TalentCorp’s Flexible Work Arrangements Webinar Encourages Companies to Embrace the New Normal

Vaffa Chau and Mohd Amril Mohd Junid spoke at the ‘Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs): New Normal for the Workplace’ webinar.

On 9 July 2020, TalentCorp engaged with members of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Kedah/Perlis Branch through an exclusive webinar, ‘Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs): New Normal for the Workplace’. The session touched on the role FWAs play in the future of work, and how employers can implement them effectively.

Photo credit: Freepik — Automation of work is leading to the creation and disappearance of jobs.

For the past few years, discussions on Industry 4.0 and the Future of Work (FoW) have heavily revolved around the technological disruptions affecting work, workplace and workforce. The Khazanah Research Institute predicted that 54% of the jobs in Malaysia could be at high risk of being replaced by technology within the next twenty years¹. While new jobs such as Social Media Managers and Data Analysts came into existence, other traditional jobs such as toll operators and parking attendants are becoming obsolete. The advancement of technology allows work to be done remotely, changing the age-old perception the employee has to be at the office to complete their deliverables.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this transformation. When the Movement Control Order (MCO) was announced back in March, companies who were not used to employees working remotely had to figure out sustainable arrangements while also ensuring that their staff remain engaged.

Amril introduced TalentCorp’s initiatives to webinar participants.

Through the webinar, TalentCorp, being the national agency that drives Malaysia’s talent strategy, aims to ensure that the Malaysian workforce continue to meet the demands of the future. On top of being committed to preparing the workforce for the FoW, we have also been an advocate for the implementation of FWAs at the workplace.

From #TeamTalentCorp, Mohd Amril Mohd Junid (Head; Human Capital, Capability and Administration) and Vaffa Chau (Manager; Malaysia Professional Talent) shared on how FWAs can be implemented effectively in the workplace so that companies can prepare for the FoW.

According to Amril, there is a need for students to acquire skills other than their technical capabilities.

During his session, Amril addressed what to expect from the FoW. A key takeaway is to prepare students for work that will exist in the future, and to equip them with not only technical skills, but also communication and language skills. This is where academia, industry and government collaboration come in place, to ensure that students are learning the right skills that prepare them for the future workforce demands.

Amril also emphasised the importance of enhancing employees’ skills to keep them relevant, adding that lifelong learning is the FoW.

"Companies need to have a mindset of continuous working and learning."

Vaffa stressed that it is important to have processes in place when implementing FWAs.

Vaffa’s session focused on the implementation of FWAs so that companies can prepare for the FoW. She gave insights on how companies dealt with the Work-From-Home (WFH) arrangements when the MCO began, and shared an example of a Malaysian company that had to recruit 100 new workers during the unprecedented time, with all new hires having to WFH. Vaffa highlighted steps that organisations can take to practice FWAs effectively, including establishing clear policies and guidelines, and building a communication plan to set clear expectations.

Members of FMM and the speakers engaged in a lively Q&A session.

As part of our Industry Partnerships engagement, TalentCorp will continue to host similar webinars to support companies looking to implement FWAs. Follow us on our LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to get more updates.

If you are interested to find out how your company can put FWAs into practice, TalentCorp can support you by providing end-to-end advice. Drop us an e-mail at flexworklife@talentcorp.com.my.

^[1]The Times They Are A-Changin’: Technology, Employment, and the Malaysian Economy (Khazanah Research Institute, 2017)

Tags: FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS, FUTURE OF WORK, INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS, MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER, NEW NORMAL, REMOTE WORKING, WORK FROM HOME, WORK-LIFE PRACTICES