SURVEY respondents from the Philippines were among the most receptive in Southeast Asia to a four-day work week, according to a survey conducted by consumer data and analytics firm Milieu Insight.
Milieu Insight said on Monday that on a survey in which participants ranked propositions on a scale ranging from zero to 10 (where a response of 10 indicates greatest receptivity), 74% of the 1,000 respondents from the Philippines were in the 8 to 10 range, while 21% selected 5 to 7 range and 6% answered between zero and 4 range.
The survey defined a four-day work week as having the same number of hours compared to a five-day schedule.
“In this arrangement, an employee is expected to still work 40 hours/week (10 hours/day), and will have three days off instead of the usual two every week,” Milieu Insight said.
Other countries with responses in the 8 to 10 range were Vietnam (78%), Singapore (76%), and Thailand (75%). Indonesia came in at 69% and Malaysia 48%.
“Receptiveness towards compressed four-day work week is rather positive, with at least 7 in 10 in Southeast Asia indicating at least an 8 from a 0 to 10 scale when asked how much they would like this arrangement to be implemented at their workplaces,” Milieu Insight said.
The survey also found that 39% of respondents from the Philippines were not willing to take a pay reduction to go on a four-day week. Some 19% expressed openness to a 20% pay cut to work four days, 17% were willing to take a 10% pay cut, 13% said they will accept a 15% pay cut, and another 13% indicated that they are willing to take a 5% pay cut.
Milieu Insight found that 67% of respondents in Southeast Asia said a compressed work week will allow for improved work-life balance; 64% said they will be able to spend more time with their loved ones; 48% said they will have more time to be creative and generate ideas; while 45% expect increased productivity.
The survey was conducted in December and involved 500 senior employees and 500 junior employees each in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
