Offering flexibility is often seen as a key strategy for enhancing work-life balance, but this benefit is undermined by poor workload management.

This is highlighted in a recent whitepaper by Randstad, which examines changing talent expectations across Asia.

The study found that excessive workloads are the primary cause of poor work-life balance, outweighing the inconvenience of not being constantly present in the office. “When workloads become unmanageable, the impact on work-life balance far exceeds the inconvenience of being office-bound,” the report states.

An excessive workload without adequate support forces employees to sacrifice personal time and mental health, leading to burnout and potential resignation.

Presenteeism due to flexibility

Interestingly, the report indicates that working from home can exacerbate presenteeism in Asia, driven by multiple factors.

“Excessive virtual meetings and poor communication can lead to employees spending more time completing their work,” the paper notes.

The fear of missing out on promotions, project opportunities, and pay increases while working remotely also fuels presenteeism. Consequently, employees often feel pressured to respond to emails or messages from their managers after working hours to demonstrate their commitment to their job.

What can employers do?

The paper emphasises that business leaders must address poor workload management.

Leaders should also work to curb the culture of unnecessary overtime and improve communication skills and processes in a remote work environment.

To tackle these issues, the whitepaper offers the following recommendations:

– Limit workers’ overtime hours

– Monitor for signs of burnout

– Ensure transparency in performance assessments

Randstad’s white paper delves deeper into recent workplace shifts and provides guidance for leaders on navigating these changes.