‘I really hate the lack of flexibility’: Singaporean man regrets leaving flexible job for higher pay

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man who left his flexible work-from-home job for a higher-paying, office-based role has shared online that he is beginning to regret the switch.

In a post on a local forum, he shared that in his old job, he worked from home with barely any supervision, and as long as he completed his tasks, no one cared what time he started or finished. “The hours were flexible as long as I got my work done,” he said. “And I used to have so much more time for myself — to buy groceries, enjoy slow lunches, and even shop on weekdays.”

The best part, he added, was that he didn’t even need to step into a traditional office. His only requirement was to drop by his boss’s office two to three times a week, usually around noon. 

“Once I was done, I could just leave. The rest of the time, I worked from home,” he said. “Now that I’m back to 9–5, I really hate the lack of flexibility. Wouldn’t it be great if more companies could work the way my previous one did? But I know that’s rare. I miss my previous job.”

“You can’t have a job that pays many Ks and you do nothing.”

In the comments, one Singaporean Redditor responded that he simply can’t have everything in life, writing, “You win some, you lose some. You want high pay, flexible hours, and stability? Good luck. Most of us are still searching.”

Another remarked, “Ahh, the classic mistake of thinking the grass is always greener on the other side. More pay does not always equal to better job. All the freer time and flexibility you had also means a lot.”

Meanwhile, a third user advised, “Think again what exactly you want from your career and recalibrate from there. You can’t have a job that pays many Ks and you do nothing.”

A fourth added, “Yeah, if only companies function like this.. wishing for a day my work is like this too.”

In other news, a fresh graduate who recently started working at one of the Big 4 accounting firms took to Reddit on Thursday to share her struggles adapting to the demanding work environment.

Posting on the Ask Singapore forum, the graduate, who wished to remain anonymous, said she has been feeling overwhelmed since starting the job a few weeks ago.

Read more: ‘I feel like crying sometimes’: Fresh grad at Big 4 accounting firm struggles with intense work pressure