Singapore employees feeling challenged at work: Employment Hero

Source: Employment 2024 Hero. Poster for
the 2024 Wellness at Work
Report.

Employment Hero's 2024 Wellness at Work Report* has found that despite ongoing efforts by employers to provide a healthy workplace for their employees, the majority still do not address providing mental health and wellbeing support.

The report, which polled 1,018 Singapore employees, found minimal improvement in burnout levels, with 61% of employees feeling burnt out in 2024 compared to 62% in 2022. This underscores that employers have not done enough to manage employee burnout over the past two years, the people, payroll and benefits software provider said. 

One of the possible reasons for this stagnation is that a large proportion of employees reported that they do not have access to essential wellness services, such as on-site health assessments, mobile health clinics, comprehensive benefits management, physical fitness and wellness programmes, and mental health support initiatives, Employment Hero suggested. 

Only 45% of employees stated that their employer provides access to confidential counselling. These gaps in wellness support and programmes contribute to the persistence of high burnout levels among employees, Employment Hero said. 

The group with the highest rates of burnout is Gen Z, with 68% reporting feeling burnt out at work in the past three months. This is followed by 65% of Millennials, 54% of Gen X, and 36% of Baby Boomers. 

Employment Hero CEO and co-founder Ben Thompson said: “The findings of our 2024 Wellness at Work Report underscore the urgent need for employers to prioritise mental health and wellness programmes. It's clear that current efforts are insufficient, as evidenced by the persistent high levels of burnout and stress, particularly among younger employees. 

"Employers must take proactive steps to provide comprehensive mental health support and wellness initiatives to foster a healthier, more productive workforce. Addressing these issues is not just about improving employee well-being, but also about ensuring sustainable business success in the long term."

Nearly four in 10 (39%) Singaporeans indicated that they had felt stressed at work a few days a week in the last three months, with 36% feeling stressed a few days a month. Again, Gen Zs are struggling the most, with 58% feeling stressed at the workplace a few days a week, compared to 44% of Millennials, 29% of Gen X, and 20% of Baby Boomers. 

“Dealing with stress at work is a common challenge that many employees face, and addressing it effectively is crucial for both personal well-being and professional performance,” shared Sudesh T, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Manulife Asia. 

“Flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and flexible hours so employees can better manage both personal and professional responsibilities can significantly reduce stress and improve overall job satisfaction.” 

Highlights include:

● Nearly three in 10 (27%) employees said financial stress and the rising cost of living is the biggest cause of stress 

● Under half (47%) of all employees are on track with their financial goals 

● About six in 10 (58%) employees don’t think their workplaces are doing enough to support rising living costs 

Explore 

Download the 2024 Wellness at Work Report report at https://employmenthero.com/sg/resources/wellness-at-work-report/ 

*Employment Hero’s 2024 Wellness at Work Report is based on an analysis of 1,018 Singaporean employees, focusing on mental health, career wellness, and financial wellbeing. To participate in the survey, respondents had to be employed in any capacity (full-time, part-time, casual, fixed term) and not be business owners. The survey collected responses between April 12 and May 1, 2024. Similar research was also conducted in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

Beauty industry recognises Asian demand for de-stressing and relaxation products

Market intelligence agency Mintel has revealed that the Asia Pacific region accounted for a third (33%) of global beauty and personal care products that were launched between January-September 2018 aimed at de-stressing and relaxation*. This is up from 26% of global launches introduced to market in 2015**.

Speaking at in-cosmetics Asia, Sharon Kwek, Senior Innovation and Insights Analyst, Beauty and Personal Care at Mintel, said: “Today’s consumers are living their lives too fast, creating a global society where stress fits right in with everyday life. However, this has taken a toll on many and increasingly, consumers are becoming more aware of their emotional health and overall wellbeing. Brands and companies across industries are recognising that they can play a part in relieving some of this stress, including those in the beauty industry.

“The rapid urbanisation and increased speed of life in Asia have left consumers feeling tired and emotionally drained. For Asian female consumers, in particular, it is becoming common knowledge that daily lifestyle habits can have an impact on skin. Increasingly, beauty brands and companies are taking notice and are introducing beauty and personal care products that aid in emotional wellbeing. In the years ahead, beauty brands and companies in the region will stand to benefit from launching innovative products that address consumers’ mental wellness.”

The research shows that in 2018, 30% of urban Chinese consumers aged 20-49 are concerned about stress at work, up from 25% in 2013. Meanwhile, as many as three in five urban Indonesians (60%) and urban Thais (59%) plan to reduce their stress levels for personal health and wellness reasons. Indicating some of the root causes of modern stressors, a third (32%) of urban Indonesians aged 25-34 feel that being ‘connected’ such as to devices and being on social media, increases their stress levels.

Showcasing awareness of the fact that lifestyle plays an important role in maintaining good skin condition among Asian consumers, half (49%) of urban Chinese female consumers agree that getting enough sleep is the most crucial part of skincare; while half (49%) of urban Thai female consumers think that lifestyle factors including the amount of sleep and stress levels are most important in determining the appearance of facial skin.

“As Mintel trend Mood to Order highlights, consumers are looking for ways to enhance their mood through products. Meanwhile, Mintel’s 2025 global beauty & personal care trend Power Play highlights how consumers are recognising that they need to address their low energy levels and beauty brands are meeting this need with products that put energy claims at the forefront.

"There is an opportunity for the beauty industry to meet this new consumer need with mood-enhancing products that directly address emotional health and healing. The beauty routine will transform into a self-care routine and all categories of beauty will be expected to deliver these benefits,” Kwek added.

Consumers are actively looking for options to help improve the quality of their emotional and mental wellbeing. Mintel said 45% of urban female health supplement consumers in China buy health supplements to boost their energy levels or relieve fatigue; while 39% do so to improve their sleep quality. Reflecting the same opportunity for the beauty industry, a significant 87% of urban Chinese females aged 20-49 agree that using beauty services is a way of relaxing.

“The fact that consumers in Asia are looking towards health supplements to help with their overall wellbeing indicates an opportunity for the same strategy to be replicated in the beauty industry. Self-care will drive beauty inside and out; there is an opportunity for topical beauty products to tag with beauty supplements to create a complete system for consumers to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing holistically.

"Both offline and online beauty channels share the same opportunity to leverage the self-care concept to resonate with today’s consumers. Finally, Asian consumers have always believed in the power of crystals to help heal or ward off negative energy. Beauty manufacturers could explore the possibilities of including crystals as star ingredients.” Kwek concluded.

*Beauty and personal care product launches with at least one of the following words in their product description: 'de-stress’, ‘destress’, ‘relax’, or ‘relaxation’ .

**January to December 2015

Singapore employers grapple with stress and mental health issues

Seven in 10 (72%) of employers in Singapore consider stress and mental health an issue affecting productivity, according to the APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017 by Aon, a global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement, and health solutions. 

The United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined stress as a 'global epidemic' and dubbed it the 'silent killer'. It is a growing phenomenon in many Asian countries, especially those with advanced economies and where Western consumerism and lifestyles are prevalent such as Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China.

In its early stages, the physical manifestations of stress include chronic issues such as back pain, fatigue, and headaches. There is also scientific evidence linking stress with depression, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers - resulting in economic impact related to absenteeism, lost productivity, staff turnover, workers' compensation, medical insurance, and related expenses, Aon said.

Encouragingly, the APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017 found that 74% of Singapore employers have physical wellness programmes in place to help prevent the onset of these chronic issues, though only half (51%) of Singapore employers have emotional and psychological wellness programmes in place. Aon also noted that 62% of the organisations in Singapore which do not currently have such programmes have plans to implement them in the future, a percentage that is six points lower than the Asia Pacific (APAC) average.

Aon Senior Clinician Dr Menandro Sandoval, said: "Through our analysis of client medical plan data, we are able to identify patterns. For instance, a high proportion of visits to general practitioner clinics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and various gastrointestinal illnesses are related to suppression of (the) general resistance process, which can be attributed to mental health issues such as stress, depression, and anxiety. By identifying this root cause, we can help employers develop risk management programmes that address employee health holistically and create positive impact."

Tim Dwyer, CEO of Aon Health & Benefits, Asia Pacific, emphasised: "Employers in Asia have proactively implemented physical wellness programmes, but have been unwilling to promote mental health ones. However, our recent study showed that Singapore employers now view their employees' health and well-being - both physical and mental - as a top three focus area. Meanwhile, across Asia, Aon has made significant investments in technology, resources, and people that can transform how organisations think about their employees' physical, mental, financial, and emotional well-being and we will continue to develop solutions that address our clients' holistic employee wellbeing needs."

Interested?

Find out more about the Aon APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017

*The inaugural Aon APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017 surveyed 461 respondents across 22 countries and 24 industries, seeking to understand how HR practitioners are executing on their benefits strategy in today's challenging business environment.

ANA app to help passengers relax, take minds off takeoff

Source: App Store.

Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has created an app for the most stressful part of the flight journey. Its survey of US airline passengers found that the most uptight of flyers particularly hate takeoff  (68%), leading to the development of ANA Takeoff Mode, a mobile app designed to help passengers relax and take their minds off the takeoff portion of the flight. 

The app takes the form of a simple puzzle with relaxing music playing in the background. What really makes the app truly unique is that it measures** the amplitude and frequency response of the ambient noise inside the aircraft cabin. When the aircraft’s engines are at full throttle during takeoff, the audio profile triggers an animation and message for the user. 

In the ANA survey, puzzle games ranked second only to listening to music when it came to ways that passengers relaxed while flying (61% of people relax by listening to music; 56% by playing puzzle games). Reading, watching TV and falling asleep came in not far behind (54%, 48% and 46% respectively).

ANA Takeoff Mode is one of the first smartphones apps to take advantage of the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s announcement on October 31, 2013 that airlines can safely expand passenger use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight.

“It is important to ANA that we pay attention to every single detail to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable flight for all our passengers. We’ve put in much thought and consideration into each stage of the passenger journey, from our flagship lounges in Tokyo to our award-winning in-flight dining programmes, The Connoisseurs," said Mitsuo Tomita, General Manager of ANA’s Singapore office and Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Asia at ANA. 

“Our latest offering, the ANA Takeoff Mode is another example of how we are always trying to improve the customer’s flying experience. We hope that it will help to ease and relax flyers, allowing them to enjoy their flight with ANA from the very beginning.”

Additional findings from the ANA survey:

· Women are about twice as likely to be concerned about flying with 63% of women and 37% of men reporting that they worry about flying.

· Older people (45 years old or more) are much calmer about flying than younger people (18 to 44 years). Of the always-apprehensive group 66% are under 45. On the other hand, 47% of the calm group are under 45.

· Nervous flyers are most concerned about takeoff (68%), whereas people who get stressed about flying less frequently find the thought of turbulence more anxiety-inducing (60%).

· Eight in 10 respondents surveyed play puzzle games. Nearly all (97%) find such games to be relaxing.

· Nearly half (46%) of respondents say they find flying during peak festive periods more stressful than other times of the year. Top reasons for this extra stress are crowded airports (69%) and delayed flights (63%).

The free app can be downloaded at the App store here. Watch the associated video here.

*ANA commissioned an online survey of 1,000 air travellers from across the US that was conducted from October 29 to November 2, 2014.

**The surrounding environment may affect how the app detects takeoff.