A Complete Guide to Singaporean Work Culture

Singapore is a small Southeast Asian city-state on the southern section of the Malay Peninsula. With a population of 5.41 million (2021) residents, with over 20% being expats from other countries, Singapore is a central point for Asian and global commerce. Widely regarded as one of the most modern cities on Earth, Singapore has become a prime destination for businesses and professionals seeking to break into the Asian market and capitalize on a rich and competitive working environment. Due to the large influx of foreign talent into the country, Singapore’s work culture and practices have evolved from its traditional base to one that has become more open and embracing international standards and customs. 

Globalization has made the world a (figuratively) smaller place, bridging lands and people into an interwoven mesh of culture, customs, and traditions. That said, against the background of maintaining and respecting cultural diversity, when making the move to another country, especially one whose customs and traditions differ widely from one’s own, the importance of understanding the working culture cannot be understated. 

In this article, we will take a deep look into the origin of the Singaporean work culture, and examine how the country’s long-standing work etiquette has modernized in the face of rapid globalization.

It would not be possible to understand the current Singaporean work culture without acknowledging the remnant aftereffects of British colonialism. Singapore’s history as a British colony has left a lasting impact on its work culture, and many features of its present work culture are derivatives of systems put in place by the British during the colonial era. In addition, the influx of foreign talent contributed substantially to modern Singaporean work culture by promoting understanding and cross-cultural cooperation. This rapid development and economic growth has encouraged ever-increasing amounts of expats to make the move to Singapore, further diversifying the Singaporean multicultural society, social norms, and customs. 

Like several other Asian nations, Singapore’s transition to industrialization began in the 1970s. During this time, Singapore shifted from a primarily trading port to an industrialized nation with an economy that was centrally focused on innovation and technological developments. These economic strides were supported significantly by globalization and technological advancements and had lasting impacts on Singapore’s work culture. Singapore’s new focus on industrialization signaled a shift towards a knowledge-based economy and the skills demanded in the modern workforce. Naturally, to meet the demands of the evolving work environment, the workforce within Singapore gradually adapted to the changing economic landscape, which brought about the development of new skills and a focus on innovation within the Singaporean work culture.

In this section, we will discuss the aspects of Singapore's work culture and examine how the country’s values and beliefs, work ethic, and communication styles are represented in day-to-day professional life. 

Singaporean values and beliefs

The values and beliefs of Singaporeans are major drivers of its work culture. Here are some of the most integral values and beliefs that Singaporean work culture is based on. 

Emphasis on Meritocracy

Meritocracy refers to the system that defers to academic credentials as a form of objective qualification. Singapore’s meritocratic system is touted as one of its leading developmental principles and is at the core of every level of its society, from the elementary school level to the governmental structures responsible for guiding public and international policy. 

The strong emphasis placed on attaining higher education qualifications is ingrained in the Singaporean education system and is one of the driving forces behind Singapore’s incredibly high literacy and higher education rates. For many Singaporean companies, academic achievements are often seen as a key determinant for career advancement. In the years leading up to its industrialization arc, the Singaporean government recognized the importance of having a highly educated workforce to compensate for its lack of natural resources, heavily subsidizing the educational system for its citizens and removing many of the barriers to education that lower-income households would have otherwise faced. Creating equal opportunities for Singaporeans hailing from every socio-economic level, the fact that Singapore’s work culture prioritizes academic achievement is no longer a barrier to employment as all individuals have equal opportunities for success, regardless of background or social status.

Naturally, the meritocratic philosophy of Singapore’s work culture heavily influences every stage of the job recruitment, promotion, and professional development processes. Recruitment for competitive positions is extremely challenging, and supplemental qualifications apart from a university degree are often what ekes out successful candidates from their competition. Similarly, performance-based promotions and rewards are given out to those who can produce the most efficient and most substantial returns and is a very common method of recognition in Singapore's work culture and workplaces.

To this end, due to the emphasis placed on one’s merit and accomplishments, employees who can consistently impress their superiors and invest time in their own professional development can expect smooth, even accelerated, career progression.

Respect for Hierarchy and Authority

Hierarchical structures are another one of the defining traits of Singaporean work culture. In virtually every Singaporean business, a clear organizational structure exists and is expected to be followed at all times. These corporate hierarchies typically have clear reporting structures, and it is believed that respect for these structures contributes to a sense of order and efficiency in the workplace. To this end, the work culture in these companies places great stress on lover-ranked employees paying respect to their superiors through the unquestioning and efficient execution of assigned tasks and projects. What’s more, success in these areas is seen in a highly positive light by superiors and can be a determining factor in performance bonuses and merit-based promotions. 

The Singaporean work culture’s insistence on rigid hierarchical structures can also be traced to the country’s cultural roots. Many of Singapore’s cultural principles are rooted in Confucian teachings, the origins of which can be traced back to the Chinese heritage of many Singaporeans. Hence, the Confucian principle of social hierarchy is considered by many to be the largest contributor to the Singaporean work culture’s emphasis on respect for authority and hierarchy, where age and experience play important roles in determining the hierarchy of authority and decision-making power within a company. Younger employees are almost always relegated to lower positions and must give deference to those who are older and (usually) in higher positions of power. 

The communication dynamics between tiers in a company’s hierarchy are strongly influenced by the position of one employee relative to another. While treating professional colleagues with the utmost respect is the standard within Singaporean work culture, this is even more apparent in communication exchanges between younger/lower-ranked employees and their superiors or employers. Voicing disagreement with a superior’s opinion is seen by many as rude and going against the hierarchical status quo, and is thus strongly discouraged. While the exact extent of this may vary depending on how progressive or international the company is, foreigners (especially Westerners) coming to work in Singapore should be keenly aware of this feature of the Singaporean work culture.

Collective Responsibility and Teamwork

Collectivism is a popular trait in Asian countries, of which Singapore is no exception. Collectivism, or the prioritization of the group over the self, presents strongly in Singapore’s work culture. One of these manifestations is through a strong belief in collective responsibility and teamwork. Singapore is a highly multicultural society, with representation from virtually every country on Earth making up over 25% of its population. The resulting cultural melting pot has naturally encouraged a strong sense of teamwork as people work towards understanding the cultural and social backgrounds of their peers in an effort to streamline workflows and channels of communication. The multicultural composition of Singaporean workplaces also allows for a greater range of perspectives and opinions to be put forth in projects, the benefits of which are particularly realized in those geared towards innovation and development. 

The Singaporean government has made many efforts to encourage intercultural interactions within the country. Government bodies, such as the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, were established to encourage a work culture that was tolerant and accepting of intercultural exchanges between the many that exist within Singapore. Many policies were also passed into law by the Singaporean government, including the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and the Ethnic Integration Policy, to name a few. The resulting society is one that largely accepts and celebrates the multiculturalism reflected in all levels of its society and workforce. 

The cohesion stemming from the emphasis placed on collective responsibility extends past Singapore’s work culture and into the very structure of its society. The collective responsibility of Singaporeans to maintain a safe and productive population has resulted in the country consistently ranking amongst the safest and cleanest in Asia and the world, with even small crimes such as petty theft being exceedingly rare. To this end, Singaporeans and the foreigners residing there keep each other accountable through the reporting of any crimes committed; this works in favor of the collective responsibility all citizens and residents feel to keep the country as safe and as clean as possible.

All this being said, while collectivism and collective responsibility are generally seen as strong positives for Singapore’s work culture, group success usually comes at the cost of one’s personal goals. In the pursuit of collective success, the individual success of an employee is usually overlooked or given a lower priority in the eyes of their superiors. To this end, acting out of personal motivation, especially when it comes at the expense of a larger organizational success, is frowned upon by Singaporean work culture. As such, it may be difficult for many to balance one's individual goals alongside team objectives.

Singaporean work ethic

Singaporean work ethic is amongst the highest in the world and has been formed from the melting pot of cultures, traditions, and customs of the many nationalities that call the city-state home. Here are some of the most important features of the Singaporean work ethic. 

Punctuality and Time Management

Punctuality is one of the cornerstones of Singaporean work culture and work ethic and has significant cultural roots. Typing back to Confucian principles, punctuality is viewed as a sign of the utmost respect towards one’s colleagues and (especially) superiors. It is seen as a sign of respect for others’ time as well as a strong indicator of personal responsibility. It should be mentioned that this emphasis on punctuality is not limited to the Singaporean work culture, but extends into every aspect of life within the city-state. 

Many Singaporean companies tie strong links between punctuality, efficiency, and productivity in their work culture. As a highly productive and efficient society and people, many Singaporeans directly correlate effective time management to achieving organizational goals. While this may seem self-explanatory, it is prudent to recall the significance of teamwork and collective responsibility within the Singaporean work culture; maintaining proper time management in a fast-paced and relentless work environment is crucial in ensuring that team deadlines and objectives are being met and that organization success can be consistently achieved. 

The Singaporean focus on effective and precise time management also has a significant impact on the way that meeting times and deadlines are set. In a work culture and environment that is so geared towards the development of globally innovative technologies and through substantial participation in global financial markets, the ability to meet strict deadlines and exceed set expectations is crucial. Many Singaporean companies use time management as a metric of success in employee evaluations, and many expect tasks and projects to be completed even before established deadlines. The plus side of this is that strong time management skills, when recognized, can greatly increase an employee’s odds of vertical promotions.

Dedication to Job Responsibilities

Within the fast-paced and competitive Singaporean work culture, it has become natural for many workers to take great pride in their individual tasks and projects. Not only is the success and completion of these tasks seen as a great contribution towards the overall success of the organization, but it is also a reflection of the employee’s work and value to the company. Given the hierarchical structure of the Singaporean work culture, the sense of ownership and responsibility for individual tasks is understandable; if a superior notices that an employee is producing stellar results by themselves, they are more likely to be promoted and move up the hierarchical ladder of the company. 

The cultural factors that contribute to this dedication to job responsibilities also cannot be overlooked. Given that Singapore’s work culture places a strong emphasis on organizational success and collective responsibility, taking pride in one’s own contribution to the overarching success of the company can be viewed as one of the few ways that one can express and work towards personal and professional goals. 

As is the case with many high-performing economies, one of the hallmarks of Singapore’s work culture is the prevalence of extremely long and intensive working hours. Typically, Singaporeans work at least 40-50 hour work weeks, some of which extend into the weekend. These long work hours are supported by an unwavering work ethic, as the individual desire to contribute towards the collective success of meeting company goals motivates many workers to put in many extra hours. This dedication to organizational success is also commonly driven by the hope of recognition by hierarchical seniors and the chance for a merit-based promotion through the ranks of a company. 

As it is a by-product of an extensively meritocratic work environment, Singapore's corporate work culture recognizes and rewards dedication to job responsibilities through merit-based promotions and advancements. To this end, periodic performance reviews are a popular way of evaluating an employee’s value to a company and is a common way to acknowledge an employee's commitment to the success of their place of employment.

Balancing Work and Personal Life

In such a competitive work environment, striking a work-life balance within the Singaporean work culture poses a challenge for many, both foreign and domestic workers alike. To this end, the government has proposed and introduced a latitude of initiatives that promote a healthy work-life balance for its workforce. Initiatives such as the Work-Life Grant and the Tripartite Standards were established to promote and encourage workers to take well-deserved breaks from working towards company objectives and begin to develop and achieve milestones in their personal lives. The result has been that many Singaporeans now have more time to spend with their families, and are also burdened with less of the stress that comes from working in one of the world’s most competitive economies. 

Despite the government’s best efforts, however, the cultural roots of Singaporean work culture have caused many to overlook the steps put in place to balance work obligations with personal time. The competitive work culture is oftentimes overwhelming for many, leading to many workers refusing to take time off for fear of being behind on set deadlines for personal and team projects. That said, as Singapore’s work culture becomes more progressive and internationalized from the foreign talent influx into the country, a noticeable shift can be observed by both employers and employees when it comes to the pressure being placed on organizational success over personal time off.

Impact on Employee Satisfaction

Studies have shown that companies that give their employees the flexibility to balance work with personal time substantially contribute to overall levels of satisfaction and job retention. While this may be the case, in many cases the competitive work culture in Singapore does not allow employees to maintain a stable work-life balance in the face of extreme pressure, both from themselves and their colleagues. Foreigners coming to work in Singapore should be aware of the extreme pressure that the work culture places on all employees and that they may find themselves working extra hours to keep abreast of the pace of their colleagues.

Singaporean communication styles

Communication is an important step in maintaining the smooth operation of any company. In the fast-paced Singaporean work culture, communication is highly valued, both in ensuring the efficiency of business operations and for the amicable resolution of conflict. We will now discuss some of the most common communication styles employed within Singaporean work culture. 

Directness and Clarity in Communication

The methods of communication in Singapore go against those found in many other Asian countries. Culturally, Singaporeans are naturally more straightforward in communication exchanges, both in and outside of the workplace. Not mincing words at work heavily favors the workplace efficiency that Singapore is well-known for. At the same time, being overtly direct, especially when saying “no” or disagreeing with someone, is rare. This follows Singaporeans wanting to “save face”, especially within the workplace. 

Another method that Singaporeans employ within their work culture is a general avoidance of ambiguity in communication exchanges within the workplace. Ambiguous statements in conversation are normally used to soften the effect of harsher forms of criticism or comments that may be misconstrued as offensive. While Singaporean work culture is geared towards “saving face” in all exchanges, ambiguous phrasing is avoided for the sake of maximizing efficiency within the workplace. This is good for clearer channels of communication between all parties and is useful in ensuring that a mutual level of understanding is always reached.    

A final method that many Singaporean companies use in an effort to maintain clear communication between employers and employees is the use of constructive criticism and feedback. Feedback is highly valued by employees in Singapore as it allows them to make effective changes to their workflows per their superior’s advice. Direct feedback communication is highly valued for the level of personal and professional growth and can lead to more merit-based promotions throughout the ranks of a company.

Importance of Non-verbal Communication

In many cases, non-verbal communication adds a layer of interpretation to communication exchanges between people. Changes in body language, facial expressions, and gestures play an important role in conveying messages in a conversation where words are not enough. Singaporean work culture places a great deal of significance on non-verbal communication, and foreigners should be aware that many Singaporeans convey many of their thoughts and feelings through these subtle changes in expression. Stemming from the need to maintain stable and formal relationships within the workplace, Singaporeans are acutely aware of their facial expressions when speaking to others, as poor body posture, ill-timed gestures, and careless facial expressions can translate into offense for many. 

Having the awareness to take care of subtle body language when speaking to others is just one example of many depicting the importance of being culturally sensitive when acclimating to the Singaporean work culture. For many foreigners, especially those coming into Singapore from outside of Asia, becoming acclimated to the cultural sensitivities of Singapore and, to a lesser extent, Asia, can be quite the adjustment. That said, it is something that everyone coming into Singapore must do, as the country is a cultural melting pot with its residents hailing from every country on Earth. The multiculturally diverse workforce comes with a plethora of customs, beliefs, and traditions that should be respected at all times, so as to maintain a harmonious working relationship between all parties. 

Thriving within Singaporean working culture means applying everything that we have discussed so far, from respecting Singaporean values and work ethics to understanding and acting on the cultural sensitivities of the many nationalities working within the small city-state. While challenging, success results in the highest standard of professional etiquette within the Singaporean work culture. In particular, adhering to features such as non-verbal cues, maintaining proper body language, and adopting formal and direct lines of communication are the most likely to lead to performance success in the workplace and social interactions.

Harmony and Avoiding Confrontation

Singapore’s multiculturalism is one of the country’s most prominent features. What is most impressive, though, is the level of cultural harmony that permeates every level of Singaporean society. Much value is placed on societal and cultural harmony and maintaining positive relationships between all people. While Singaporean society is highly diverse, some of the largest ethnic groups include Chinese, Malay, and Indian, to name but a few. This diversity influences communication strategies that Singaporeans and foreigners working in the country employ to avoid unnecessary conflicts. 

One method that is employed to minimize cross-cultural conflict within Singaporean work culture is the adoption of more indirect methods of communication. While Singaporeans generally favor unambiguous and direct communication, in an effort to maintain workplace harmony, many fall back on more indirect ways of communication to convey points, usually through the previously discussed forms of non-verbal communication or pauses in speech to add emphasis to one point of conversation over another. The resulting communications exchanges are less confrontational and preserve the public images of all parties involved. 

In the event that conflict becomes unavoidable, there are many conflict resolution approaches that those operating within the Singaporean work culture employ. Clear and open communication is always favored due to its efficiency and is in line with the emphasis placed on directness within the work culture. That said, many Singaporeans and Singaporean companies prefer to go the communal route and avoid situations where interpersonal conflicts may arise. Exact methods vary depending on the company but, generally, employing collaborative problem-solving to maintain strong and positive working relationships is the go-to for many businesses. The logic behind this move is that group-based projects minimize the change for individual gripes an employee may have with one of their peers by taking advantage of Singapore’s collectivist culture, and generally give way for the speedy and efficient completion of assigned tasks

Singapore's work culture’s emphasis on team dynamics is reflected in its preference for collaborative projects within the workplace. Team-based projects require employees to apply many of the most important facets of Singapore's work culture, including excellent time management skills, clear and concise communication, having a deep knowledge of cultural sensitivities, and producing quality results in a highly competitive working environment. By evenly applying all of these skills to day-to-day work life, a level of harmony is achieved within the team that contributes to cohesive team dynamics. 

Conflict, when it arises, can be a significant threat to this harmony and can have lasting effects on the efficiency of the team. To mitigate this, Singaporean work culture prioritizes clear communication to bring about a swift and amicable resolution to all conflicts when they arise.

Now that we have covered the features of Singapore's work culture, here are some tips and tricks to be as prepared as possible when entering the Singaporean workforce.

Tip 1: Well-prepared

Being well-prepared in all aspects is an essential step in smoothly transitioning into Singapore and its competitive work culture. Prepare for the mental and physical strain that comes with moving and working in a new and unfamiliar country. Also, bear in mind that Singapore is one of the world’s most advanced and competitive economies; ensure that your soft and hard skills are up to scratch and can compete against global competition! 

Tip 2: Dress appropriately

Wearing the appropriate attire when working within Singapore’s work culture is very important, particularly within the corporate and financial sectors. Singaporean business culture values traditional business attire, as employees are considered reflections of their company’s values and ethics. If you would like some more information on how to dress appropriately for every business setting, check out our article explaining the nuances of traditional business attire. 

Tip 3: Set career goals

Singapore is a forward-thinking nation that rewards career-driven professionals seeking to maximize their professional lives. Set short, medium, and long-term career goals prior to making the move to Singapore. This will allow you to best consider your career options and positions upon arrival and can even help you streamline the job application process by eliminating extraneous jobs that do not align with your goals.

As a powerhouse and trailblazer in technology development, innovation, and a global economic and financial hub, Singapore’s work culture is quickly becoming one of the most important to be versed in. The country’s economic influence on the Southeast Asian region and world makes it one of the rising Asian economies that the world is quickly giving more attention to. With virtually limitless career paths to explore within this small city-state, Singapore is a popular choice for expats and foreigners looking to make the move to Asia. 

Singapore’s work culture is wholly unique and pays homage to the myriad of cultures that bless its population. Succeeding within Singaporean work culture means having a deep appreciation and respect for multiculturalism, having a strict and efficient work ethic, and being a highly qualified and experienced professional in your field. While this is challenging for all, success in Singapore can yield an extremely rewarding lifestyle, making it the perfect destination for career-driven and focused professionals.

--- Originally written by Alexander Coye ---