Parenting is hard, but these 2 S’poreans share how flexible work arrangements helped manage the chaos

Parenthood is often celebrated for the joy it brings, but it also comes with its fair share of challenging moments.

In fact, becoming a mother wasn’t easy for 37-year-old Sarah Toh, who is part of the Group Strategic Marketing & Communications team at DBS.

She went through three rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and one round of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) before finally welcoming a healthy baby boy in 2023.

Last-minute doctor’s appointments

It was an emotional rollercoaster, but for Toh, her employer's understanding and flexibility, along with her family's support, made all the difference.

During her fertility treatments, Toh took time off work at short notice for doctor appointments and scans.

Nevertheless, her manager and teammates were supportive, and they trusted her to get the work done.

When Toh got pregnant, her manager encouraged her to come into the office only when necessary, knowing she had a lot to juggle.

Transitioning back to work

With DBS’s 60/40 hybrid work policy, Toh had the flexibility to work from home whenever she needed it.

The real game-changer came after Toh’s maternity leave, when she took full advantage of DBS’s six-month work-from-home option for new parents.

"Being able to work from home helped me transition into life as a working mum," Toh says.

"It made a huge difference to my peace of mind - not having to worry about commuting or rushing to drop off and pick up my child."

But the support didn’t stop there.

Toh was also able to use childcare leave to work three-day weeks for a while, making it easier to ease back into her full-time role without the stress of jumping straight back into a packed schedule.

Financially daunting

Similar to Toh, Nicholas Tan, 30, from the DBS Risk Management Group, said the bank’s extended paternity leave gave him the chance to soak in those special moments with his newborn, without having to juggle work at the same time.

Tan became a first-time dad in January 2024, and found that having a company that has his back really made a difference while he was navigating fatherhood.

"Parenthood is a daunting journey, especially when you factor in the rising cost of living and all the surprise expenses,” Tan shared.

However, with initiatives like the Child Development Account (CDA), Baby Bonus scheme, and DBS’s parental care benefits, the financial pressure is a little easier to manage,” he added.

With a supportive manager and the flexibility to work remotely, Tan was able to juggle his work responsibilities while still being there for his family.

It was empowering for him to know he could take an active role in supporting his wife and being fully present with his baby from day one.

For parents like Toh and Tan, flexible work policies at DBS have been a game-changer.

DBS’ commitment to flexible work arrangements has contributed to a record 90 per cent employee engagement rate in 2023.

Further to this, DBS has aligned with the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (TG-FWAR) that took effect on Dec. 1, 2024.

They've also ranked first on LinkedIn’s Top Companies for Singapore for the second year in a row.

Flexible work arrangements are not just about working from home - think staggered hours, job sharing, part-time options, and more.

Moreover, employers are encouraged to integrate flexibility into their work arrangements depending on their business needs, given the benefits flexible work arrangements can bring to the organisation, such as enhanced employee retention and talent attraction.

The TG-FWAR does not require employers to offer FWAs or approve every request.

Instead, the guidelines establish the norms and expectations for employees on how to responsibly request and use FWAs, as well as how employers should thoughtfully evaluate and respond to these requests to foster mutually beneficial outcomes.

After all, employees are likely to experience higher satisfaction and commitment in the long run when the work environment supports flexible work arrangements.

TAFEP conducts workshops and briefings for employers seeking additional support in understanding the TG-FWAR and implementing FWAs.

Employers in Singapore can also tap on the Productivity Solutions Grant to help offset the costs of implementing FWAs.

More information on the TG-FWAR guidelines can be found here.

DBS Bank won three categories at the Tripartite Alliance Awards 2023: Fair and Progressive Employment Practices, Work-Life Excellence, and was one of two recipients of the prestigious Pinnacle Award.

This is a branded article by Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices.

Top photos courtesy of Sarah Toh and Nicholas Tan.