Staggered hours have been the norm at some firms in Singapore, as companies prepare for employees who are currently working from home to return to the workplace from today, as workplaces shift from working from home as the default to a more flexible way of working, announced on Wednesday (March 24).
Up to 75 per cent of staff can return to the workplace at any one time, up from the current 50 per cent, Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, had announced at a virtual press conference.
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said that more spread out commuter traffic throughout the day will better utilise the public transport network.
Here are some of the measures announced for returning to workplaces safely.
- No more than 75 per cent of employees who are able to work from home should be at the workplace at any point.
- Employers to support as many employees to work from home as possible.
- Meetings to be conducted virtually as far as possible.
- Stagger start work times such that at least half of the employees arrive at or after 10am.
- No employee should work at more than one work site, except for firms or industries where this is critical for operations.
- All social and recreational gatherings such as lunches and team-bonding activities within or outside the workplace must adhere to the limit of eight people.
The task force also announced that larger business-to-business (B2B) events in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry are set to return to Singapore with up to 750 attendees with effect from April 24.
This is an increase from the current limit of 250 attendees and is in line with the safe and progressive resumption of economic activities in Singapore.