Opinion: Workplaces must do more to support families if Singapore wants to raise fertility

In a commentary published in The Straits Times, Asst Prof Chong Sin Hui from NTU's Nanyang Business School examines how workplace demands can intensify work-life conflict for parents, and why domestic helpers should not be seen as the default answer when caregiving needs arise.

She notes that when workplaces cannot accommodate caregiving needs, there is often an unspoken expectation that the burden will be shifted elsewhere, frequently to hired help such as domestic helpers. But while such arrangements can be valuable for many families, they should not be treated as the default solution to work-life conflict.

Instead, Asst Prof Chong argues that the issue should also be examined from an organisational perspective. Workplace norms, job design and expectations around availability can all shape whether parents feel able to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.

She raised examples of how employees may hesitate to use family-friendly policies, even when these are available, because of concerns about burdening teammates, disrupting work routines or being seen as less committed. At the same time, employers may face real operational pressures in managing leave, flexibility and workload distribution.

Some solutions may include how workplaces can be redesigned to better support parents, such as rethinking after-hours demands, planning fairly for temporary absences, and creating team practices that reduce the sense that caregiving is an individual problem rather than a shared workplace issue.

The commentary offers a broader reflection on childcare, employment and organisational culture in Singapore, and considers how employers can play a stronger role in easing work-life conflict for parents.

Read more in the commentary here.