SINGAPORE: Singapore’s labor force has emerged as a frontrunner in fostering work engagement, employee wellbeing, and organizational support, surpassing its Asia-Pacific (APAC) counterparts, according to a comprehensive study by mental healthcare firm Intellect.

In a detailed analysis of wellbeing programs’ effectiveness at the workplace, the report disclosed that Singaporean employees achieved a remarkable 64% in organizational health, slightly edging past the regional average of 63%.

Notably, this places Singapore fifth among the 12 APAC countries scrutinized.

The top-performing nations in the region for workplace wellbeing were Vietnam (65.1%), Thailand (65%), and the Philippines (64.4%). Conversely, Taiwan, Province of China (58.7%) and Korea (58.1%) found themselves at the lower end of the rankings.

Singapore’s prowess extended to employee productivity, where it scored 76.07%, just above the regional average of 76%. This secured the nation the sixth position in APAC, with Japan leading the pack at 77.5%.

Delving into specific industries, Singapore demonstrated strong performance in education, healthcare, government work, and non-profit organizations. These sectors exhibited elevated organizational health and employee productivity levels.

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Of particular concern highlighted by Intellect was the prevalence of presenteeism in industries with lower organizational health scores, notably within the booming e-commerce and online services sector. Presenteeism, defined as reduced productivity due to employees not functioning at their optimal levels, emerged as a significant challenge across the region.

Theodoric Chew, co-founder and CEO of Intellect, emphasized the urgency for employers to implement targeted interventions and proactive measures to address presenteeism.

The findings underscore the need for a collective effort to enhance workplace wellbeing and foster a conducive environment for employee engagement in the APAC region.