A Foreigner's Guide to Understanding Singapore Work Culture
Singapore is known for its thriving economy, favourable employment conditions, and stable political system. It's probably one of the countries with the best working environments in the world.
But the work culture in Singapore is probably as unique as the country itself, mainly because of the diversity and Asian-rooted culture.
If you're a foreigner looking to start a company in Singapore or planning to work in Singapore, here's what you need to know about Singapore's business culture and work culture so you don't experience terrible culture shock.
A General Overview of Singapore Work Culture
More foreign companies are incorporating their businesses in Singapore. With that being said, the work culture in Singapore has become highly diverse as these foreign companies roll in.
East meets West would probably be the phrase to describe the diversity of its inhabitants. As of 2022, Singapore's population is projected to be near 5.33 million, with 3.61 million employed in 2021. The resident population in Singapore is predominantly Chinese, with more than 2.9 million residents as of June 2021. Malays come in second with roughly more than 544,000 residents and more than 354,000 Indians for the same period of observance.
And now, more foreign entities are opening up their businesses in Singapore, so you can imagine the growing diversity and the importance of understanding a workplace culture of different ethnicities.
Singapore's Culture Diversity
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, most of the Singapore population comprises Chinese residents, followed by Malaysians and then Indians.
The country adopts four official languages: Malay, English, Tamil, and Mandarin. But Malay is considered the national language, while English is the primary language taught at school. English is also the main business language.
Singapore's work culture is predominantly group-focused, hierarchical, and intent on following many strict rules.
What Are the Features of Singapore's Work Culture?
Planning on working in Singapore? It's a good idea for everyone planning to migrate or work here to learn and understand the work culture and its many peculiarities. Let's take a look at the significant features of what it's like to work in Singapore:
Dress Code
Singapore's workplace dress code is pretty standard. Male employees can wear buttoned-down shirts, long-sleeved shirts, suits, ties, cardigans or blazers, and leather shoes. Ladies can wear skirts, pantsuits, classic buttoned-up shirts or blouses, and heeled shoes.
Most of the time, business casual may be the default dress code unless otherwise specified. However, it will also depend on the company you're working for. The bottom line is that as long as you look professional and formal.
Hierarchy Is Everything
Like most Asian countries, the work culture in Singapore emphasises respect for authority. Organizations almost always have distinct lines of authority, so junior employees are expected to follow all directions and accept their status as subordinates. High-level employees and executives are respected for their power within the company.
It's worth noting that multi-national or international companies have simpler hierarchies, primarily because of foreign ownership's influence. And as such, there's a lot more room for healthy disagreements between persons of authority and their subordinates.
Age Is More Than A Number
Age is a significant consideration as part of the organizational hierarchy in Singapore and many Asian countries. In simpler terms, fresh graduates or the younger generation are not often considered valuable or time-worthy to hire in a company.
Another thing to note here is the interaction between an older employee and a younger employee of the same position or title. The younger employee should not assume they are equal to the more senior employee just because of the title. This is considered disrespectful in Singapore.
Implementing Strict Workplace Rules
The Singapore government has stringent rules and regulations that protect its citizens' welfare. The workplace is no exception. Singapore's work culture emphasises rules and regulations that govern the workplace and the employees. There are a lot of rules for everything, from punctuality to employee interaction. Singapore's Ministry of Manpower has legislation for workplace safety and health.
A Culture of Teamwork and Collaboration
Singapore's work culture focuses more on group achievements and activities than individual ones. It's more important for a company to achieve results as a group through teamwork and collaboration. This is far from the Western workplace culture where individualism or individual achievement is more supported.
As an employee in a Singapore company, you need to work well with your colleagues and agree with group decisions when necessary. The needs of the group outweigh individual needs. Rather than being self-autonomous and seeking personal glory, Singapore's work culture appreciates the collective sharing of responsibilities, rewards, and opportunities.
What Are the Usual Working Hours in Singapore?
Regular working hours in Singapore are as follows:
For five work days a week: up to 9 hours a day or 44 hours a week.
For more than five work days a week: up to 8 hours a day or 44 hours a week.
The Employment Act also reminds employers that the maximum working hours are 12 hours per day. You can work overtime for up to 72 hours monthly with a payment equal to at least 1.5 times your basic hourly rate.
Singaporeans are hard-working and are known as workaholics, partly because of the competitive nature of the workplace and competition against other businesses. Singaporeans are more likely to stay in the office to get more work done the soonest time possible. This explains the long working hours, which are now part of the Singapore work culture.
Based on Ministry of Manpower statistics, the average working hours for 2021 was 44.2, and the average paid overtime hours was 2.5 for that same year. Singaporeans worked more than two hours on average for overtime.
The Singapore government implemented several policies to protect the work-life balance, including a drop in total paid working hours. This resulted in the gradual reduction of working days in Singapore.
What Are Some Cultural Mistakes You Should Avoid in Singapore?
If it's your first time visiting Singapore, or if you're planning to work there, there are several cultural mistakes that you need to avoid:
Spitting, chewing gum, and smoking in public are prohibited. There are dedicated areas for smoking in Singapore. You can read up on their smoking policies here.
You're not allowed to publicly criticize religion, politics, crime and punishment, or bureaucracy. You’re more likely to get arrested or fined if you violate this.
Public disagreement or publicly correcting a superior or someone of higher authority than you. This is something that you shouldn’t do with traditional Asian bosses. In contrast, Western bosses are more flexible and encourage discussion between them and their employees.
While Singapore isn’t a strict Muslim country, it’s okay for couples to hold hands, but it’s another thing to blatantly display affection in public (i.e. intense kissing sessions or making out, fondling, and so on).
Physical contact with someone from the opposite sex (unless you are related or married).
Touching someone's face or head.
Pointing with your finger (index) is rude, and touching something with your feet is considered unclean by Singaporeans.
Standing with hands on hips is considered aggressive or angry.
Receiving or giving out a business card with one hand is considered rude or impolite. Traditionally, you give or receive business cards with two hands, as seen in the image below:
The Wrap Up
While predominantly influenced by Asian culture, Singapore work culture is not without its peculiarities and intricacies. It doesn't also mean that a Singapore business is not flexible regarding its workplace culture. You might say that some newer Singapore companies are as flexible as their counterparts in western countries, but that's not exactly something you should assume right off the bat.
Job opportunities for foreign nationals are available so as long as the quota for the workplace when it comes to hiring locals is met.
If you have any questions or queries about working in Singapore, particularly securing a work visa, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The work culture in a small auditing firm in Singapore tends to be more close-knit and collaborative compared to larger firms. Employees often have the opportunity to work on a broader range of tasks and take on more responsibilities, given the smaller team size.
This can lead to a more hands-on experience and faster professional growth. While the pace can be just as demanding as in larger firms, the environment in smaller firms is often described as more personal, with a stronger emphasis on team cohesion and mutual support.