They struggle to achieve work-life balance due to unsupportive bosses and competitive colleagues, says Monster.com survey

by HABHAJAN SINGH / Pic by BLOOMBERG

Malaysian professionals have some way to go when it comes to achieving work-life balance. There are issues with bosses, as well as the tools at their disposal.

Going by a recent online recruitment agency survey, they are not a happy lot.

Close to one in four Malaysian professionals surveyed by Monster. com said uncooperative bosses and colleagues are a barrier to achieving work-life balance.

Some 37% also said their workplace does not provide them with the necessary tools required to work from home.

Nearly half of the respondents feel they can “sometimes” balance work and life, with 42% admitting they worry about work outside the office, according to a statement from the company.

It noted that work-life balance is a concept that remains out of reach for a majority of Malaysian professionals, who continue to struggle with unsupportive work environments and a lack of flexi-work policies to encourage a more holistic life.

In the survey, over a third of local employees admitted they are dissatisfied with the amount of time they were able to spend with friends and family outside the office.

The survey also found that 45% of local professionals said their current employers do not have existing policies regarding work-life balance.

Although 40% said their managers were “somewhat supportive” of work-life balance in general, they were not consistent in helping employees find a practical balance that works for both the individual and the business.

In fact, 30% even stated that their bosses see work-life balance as a “fad”.

The survey involved more than 1,000 respondents across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Abhijeet Mukherjee — Monster. com’s CEO for Asia Pacific and Gulf — said Malaysia has a long way to go in catering to the needs of its working population.

“While some measures may already be in place, this is not the general case for a majority of businesses across the country.
“An attitude and cultural shift is

required to embrace the holistic idea of ‘balance’, with education around how to implement policies that don’t negatively affect the business — quite the opposite,” he added.

He said research has proven that the adoption of flexibility increases happiness, which has a positive impact on engagement, and thus, productivity and business growth.