AI and inflation are driving Singapore’s workplace anxiety. Employers are spending on the wrong fix
Most Singapore office workers know the ritual. A message lands at 10.47pm. It is not urgent. You answer it within 90 seconds anyway, not because the work demands it, but because you want someone to notice that you answered it within 90 seconds. It turns out that performance is playing to a near-empty theatre. The […] The post AI and inflation are driving Singapore’s workplace anxiety. Employers…
Singapore office workers are experiencing anxiety due to workplace pressures driven by factors like inflation and artificial intelligence (AI). A study of 600 employees and 200 hiring decision-makers found that bosses prioritize initiative and outcomes, while employees are focusing on quick responses and being available outside of working hours.
This mismatch in priorities is causing stress. The anxiety stems from external factors such as inflation and AI, rather than internal issues like difficult managers or overloaded workloads. Employees are most concerned about salary growth (60%), job security (48%), work-life balance (37%), and competition for roles (33%). Employers, on the other hand, are worried about AI's impact on workflows (52%), managing salary expectations (49%), and restructuring teams (24%).
The always-on culture, where employees feel the need to be reachable frequently, is becoming mainstream, with 63% of employees feeling the need to be always-on. However, this behavior has negative effects, including lower energy, reduced job satisfaction, and increased burnout risk. Employers acknowledge these downsides but are not implementing support policies to address them, instead focusing on investments in AI, digital skills, and flexible work arrangements.
This approach is failing, as 62% of employees see no difference in career progression or recognition despite working under always-on conditions.
Written by urgent.news from e27's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
