17/08/2025

ON SUNDAY August 17, 2025 X theSunday Special

From 9-to-5 to remote work: The modern workplace is evolving BY DAYANA SOBRI

O NCE , the idea of working from home felt like a rare privilege. Today, it has become a viable and sometimes preferred mode of work for millions in Malaysia and around the world. T KH WUDGLWLRQDO WR Ṙ FH JULQG LV no longer the gold standard. Instead, a flexible, hybrid and even fully remote workforce is emerging, transforming not only how we work but why we work. This seismic shift didn’t happen over night. It was catalysed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced organisations to adapt almost overnight. But the mo mentum hasn’t slowed since. It’s only gathering pace. The numbers speak clearly According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), as of late 2023, around 29% of the employed labour force had some form of flexible work arrange ment, whether hybrid or fully remote. 7KLV PDUNV D VLJQL¿FDQW OHDS IURP SUH pandemic numbers, where remote work was estimated to be below 10%. More tellingly, a 2024 JobStreet Ma laysia survey found that nearly 60% of respondents would prefer remote or hybrid work options even when given the FKRLFH WR UHWXUQ WR WKH Ṙ FH IXOO WLPH 7KLV preference isn’t just about convenience. ,W UHÀHFWV D GHHSHU VKLIW LQ ZKDW SHRSOH value – autonomy, time, mental health and trust. Beyond location: Shifting meaning of work Remote work is not just a location change – it represents a rethinking of what work is. It challenges the idea that productivity is tied to physical presence. Many em SOR\HHV UHSRUW EHLQJ PRUH Ḣ FLHQW ZKHQ WKH\¶UH QRW EDWWOLQJ WUḊ F FRQJHVWLRQ RU adhering to rigid schedules. According to James Wong, an inde pendent human resource consultant and former organisational psychologist, the pandemic merely accelerated a trend that

was already in motion. “Even before 2020, forward-looking FRPSDQLHV KDG EHJXQ WR H[SORUH ÀH[LEOH work as a way to increase engagement and attract talent. However, the pandemic demonstrated to everyone that remote work could be conducted at scale. It’s not a perk anymore – it’s part of the workplace fabric,” he said. Wong added that while some employ ers remain resistant, fearing a drop in productivity or collaboration, data is increasingly suggesting otherwise. Studies from McKinsey and Gallup have shown that remote and hybrid teams, when managed well, can outperform traditional LQ Ṙ FH WHDPV DFURVV VHYHUDO SHUIRUPDQFH metrics.

Work is no longer just about showing up. It’s about contributing meaningfully – whether from a cubicle, a café or your kitchen table.”

Wong

Remote work is not just a location change; it represents a reevaluation of what work entails.