Workplace Burnout Reported in Past Three Years and Measures to Promote Workplace Mental Well-being

62 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what have the reported rates of workplace burnout been across different industries over the past three years; and (b) what further measures are being studied by the Ministry to reduce excessive working hours and promote workplace mental well-being.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not systematically collect data on workplace burnout. Notwithstanding this, to encourage employers to monitor the state of their workforce's well-being and address key work stressors, MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, in collaboration with the Institute of Mental Health, Changi General Hospital and the Health Promotion Board, have developed and made available iWorkHealth, a free online psycho-social assessment tool.

Based on anonymised and aggregated data of more than 15,000 employees from employers that that took up iWorkHealth in 2024, about one in three employees experienced work-related stress or burnout. The proportion has remained relatively stable since iWorkHealth was introduced in 2021. Given that participation in iWorkHealth is voluntary, the sample may not be fully reflective of the overall workforce or at the industry level. MOM and the WSH Council are working with Tripartite Partners to encourage greater adoption of iWorkHealth so that more employers can better understand their employees' state of mental well-being at work and offer relevant support.

While it is natural to feel overwhelmed at work from time to time, a conducive environment can help workers to reduce or overcome work stress. In addition to iWorkHealth, MOM has implemented a range of measures to promote mental well-being at the workplace. These include the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Health and Well-being at Workplaces, which offers practical guidance for employers in areas such as flexible work arrangements that enable employees to meet both their work and personal commitments, as well as after-hours communication policies to encourage proper rest outside of work hours. Launched by the WSH Council, the Well-being Champions Network also facilitates the exchange of best practices among participating companies and offers access to resources and training to strengthen workplace mental well-being.

Based on a survey conducted in 2023, more than 90% of firms surveyed had implemented at least one mental well-being measure. MOM will continue to work with Tripartite Partners and relevant agencies to monitor the effectiveness of our efforts and explore potential enhancements.