From cross-training to digitalising: SMEs share their game plan for expanded childcare leave

Jeremy Tan, the managing director of Adrenalin Group, welcomed the government's expanded childcare leave for parents but expressed concerns about the impact on his lean team. Tan's events management and production company has 30 employees, 30 percent of whom are parents. With a focus on delivering time-sensitive projects, Tan believes that frequent employee absences can create a "capacity gap" within the team.

To mitigate this, he advocates for a more resilient approach that includes cross-training, buddy systems, portfolio rotation, and smarter technology use. This would enable more employees to cover for each other, preventing any one person from becoming the sole knowledge keeper and avoiding a "parent versus non-parent" scenario.

Singapore's Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, announced the expanded childcare leave entitlements for parents during his National Day Rally speech on August 23. Employers will also be reimbursed for the entire duration of child-related leave schemes, including maternity, paternity, shared parental, and childcare leave. The government absorbs the salary cost, which business groups, such as the Singapore National Employers Federation, broadly welcomed.

However, those with a higher proportion of employees likely to use the additional leave should consider investing in productivity improvements and redesigning work processes to ensure business operations remain uninterrupted. Ang Yuit, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, echoed similar sentiments, stating that companies must plan ahead as there is currently no "real model" for reference.