A recent Hays survey reveals that Singapore and Japan lead Asia in remote work adoption, with nearly 45% of businesses in Singapore and over 40% in Japan allowing employees to work four days a week or less in the office.
Government policies promoting work-life balance have helped reshape traditional workplace norms, making flexible work arrangements more common, while in contrast, over 60% of companies in China still require employees to work on-site five days a week due to a strong cultural emphasis on in-office presence.
The survey, which gathered insights from 9,000 employees and recruiters across the region, found that 47% of professionals consider flexible work the most valued benefit, surpassing health insurance and additional vacation days, and companies embracing hybrid models see improved staff retention, particularly in Japan, where 66% of employees are actively seeking new roles.
As remote work continues to grow, cities like Bangkok are even planning to introduce remote work policies to combat air pollution, while Viet Nam is emerging as an attractive destination for digital nomads and international remote workers.
