Hongkongers have a reputation for working too hard, but it seems like work-life balance is becoming more important for many, especially among younger generations.
According to a survey by human resource consulting firm Randstad released on Monday, close to 1 in 3 Hongkongers have quit a job because of its lack of flexibility, with a significant portion of Gen Zers saying they would do so.
The poll was conducted between Feb. 21 and March 13 with 1,000 Hong Kong-based respondents who were employed and aged between 18 and 67 years old.
The survey found that 29 percent of respondents said that they have resigned from a job because it did not provide them with enough flexibility.
Two in five Generation Zers, who are aged between 18 and 25 years old, said that they would rather quit their jobs if they did not have enough flexibility.
It is also noteworthy that the expectations for work flexibility taper down as people get older, with only 19 percent of respondents aged between 45 and 54 years old saying that they would quit their jobs if they do not have enough flexibility.
More than half of the respondents (55 percent) said that it is important that they have the flexibility to choose their work location, while 32 percent said they would not accept a job if it does not provide flexibility around where they work.
However, only 41 percent said that their employers give them the option to choose where they want to work from.
In terms of working hours, 65 percent of respondents said that they want to have the flexibility to choose their working hours, while 35 percent said they would not accept a job if it does not provide flexibility around when they work.
More than half of the respondents (57 percent) said that they get the option from their employers to choose when they want to work.
Benjamin Elms, regional director at Randstad Hong Kong, noted that the new generations of workers joined the workforce under very different circumstances as compared with the previous generations.
“They tend to use their laptops and smartphones to reply to emails, attend meetings and take notes. Some of them started work during lockdowns and have only experienced remote working. While these new technologies help them to be more efficient at work, it is critical for companies to redefine how work flexibility should look like for their workforce and offer employees more flexibility to choose when and where they want to work,” he said.
Elms added that compared with other markets, Hongkongers would still prefer to work in the office as they may not have the right set-up at home to do their work.
“However, it’s still important to offer flexibility to them as they may want to work remotely from a cafe or library to focus on their work rather than be in the office where they may be distracted by their colleagues or workplace chit chats,” he said.
“When people have more flexibility to choose when they want to work, it gives them more autonomy over their tasks. Rather than letting the stipulated office hours decide when they should work and rest, they can plan their time more efficiently to meet deadlines as well as have enough time for their personal life.”
