Starting December 1st, employees in Singapore will have the ability to request extra work-from-home days, four-day work weeks, and staggered work schedules! 

Employees will even have the option to request further arrangements, such as flexible work locations.

Though it comes with certain guidelines, when it does take effect, all employers and Singaporean businesses need to have a procedure in place for employees to formally request flexible work arrangements. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practice were the officials to have released the new guidelines.

  
After receiving a request for flexible work arrangements, employers must notify the requester of their decision within two months. 

Even though it is not legally binding and while employers are free to refuse such requests, they must provide a good reason for doing so, such as financial or productivity concerns. 

The guidelines also specify which reasons are considered irrational when it comes to denying requests. To read more on the guidelines, click here.

  
"I personally feel that its not a choice that we can make. If we want to have a strong labour force in Singapore, we want to be able to empower adults in Singapore who want to work to be able to work, flexible work arrangements have to be the way to go," said Minister of State for Manpower, Gan Siow Huang.

When asked further on the mandatory guidelines, she said "We believe that in these next few years, its more important for us to focus on enabling and equipping workplaces and employers, as well the workers too, so that flexible work arrangements can be implemented in a sustainable way and in a win-win way."

Thoughts? (Can we please have this too Malaysia...)