KUALA LUMPUR: More than half, or 66 per cent of Malaysian knowledge workers, take on a secondary source of income to alleviate financial pressures caused by the rising cost of living and ongoing economic challenges.
According to Employment Hero's Remote Work Report, this was the highest rate out of all countries surveyed, with Singapore standing at 56 per cent, Australia and New Zealand at 51 per cent and the UK at 38 per cent.
Employment Hero chief people officer Alex Hattingh said there is a clear preference in Malaysian knowledge workers for working remotely, particularly in a hybrid model where they can enjoy the best home and office settings.
"Out of all the countries surveyed in our report, it's interesting to note that Malaysians stand out as viewing a secondary income as a positive – and maybe even necessary – addition to their lives.
"It demonstrates a keenness to take on new challenges and shows their capability to juggle various responsibilities without letting it affect their productivity at work.
"Employers would be wise to remember this, especially when dealing with the younger generations in the workforce," he said in a statement today.
The report said overwhelmingly that those with additional income streams view this as a positive, with 77 per cent saying it has dramatically improved their quality of life.
Most employees (78 per cent) also believe their productivity at work is not affected by having other income streams, 38 per cent of those who were able to work on their secondary income during working hours have attributed this to the flexibility they receive by working remotely or in a hybrid setting, it said.
Meanwhile, the report said that while most employees primarily worked remotely or in a hybrid style from 2020 to 2021 during the Movement Control Order (MCO), the return to a post-pandemic 'normal' saw over half of the workforce (55 per cent) returning to the office full-time in 2022.
Of these, 43 per cent stated their return was due to their employer's directive.
However, 88 per cent of Malaysian employees are keen to work remotely at least once a week.
Remote and hybrid work was also seen as being better for work-life balance, personal finances, and preventing climate change, allowing Malaysians to delegate time between home and work, save on food and transportation, and reduce carbon emissions from commuting.