SINGAPORE: It appears that flexible work has won the battle in the tug of war between employee preferences and traditional office mandates in Singapore. Starting in December, all Singapore companies must implement a process for employees to formally request flexible work arrangements.
Globally, however, many companies, from tech giants like Google and Apple to traditional firms in finance, are increasingly urging more employees to come back to physical workspaces.
The Guardian reported last month that Manchester United has made it compulsory for staff to work from their offices from June. Anyone who does not wish to conform can resign and claim an early bonus.
Citigroup, HSBC Holdings and Barclays are also requesting more staffers to report to the office five days a week, due to regulatory changes that “make it trickier for Wall Street to allow working from home”, according to Bloomberg.
The upsides to flexible work on improved work-life balance, employee well-being and productivity have been well-documented. But employee satisfaction aside, flexible work also has potential environmental benefits.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed us a glimpse of this: According to Singapore’s National Environment Agency, electricity consumption at offices fell by 24.2 per cent in 2020 when work-from-home was predominant.
The move away from traditional office set-ups, with their reliance on printed documents and disposable items, also helps reduce waste generation. Employees working from home are more likely to use reusable items, contributing to a decrease in plastic and paper waste.
Still, some may argue that when people work from home, they increase energy usage at home.
Indeed, data from the International Energy Agency shows that working from home could increase household energy consumption by between 7 per cent and 23 per cent compared to a day of working at the office, depending on various factors such as the size of their homes, cooling needs and the efficiency of appliances.
Nonetheless, studies suggest that the overall energy footprint is still reduced.
One of the largest contributing factors to carbon emissions, transportation, has seen large savings with fewer people travelling to the office. This is especially so for places where workers may have to drive long distances to reach their workplace, like in Europe or the United States.
A study in the US showed that hybrid workers who work from home two to four days per week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11 per cent to 29 per cent. The reduction in daily commutes to the workplace by car has also shown a decrease in carbon emissions across various regions, from 90 per cent in Atlanta, 82 per cent in New York, and 70 per cent in the United Kingdom, according to a study by IWG and Arup.
Despite the varying standards of public transportation and differences in size between the countries in Asia, it is likely that the level of carbon emissions will be below pre-pandemic levels due to the increase in hybrid work models around the region.
While flexible work has shown environmental advantages, a well-managed return to the office can harness sustainable practices.
Companies could potentially reduce their carbon footprint by adopting technology such as real-time energy monitoring and automating their office lighting and temperature controls, or incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.
In terms of flexible work arrangements, companies could designate specific days for in-office work to synchronise employee schedules, thereby reducing the overall energy usage during off-peak times.
Another consideration is to encourage employees to use public transport, carpool or cycle to work. Providing bicycle parking facilities and showers may make these options more attractive.
Whether the push by some companies for more workers to return to the office will exacerbate the climate crisis is an important discussion to have, especially with 2024 shaping up to either match or exceed 2023 as the hottest year on record.
As sustainability takes centre stage in the global business landscape, companies are beginning to pay closer attention to their social and environmental impact. Employees too are increasingly looking to their employers to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices.
Ultimately, the decision to bring employees back to the office should consider not only business needs but also environmental concerns. By embracing flexible work arrangements and adopting eco-friendly practices, companies can demonstrate their commitment to both employee well-being and environmental stewardship.
Bhupinder Singh is President, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, Vodafone Business. He is part of the Forbes Business Council and was a guest speaker at Greentech Festival Singapore and Asia Green Tech Summit.
Continue reading...
Globally, however, many companies, from tech giants like Google and Apple to traditional firms in finance, are increasingly urging more employees to come back to physical workspaces.
The Guardian reported last month that Manchester United has made it compulsory for staff to work from their offices from June. Anyone who does not wish to conform can resign and claim an early bonus.
Citigroup, HSBC Holdings and Barclays are also requesting more staffers to report to the office five days a week, due to regulatory changes that “make it trickier for Wall Street to allow working from home”, according to Bloomberg.
DOES HYBRID WORK LOWER CARBON EMISSIONS?
The upsides to flexible work on improved work-life balance, employee well-being and productivity have been well-documented. But employee satisfaction aside, flexible work also has potential environmental benefits.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed us a glimpse of this: According to Singapore’s National Environment Agency, electricity consumption at offices fell by 24.2 per cent in 2020 when work-from-home was predominant.
The move away from traditional office set-ups, with their reliance on printed documents and disposable items, also helps reduce waste generation. Employees working from home are more likely to use reusable items, contributing to a decrease in plastic and paper waste.
Still, some may argue that when people work from home, they increase energy usage at home.
Indeed, data from the International Energy Agency shows that working from home could increase household energy consumption by between 7 per cent and 23 per cent compared to a day of working at the office, depending on various factors such as the size of their homes, cooling needs and the efficiency of appliances.
Related:
Nonetheless, studies suggest that the overall energy footprint is still reduced.
One of the largest contributing factors to carbon emissions, transportation, has seen large savings with fewer people travelling to the office. This is especially so for places where workers may have to drive long distances to reach their workplace, like in Europe or the United States.
A study in the US showed that hybrid workers who work from home two to four days per week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11 per cent to 29 per cent. The reduction in daily commutes to the workplace by car has also shown a decrease in carbon emissions across various regions, from 90 per cent in Atlanta, 82 per cent in New York, and 70 per cent in the United Kingdom, according to a study by IWG and Arup.
Despite the varying standards of public transportation and differences in size between the countries in Asia, it is likely that the level of carbon emissions will be below pre-pandemic levels due to the increase in hybrid work models around the region.
Related:
ECO-FRIENDLY WORKSPACES
While flexible work has shown environmental advantages, a well-managed return to the office can harness sustainable practices.
Companies could potentially reduce their carbon footprint by adopting technology such as real-time energy monitoring and automating their office lighting and temperature controls, or incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.
In terms of flexible work arrangements, companies could designate specific days for in-office work to synchronise employee schedules, thereby reducing the overall energy usage during off-peak times.
Another consideration is to encourage employees to use public transport, carpool or cycle to work. Providing bicycle parking facilities and showers may make these options more attractive.
Whether the push by some companies for more workers to return to the office will exacerbate the climate crisis is an important discussion to have, especially with 2024 shaping up to either match or exceed 2023 as the hottest year on record.
As sustainability takes centre stage in the global business landscape, companies are beginning to pay closer attention to their social and environmental impact. Employees too are increasingly looking to their employers to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices.
Ultimately, the decision to bring employees back to the office should consider not only business needs but also environmental concerns. By embracing flexible work arrangements and adopting eco-friendly practices, companies can demonstrate their commitment to both employee well-being and environmental stewardship.
Bhupinder Singh is President, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, Vodafone Business. He is part of the Forbes Business Council and was a guest speaker at Greentech Festival Singapore and Asia Green Tech Summit.
Continue reading...