74 per cent wants hybrid working compared to the full return-to-office - Cisco study

KUALA LUMPUR: A study from Cisco found that 86 per cent of workers in Malaysia are happier when employers allows them to work from anywhere, including work from home (WFH).

It reported over 60 per cent of respondents who were workers in Malaysia believe that the quality of their work actually improved and another 55 per cent say their productivity had increased.

In addition, 75 per cent of respondents also think that their tasks can be performed well or just as efficiently outside the office as they would in the office.

The study involved 28,000 workers from 27 countries including more than 1,011 respondents from Malaysia.

The study also found that the hybrid working mode has improved their quality of life, where 82 per cent of respondents were able to save money last year.

According to 86 per cent of them, fuel savings or commute travel was top of the ladder in terms of savings, followed by a decrease in spending on food and entertainment.

Meanwhile, 72 per cent of respondents believed that their physical fitness improved when they were working from home and hybrid working as it had positive effects on their eating habits.

Meanwhile, 71 per cent of them felt that flexible work schedules and reduced or almost no commute time had contributed to a more balanced life.

About two-thirds of respondents were able to save at least four hours a week when they worked from home, while more than a quarter saved eight hours or more a week.

Majority or 80 per cent of respondents indicated that not working from the office has improved their family relationships while 44 per cent of respondents reported stronger relationships with friends.

However, only one in five or 20 per cent of Malaysian workers think that their company was ready for hybrid working in the future, lower than the global average of 23 per cent.

A total of 74 per cent of employees in Malaysia said they want a hybrid work model that combines remote working and work in the office compared to the full return-to-office.

Meanwhile, more than half (59 per cent) of Malaysian respondents believe micro-management behaviours increased when working hybridly and remotely.

They said the management refused to believe that their employees were able to work productively through hybrid working and it was often most complained about. - AWANI