Only 1 in 10 Hong Kong non-government workers enjoys flexible schedules: survey
One expert says ‘traditional belief’ persists over long hours and physical presence being ‘key indicators of dedication and productivity’
Only about 10 per cent of employees outside the government sector in Hong Kong have benefited from flexible work arrangements, according to official data, with some experts saying local companies have been slow to adopt policies over cost and productivity concerns.
Allen Cheung, who works in insurance, is among them. He typically spends two days a week in the office for meetings and training sessions, then dedicates another three days to following up with customers or checking the latest market information.
“My schedule is not fixed, and I can arrange my own activities for each day. There is no clear boundary between work and life, and I enjoy this type of working mode,” said Cheung, who is in his late thirties.
He said his industry was “performance-driven and client-centred”.
If clients travelled to Hong Kong to sign contracts, he needed to arrange his time around their schedules, even working weekends to handle tasks such as picking them up from the airport or showing them around the city, he said.
But Cheung said he could choose to take a break on weekdays when he had no meetings or client visits, which gave him time to enjoy activities such as reading or hiking.