Working Hours
Most companies operate on a 5.5-day work week, with a half-day on Saturday and Sunday off. However, in recent years, a 5-day work week has become increasingly common.
Generally, the workday is 8 hours long, with a 1-hour lunch break in the middle. The maximum working hours per week are capped at 44 hours.
Other Benefits
The benefits provided by Singaporean companies to their employees are often comprehensive and thorough. Many companies offer major benefits including outpatient and specialist medical treatment. Approximately half of the companies also provide medical benefits for the immediate family members of their employees. Employers typically provide life, personal accident, and hospitalization insurance for employees, with coverage ranging from 12 to 36 months of salary, averaging 24 months.
Other major rewards include work-related training and access to recreational facilities. Employees hired under expatriate compensation packages may receive additional benefits, such as transportation/car and entertainment allowances. These additional allowances generally range from $600 to $2,400 per month.
Other non-work-related benefits provided to foreign employees include housing allowances, childcare subsidies, and payment of children's tuition fees.
Long-term incentives are also an important part of the compensation package. About half of Singaporean companies use some form of share option plan to reward and retain key employees, especially those in management positions. Among these, the most common is the stock option, which is particularly prevalent in pharmaceutical, high-tech, and electronics manufacturing companies.
Paid Leave
During the first year of service, employees are entitled to a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 21 days of annual leave. Most employees enjoy 2 to 3 weeks of annual leave, as well as paid sick leave. Singapore has 11 public holidays each year. If a public holiday falls on an employee's rest day (such as a Sunday), the following working day automatically becomes a paid holiday; however, some companies or industries may have different arrangements.
Other paid leave stipulated by the Employment Act includes:
Sick Leave: Employees who have served for at least 6 months are entitled to 14 days of sick leave per year. Applications for sick leave must be supported by a medical certificate issued by a company doctor or a government doctor.
Compassionate Leave: Many employers allow employees 3 days of compassionate leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member.
Marriage Leave: Most Singaporean companies provide marriage leave, typically for 3 days.
Maternity Leave: Female employees who have been employed for at least 180 days are entitled to 8 weeks of maternity leave after childbirth; some companies also grant male employees who have just become fathers 3 days of "paternity leave."
