55pc Malaysian surveyed will stay with their current company in the long run, Randstad study show

KUALA LUMPUR: 55 per cent of local respondents said their experiences with their current employer during the pandemic motivated them to stay with the company in the long run, according to a survey conducted by Randstad.

According to the human resources solutions agency’s ‘H1 2021 Workmonitor’ survey conducted in Malaysia, the percentage is the highest in the region, with Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), and Singapore trailing at 33, 34, and 37 per cent, respectively.

The annual survey highlighted the greatest concerns and challenges candidates are facing in the employment market.

The report also revealed that local employers had proactively implemented safety and welfare measures since the start of the pandemic.

Randstad Malaysia head of operations Fahad Naeem said the safety and well-being of employees had been weighing on everyone’s minds as the nation pulls together to keep the outbreak under control.

“During this period of time, we have seen many firms implement strict workplace protocols and policies, as well as programmes to engage and upskill their workers.

“These initiatives have given employees more reasons to stick by their employer through good and bad times,” he said in a statement today.

Naeem said employers should be present and show genuine concern for their employees’ welfare during this challenging time.

“Take the time to reach out to your employees, not just for work, but also try to understand how they are dealing with the pandemic and provide the necessary support to ensure their mental and physical well-being,” he said.

The top five initiatives that Malaysian employers had implemented for their workers since the start of the pandemic include strict and clear protocols for on-site and remote working (65 per cent), policies on work hours to help workers keep a proper work-life balance (43 per cent) and regular surveys of employees about their well-being and perception of the organisation (32 per cent)

Additionally, more training around technology (26 per cent) and support programmes help their employees improve their skills or adapt to the new work environment and job market (20 per cent).

Meanwhile, Randstad has shown that 37 per cent of respondents need further support to strike a healthy work-life balance during remote work.

Of the local respondents working from home during the pandemic, the survey revealed that 37 per cent of the respondents said it was difficult to maintain a work-life balance.

Although the survey has revealed that 43 per cent of employers had initiated human resources (HR) policies on working hours, 39 per cent of respondents still hoped their employers would implement more of such policies to support their professional development and job stability.

Naeem said the resurgence of new Covid-19 cases in the past months has proved that minimising commute and physical interactions are critical in keeping people safe.

“Instead of waiting for cases to dip below a certain threshold to return to work, employers should implement long-term HR policies to adjust to the new way of work.

“This would include developing a highly-integrated work-life balanced environment as well as new engagement opportunities and initiatives to help their employees ease into the new normal.

Naeem organisations can consider offering work-from-home allowances or online training programmes to upskill their employees to improve their employer brand reputation and perception.

The report suggested that local respondents would also like to see more of the following initiatives from their employers, namely allowance for remote working (39 per cent), support programmes to improve their skills or to adapt to the new work environment and job market (33 per cent) and financial assistance programmes for workers who must spend more of their income for childcare and other family obligations (26 per cent).

The Randstad 1H Workmonitor survey was conducted in March 2021 across 34 markets globally, with a minimum of 400 respondents in each market.

Source: NST