‘So why so many Sinkies complaining about too much work and no rest?' — S'poreans ask after ‘SG got ranked top in Asia for work-life balance'

Independent Singapore

2 days ago

Depositphotos/photousvp77 Featured News Jobs Lifestyle
SINGAPORE: When you think of work-life balance, you probably imagine long weekends, leisurely lunches, and logging off before sunset. But according to Remote.com's 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index — reported by AsiaOne — Singapore is apparently smashing it in Asia.
Out of 60 countries studied, Singapore ranked 25th worldwide with a score of 57.85, putting us ahead of Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Indonesia in the region. Globally, New Zealand (86.87), Ireland (81.17), and Belgium (75.91) took the top spots.
The study, launched in 2023, looked at factors like statutory annual leave, healthcare access, public safety, and average working hours. Remote.com says it deliberately calls it life-work balance to 'put life before work.'
Singapore ranks no 1 in Asia for work life balance
byu/Rosanjinz inSingaporeRaw For Singapore, the good news is: Healthcare: Public insurance and statutory sick pay between 80 and 100% of salary.
Public insurance and statutory sick pay between 80 and 100% of salary. Safety: A solid 1.34 on the Global Peace Index (lower is better). The not-so-great news is: Working hours: 42.6 hours a week — more than New Zealand (33), Japan (36.6), and South Korea (37.9).
42.6 hours a week — more than New Zealand (33), Japan (36.6), and South Korea (37.9). Leave days: Just 18 statutory annual leave days, compared to the UAE's 44, Ireland's 32, and South Korea's 30.
Just 18 statutory annual leave days, compared to the UAE's 44, Ireland's 32, and South Korea's 30. Happiness: 6.57/10, which isn't exactly champagne-popping territory.
And Singaporeans online aren't exactly uncorking the bubbly either.
On Redditor deadpanned: 'More hours worked and fewer leaves = greater work-life balance. Wow 🤯' Another declared: 'Non-existential work life balance.'
One particularly cynical commenter warned:
'Please don't put such studies out. Employers are now going to think Singaporeans are lazy, so they need to hire more foreigners who are willing to work late for lower pay.'
Others questioned the reality check — or lack of it. 'Utter nonsense! Singapore should be the worst,' wrote one, while another said: 'I laughed so hard I choked in the office at 7 pm.'
Some tried to rationalise the ranking: 'Among Asia countries, SG could be slightly better… after all, we are comparing against some of the craziest countries like China, Japan, and Korea. But SG FIRST? That's unbelievable!' See also Generals who can't hold a candle to a Corporal
Still, the most piercing comment cut straight to the chase: 'So why so many Sinkies complaining about too much work and no rest?'
Whether the ranking is a morale booster or just corporate fluff depends on who you ask. But if you're reading this in the office after hours, then maybe you've already answered your own question.
In other news, if clocking long hours doesn't drain you, office politics just might. One Singaporean is spilling the tea on toxic workplaces in Singapore and asking the million-dollar question: 'Is Singapore's toxic work culture the same everywhere?' — Singaporean asks, 'Why can't people just focus on doing their jobs instead of office politics?' document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { const trigger = document.getElementById("ads-trigger"); if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { entries.forEach(entry => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here observer.unobserve(entry.target); // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); observer.observe(trigger); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });