Dear Members and Friends

There are many connections between the workplace and family life. For one thing, if workplace culture is toxic, employee health and family life always suffer. Where workplace culture is positive, it usually includes flexible work arrangements to facilitate work life integration. This is important because, while there is always work to be done and deadlines to be met, lives are to be lived too.

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) allow the same amount of work to be done more flexibly within each business’s needs and timelines. Productivity does not suffer because companies adopt FWAs. On the contrary, productivity increases because happier people are more engaged in their work and committed to serving their customers.

FWAs also help employees take care of family commitments too. They help employees manage all the ups and downs of family life and the health of its members. FWAs are a win-win for businesses and employees who juggle child rearing and, increasingly, also care for elderly or ill parents.

Singapore needs more families and more children to reverse our lamentable total fertility rate to preserve the Singaporean core and our economy. Businesses can help by taking an enlightened approach to FWAs.

Families for Life is launching a month-long national campaign – National Family Festival – in June 2024 to bring together individuals, families, businesses and community partners to celebrate the importance of family and encourage everyone to prioritize time for families. The Chamber encourages all businesses to do their part. Click here to stay updated on Families for Life’s events and offerings: https://go.gov.sg/familyfestsg-2024-join-us.

Yours faithfully
Victor Mills
Chief Executive