KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 20): Flexible work arrangements are no longer just a perk but a necessity in today's job market. According to Wong Shu Qi, chairman of Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), two in five Malaysians are ready to quit their jobs if forced to spend more time in the office.
This sentiment is particularly pronounced among millennials and Generation Z, who strongly oppose inflexible work arrangements. Over half of these groups have also stated they would decline job offers from companies that fail to actively enhance their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.
“DEI is about more than diversity. It is about creating workplaces where people feel that they belong. Employees need more than a salary. They need purpose, growth opportunities, work-life balance and a positive environment.
“When companies get this right, productivity increases, turnover drops and business outcomes improve,” said Wong at the Life At Work Awards (LAWA) 2024 on Nov 20 at the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
LAWA 2024 presented 38 awards from 14 categories to organisations that championed DEI alongside sustainable workplace practices. TalentCorp also introduced new sustainability focused categories and refined benchmarks to enable clearer recognition among organisations.
It is necessary to create inclusive and diverse workplaces where employees feel valued and heard, said Wong. In turn, this fosters increased productivity, reduced turnover and improved business outcomes.
This is why arrangements such as flexible work are no longer just perks, but have become necessities.
TalentCorp has made efforts to assist businesses to drive DEI principles and sustainability by hosting workshops, consultations and other initiatives. These projects extend to women returning to the workforce as well as students to help them make informed career choices.
“The benefits of participating in LAWA are clear. It positions your organisation as a leader in DEI and sustainability, attracts top talent, boosts employee engagement and it creates opportunities to learn from and connect with like-minded, progressive organisations.” said Wong
Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong highlighted that the ministry has introduced eight key labour legislations aimed at institutionalising best practices and establishing a robust employment framework in the country.
Sim said legislative reforms include amendments to the Employment Act 1985, which will now align with global standards of providing 98 days of maternity leave, paternity leave and stronger protections for pregnant employees.
In June, Sim announced that the ministry had enacted a law expanding occupational safety and health legislation from four to 10 economic sectors. The updated legislation includes significant enhancements, such as a tenfold increase in fines for employers that flout the law.
“The law is not to punish, but to ensure that everyone is safe — workers, management, employers, customers, everyone... This is very important, because how businesses generate profit and how [they] use those profits have consequences,” said Sim.
He also said that the uptake rate for flexible working arrangements has been lower than expected despite implementation of Sections 60P and 60Q of the Employment Act 1955. This is why the government has launched guidelines and provided tax incentives to adopt flexible work practices.
Thus, as part of Budget 2025, TalentCorp will facilitate tax incentives for employers hiring women returning to work, implementing flexible working arrangements and offering paid care leave.
All in all, TalentCorp hopes initiatives such as LAWA will inspire organisations to embrace DEI and sustainability.
LAWA 2024 winners include Sunway Group for best public listed organisation, Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn Bhd for best international organisation and Central Force International Sdn Bhd for best small and medium organisation.