

Employees are putting their salaries where their mouths are, with some workers choosing to resign rather than return to the office.

This issue has employers struggling to retain talents as Malaysia prepares to transition to the endemic phase with every economic sector fully reopened.

Employers have mixed views on working arrangements

General Insurance Association of Malaysia chairman Antony Lee said bosses have mixed views on working arrangements.

He said some are still doing 50% occupancy with mixed shifts as the Omicron variant affects staff. However, most employers are getting people back to work, albeit with some flexibility. 

Lee added that it is tough to build high-performance teams working remotely as one can lose company culture, and new employees don't feel part of the company.

When asked if there is a trend of employees resigning because they prefer work-from-home (WFH) arrangements, he said this was more likely in the tech sector.

He explained that the trend also depends on the organisation's work culture.

He said that many of his staffers miss their coworkers, but some will make life decisions that suit them better, and that's okay too.

The generational gap

MECA Employers Consulting Agency director Dharmen Sivalingam said a generational element also plays a part. He added that there was a difference between the older and newer generations when it comes to going back to work from the office (WFO).

He said the newer generation prefers flexibility, and the older ones are more traditional in outlook and employers must find a win-win situation and develop a relevant mechanism for workers.

He explained that legally, employers could order their employees to come into the office. Still, employees can say no depending on their agreement and government regulations, such as during the movement control order.

He said that one also has to look at the nature of the job. For example, a manufacturing sector employee would have to come into the workplace.

Dharmen added that there are many moving pieces to consider before the employer can come to a solution that benefits themselves and their employees. He noted that employers must also consider the logistics, as some companies did not renew their lease because of the lack of employee presence. 

He said that if the company can operate at the same efficiency level without renting big spaces, they should do so.

Work flexibility: a solution?

Lim Lin, a human resources practitioner from the financial services industry, said that employers can still balance between working from home and on-site by offering work flexibility.

She said this could prove to be a talent acquisition or retention strategy to counter the so-called 'Great Resignation', where workers used to WFH during the peak of the pandemic are quitting rather than returning to the old ways of working.

She said that now, employers can reach out to a larger pool of talent. The disadvantage is that it may have some effect on the company culture. 

It can also be a struggle for new employees if they were to start by working from home as there will be fewer opportunities to network with their colleagues.

Working mothers and flexible working arrangements

National Association of Human Resources Malaysia president Zarina Ismail said that working mothers are keener to retain flexible working arrangements.

She said that as caregivers, working mothers could handle family time and work, which flexible working hours would give them.

According to her, the flexibility allows them to focus on their family when needed while having their desired careers, and it will enable them to juggle family and work commitments. If they are working and can save money on childcare, commuting and car maintenance, that works to their benefit.

Zarina said many people don't see the overhead cost when you go to the office compared with working from home.

She added that employees are essential assets. Hence, retaining them should be crucial even if it takes flexible working arrangements, and both parties must work towards a win-win solution.

Most employees are fine with returning to the office

However, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said most employees are okay with returning to the office and would not resign over flexible working arrangements.

MTUC acting president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani stated that most workers have returned to the workplace in full force since the transition to the endemic phase started on April 1.

He said that there is no issue with workers returning to their workplaces, as they are eager to get back to the office due to better working conditions.

He added that the working conditions for staff working remotely are different, affecting their work quality.

Source: The Star