Understanding Singapore's 2024 Tripartite Guidelines For Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA)

As Singapore's population ages and caregiving demands rise, so does the need for flexible or hybrid work models. Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are becoming crucial to keep people in the workforce and attract new talent in a tight labor market. This article explores the 2024 Tripartite Guidelines for FWAs, a step towards a more inclusive and productive work environment.

What are the Singapore Tripartite Guidelines?

The Singapore tripartite guidelines are a set of recommendations jointly developed by representatives from the government, the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), and various union, employer, workplace fairness, and professional bodies to address employment-related issues.

These guidelines cover areas such as employment practices and policies, wages and benefits, workplace safety and health, among others. 

In other words, the Singapore tripartite guidelines state what you must do as an employer to promote fairness and productivity in the workplace.

Read next: Understanding the Singapore Employment Act

Overview of Singapore’s 2024 Tripartite Guidelines for Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA Singapore)

The tripartite guidelines for flexible working arrangements, otherwise known as FWA Singapore, serve as a framework for employers, employees, and unions to negotiate and implement flexible work options. These guidelines focus on the processes to submit and evaluate formal requests for FWA instead of the FWA Singapore outcome.

Flexible working arrangements refer to non-traditional work schedules that offer more flexibility in how, when, and where employees work. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) has grouped FWA Singapore into three categories:

• Flexi-time: staggered working hours, compressed work week.
• Flexi-place: tele-commuting, work from home.
• Flexi-load: part-time work, job sharing.

The law will go into effect starting on December 1, 2024, as all employers in Singapore are required to set up a process for employees to submit a formal working arrangement. This means that workers can seek flexible work options such as a 4-day work week, work from home, flexible work locations, or whichever flexible work arrangement they find suitable for them. 

Additionally, while there is no legal requirement for companies to offer FWAs Singapore, employers are encouraged to adopt flexible work practices as part of their efforts to promote work-life balance, enhance employee well-being, and improve organizational productivity.

Failure to follow the guidelines may lead the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices to advise employers to comply, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) may issue warnings and require workshops for non-compliant employers.

Benefits of FWA Singapore

The tripartite guidelines for FWA Singapore aim to create a more balanced and productive work environment for both employers and employees. 

For employers

Enhanced employee engagement: Flexible working supports job satisfaction. It benefits employees by improving work-life harmony, which also extends to mental well-being.

Reduced cost: With more and more employees working remotely or on flexible schedules, companies can save on expenses like office space, utility bills, and equipment. 

Access to wider talent pools: 80% of job employees consider flexi work arrangements as a deciding factor when evaluating job offers. Offering FWA might just be what you need to attract diverse and top talent for your organization.

For employees

Better work life balance: When individuals work flexibly, they have autonomy and greater control over their work. Employees can remain motivated and efficient because they can manage their responsibilities better on the personal front as well as in their careers. 

Improved productivity: A flexible working environment leads to happy and motivated employees. Engaged employees tend to produce better performance, which leads to increased efficiency for the company.

Greater talent attraction and employee retention: As per recent studies, 74% of employees have stated that they would prefer to leave their current jobs and work for an organization that offers remote work options. Additionally, 79% of respondents said that they would be more loyal to their employers if they were presented with flexible work options. Flexible working allows employees to achieve better work-life balance, leading to higher job satisfaction. Satisfied employees are more likely to remain with their current employer rather than seek opportunities elsewhere.

Employer’s Obligations for FWA Singapore

Establish a process for employees to formally request FWA

In order to implement an effective flexible working arrangement in an organization, employers must set up a standardized process for employees to formally request FWA Singapore. 

They should provide employees with a designated channel or system, such as an online portal or paper-based form, to submit their flexi work arrangements requests.

According to the tripartite guidelines, if the options above aren't available, that is, if the employer doesn't have stipulated requirements or a process for their employers to make a formal request, they should consider these next steps:

1. The request must be in writing.
2. The request should contain the following information:
   • Date of the request
   • The FWA requested, along with its expected frequency and duration
   • Reason for the request
   • Requested start date and end date (if relevant)

Omni Tip: It’s important to note that if the employee fails to meet the requirements above, the request will not be considered and will not be covered by the tripartite guidelines.

Consider all FWA requests fairly based on reasonable grounds and provide response within two months 

To eliminate bias and discrimination during the consideration phase, employers should set up an evaluation process that reviews requests fairly and objectively.

Under the guidelines, employers who receive a formal FWA Singapore 2024 request should provide a written decision within 2 months of receiving the request.

Provide written reasons for rejecting the request

Employers can reject requests on the grounds that it will result in a significant decline in productivity, a significant increase in cost, or that it is not feasible given the nature of the work. They are encouraged to provide alternatives instead. Rejection should be done in a transparent and fair manner with written reasons.

Best Practices for Developing Your FWA Singapore Policy

1. Be transparent and use clear communication

A transparent FWA Singapore policy with clear communication is key. The policy should outline available FWA options, eligibility and limitations, and the request process. 

It’s important to ensure that your FWA Singapore policy is easily accessible by employees, which can be done by incorporating it into your onboarding process or employee handbook. Using clear, concise language and open communication through Q&A sessions allows for questions and builds trust within the organization.

2. Ensure fair and consistent FWA Singapore considerations

FWA Singapore requests must be evaluated in a just and unbiased manner, following the established guidelines set by the Singaporean government. A way to ensure this is to establish procedures with a defined set of criteria used to evaluate the flexible working arrangement requests. 

While evaluating FWA Singapore requests, employers should engage in open communication with employees, discuss any potential challenges or concerns, and explore alternative solutions that may meet both the employee's needs and the organization's requirements. 

Ultimately, the decision to grant or deny an FWA request should be made in a transparent and fair manner, taking into account the interests of both parties.

3. Supportive FWA implementation

It’s important to provide adequate support to both managers and employees to ensure a successful FWA Singapore implementation.
Technology and resources: With only 52% of employees who work remotely using computers provided by their company, it is important to invest in technology infrastructure and support systems that ensure employees transition seamlessly between office-based and remote work environments. These include access to laptops, secure internet connections, collaboration tools, cloud-based software, or co-working spaces (enabling them to work remotely from remote locations). Communication is a big factor when it comes to managing remote workers; invest also in collaboration tools such as Slack and Zoom to facilitate this process.

Read next: Slack Tips and Tricks for More Productive HR Teams

Performance management: To help your employees grow in their role and succeed while navigating flexi work arrangements, it is important to set clear goals from the onset. Alongside these goals, outline performance metrics and expectations for what achievement looks like. This helps to maintain accountability and ensure that business objectives are met. Additionally, feedback is key during this process. Schedule regular 1-on-1 meetings to discuss goals, progress, and challenges. Employees may encounter obstacles or challenges while working under FWA Singapore conditions. Employers must build a strong culture where workers can openly communicate with their managers. This ensures they receive the right intervention and support.

Training and support: Offer training programs or workshops for both employees and managers on FWA Singapore policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure that everyone understands their rights, responsibilities, and the expectations surrounding FWAs. You can also provide guidance and resources for managers on how to effectively manage remote teams, communicate expectations, and address performance issues in a remote work setting.

4. Monitor and evaluate your FWA Singapore policy regularly

Regularly reviewing and updating your FWA policies and practices to make sure they remain relevant, fair, and aligned with the organization's mission and goals. This helps to make adjustments to address any issues or concerns that arise.

5. Additional considerations

Foster a positive workplace culture that embraces flexibility, trust, and open communication: A culture of trust and flexibility between employers and employees is important for FWA to work for both parties.

Strengthen your company culture with our free guide!

Ensure compliance with regulations: Labour laws, regulations, and industry standards related to FWA Singapore may change. It is important to adjust your policies to remain compliant with these laws and mitigate potential legal issues.

Implement proper data security measures: All devices that connect to your company's network must be secure. Implement data security measures to protect sensitive information and ensure compliance with data protection and regulation. Consider remote access VPN solutions to prevent hackers from accessing sensitive information. Additionally, add extra layers of security, such as multi-factor identification, SSO, and anti-virus software, to defend against cyberattacks and malware.

Communicating Your FWA Singapore Policy

Developing a comprehensive policy document

Ensure accessibility (employee handbook, HR portal, internal knowledge base): Document the organization's FWA Singapore policies, procedures, and decisions to ensure consistency and transparency. This helps prevent misunderstandings and provides a reference point for both employers and employees. 

Ensure that the FWA Singapore policy is easily accessible by including it in the employee handbook, HR portal, and internal knowledge base. Additionally, keep the language concise and clear so that it’s easily understandable by all.

Omni Tip: Consider translating the FWA Singapore policy into different languages or formats to cater to your diverse workforce.

Additional resources: The Ultimate Employee Handbook Template

Launch an awareness campaign

Company-wide email: Send out a company-wide email announcing the launch of the FWA Singapore policy. Provide a brief overview of the policy, its objectives, and how employees can access the full policy document for more information.

Town Hall announcement: Host a town hall or all-hands meeting to announce the FWA Singapore policy. Use this opportunity to explain the rationale behind the policy, address any questions or concerns from employees, and emphasize the organization's commitment to supporting work-life balance.

Ongoing reinforcement

Manager training: Managers may lack understanding of FWA policies and procedures, leading to inconsistent evaluation of requests. Provide the right training and guidance they need for evaluation. Ensure they understand the organization's FWA Singapore policies and procedures and can apply them consistently.

Regular updates: As time goes on, you might need to review and make some changes to your FWA Singapore policy. This is to meet any changes in regulations, employee feedback, or organizational priorities. Communicate these updates clearly to employees and managers to ensure continued compliance. 

Manage Your Singapore Workforce with Omni

Managing your workforce in Singapore requires meticulous attention to legal requirements and thorough documentation—especially when the consequences for misfiling can cause significant penalties and troubles for your organization. You should strive to minimize human error by leveraging automation to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Omni offers a comprehensive payroll solution tailored to Singapore’s specific requirements. With features like support for SGD, automated tax calculations, and managed CPF contributions, Omni can help HR teams simplify their payroll processing while ensuring compliance.

Our employee self-service portal empowers employees to swiftly submit their leave requests, automatically routing to the appropriate managers with customizable approval workflows. And our user-friendly mobile application allows for on-the-go approvals and communication, so you can manage leave balances and employee benefits from anywhere.

Omni's attendance module enables HR teams to configure timesheets that meet your company's unique needs, giving you complete visibility into time data and streamlining timesheet approvals with customizable workflows. Overtime calculations are automatically handled based on your working hour schedules, eliminating any guesswork.

Our expert support and assistance is tailored to your businesses unique requirements and local regulations. Learn how Omni can help you streamline your Singapore workforce management and expertly navigate FWA Singapore management to ensure compliance for your organization.

Book a demo today!