Valuing Flexible Work Arrangements: A Discrete Choice Experiment with Employers and Employees in Singapore

This study aims to quantify how employers and employees in Singapore value flexible work arrangements (FWAs) in monetary terms using discrete choice experiments (DCEs). Following the introduction of the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (TG-FWAR) in December 2024, understanding wage-equivalent trade-offs for flexibility has become critical for policy and organizational decisions. Current evidence remains limited, often relying on descriptive surveys that overlook selection bias and focus solely on employee preferences. This research addresses these gaps by capturing both employer and employee valuations, enabling a balanced approach to sustainable workplace policies.​

The project will conduct parallel DCE surveys featuring both employers and employees, varying FWA features—such as flexi-time, flexi-place, flexi-load, and compressed workweeks—and wages to estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) for each option. Results will reveal preference heterogeneity and alignment between employers and employees, informing TG-FWAR implementation and future policy design. Beyond generating the first experimental estimates of employer-side valuations, this pilot will lay the groundwork for a longitudinal Singapore Working Conditions Survey. Expected outputs include peer-reviewed publications, an impact case study with SNEF, and a competitive grant proposal, ultimately supporting Singapore’s future-of-work agenda for flexible, inclusive, and productive workplaces.​

​Research Impact:  This research will provide Singapore's first evidence on how much flexibility is worth—in dollar terms—to both employers and employees, guiding workplace policies that balance productivity with worker well-being.