Unispace: "Returning for Good" Global Survey Do employers understand what workers need from the workplace?

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Malaysian employees are quitting roles due to a host of factors, including unmet job expectations post-pandemic and a disconnect with leaders and culture. This is according to a new study by global workforce creation experts Unispace.

Returning for Good, a Unispace Global Workplace Insights report surveyed 9,500 workers and 6,650 business leaders across 17 countries worldwide.

Expectations not met: The gap between employer and employee

•   'Privacy', 'Productivity', and 'IT' are the problems, not 'Convenience'

While both employers (51%) and employees (55%) in Malaysia expect to eventually return to greater levels of office-based work, a disparity exists between what employers and employees believe the office should look like and provide.

Half of the workers surveyed revealed that they are hot-desking when in the workplace. 92% indicated that they would be inclined to spend more time at work if they had an assigned desk. Indeed, over a third (36%) revealed that they dislike the lack of privacy in the office. 26% feel that they are more effective in their quieter, at-home environment.

Motivated and incentivised – but not provided-for

•   Remote working hinders career prospect

Three quarters of employees (73%) and four fifths of employers (86%) indicated that career prospects would be limited for those who work remotely. Compared with Malaysia's relatively low reluctance to return to the office (54% versus 60% in Singapore, 57% in the USA, and 67% in Hong Kong), the conclusion is that office spaces are the problem, not returning to the office, in principle.

Sean Moran, Senior Principal, Client Solutions, Asia at Unispace:

"We worked with clients across a variety of sectors, including banking and finance, legal, marketing, healthcare, hospitality and lifestyle. More companies are building larger, shared spaces with leisure elements like gaming areas, fitness facilities, and pantries with free beers; even the banking and legal industries - which are perceived as traditional and conservative - are open for hot-desking and meeting rooms with creative elements such as a graffiti wall to increase employee engagement and stimulate inspiration. These help balance their long working hours and high burnout rates"

For the full Returning for Good report, please download via this link.