About 68% of employees indicate stress at least once a week in Singapore. As many as 28% of them encounter stress two to three times weekly. This rate is slightly higher than the APAC (Singapore, India, Australia & China) average, where 61% of workers face stress at least once a week. Notably, 12% of Singaporean workers endure stress every day. 

The latest findings from the ADP® Research Institute's People at Work 2023: A Global Workforce View reveal that the impact of stress on work is acknowledged by 67% of respondents, with an even higher percentage (84%) in the Media/Information industry.

Employer support lacks

According to the findings of the report, only 51% of workers feel that their employers support them with mental health at work, a drop from 57% in 2022. The level of peer support has also dropped – only 54% feel supported by their colleagues in 2023, compared to 61% in 2022. 

48% of Singapore workers don’t think their managers or colleagues are equipped to have conversations about mental health at work without judgment.

Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR, APAC, ADP, comments: “During the pandemic and the immediate years after, many employers were aware and supportive of measures to alleviate mental health and stress. However, as the pandemic fades and businesses shift their focus back to growth, these support systems have waned. Yet, workers remain under a tremendous amount of strain.” 

Globally, the findings are similar. Almost two-thirds (65%) of workers say stress adversely affects their work, according to a survey of over 32,000 workers in 17 countries.

In terms of what employers are doing to promote positive mental health at work, workers also report that employers are less likely than last year to check in with them, provide well-being days off, offer special counselling services, or allow stress management breaks.

Instead, team-building activities and employee assistance programmes are gaining traction as mental health-boosting initiatives.

Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR, APAC, ADP, adds, “A caring workplace culture is incredibly valuable for both employers and staff. When people feel safe and supported, they’re much more likely to do a better job, need less time off sick, and feel more positive about their company.” 

“Offering employee assistance programmes could suggest that employers are rationalising or formalising their wellbeing support arrangements. However, companies also need to embed support into day-to-day working practices and create an environment where staff feel supported and comfortable expressing their concerns. Managers who play a big role in ensuring the success of this ecosystem must have open communication and regular check-ins with their staff. It is therefore important to educate and train managers to recognise signs of stress and take prompt action such as offering support resources or referring staff to other support programmes or structures.”