"It's More Productive" — M'sian Explains Why She Still Allows Work Flexibility For Staff
"I don't want my staff or anyone who is working with me to feel like they have to drag themselves to work," said the lawyer in a TikTok.
By Wayne Garreth — 18 Aug 2023, 12:53 PM
In a world that is slowly inching away from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, one Malaysian employer recently took to her TikTok page to reveal why a flexible working environment is still very important for present-day employment
Human rights activist and Malaysian lawyer Aminahtul Mardiah shared in a TikTok why a balanced working life for her staff members is so important in today's professional climate.
In the three-minute clip, Aminahtul began by stating how a fellow lawyer she knows asked her why she is very lenient with her staff, in a sense of why she isn't particular about their working hours and the fact that she allows them to finish work at 4.30pm daily.
"I started allowing my staff members to go home at 4.30pm during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). Firstly, I did that because of the work environment. At 5pm or 5.30pm, there is a lot of traffic congestion, and we work in KL," she explained.
Continuing on, Animahtul said how such a situation would make someone exhausted once they get home. Having to repeat that routine daily does not make it easier either.
Providing context behind her work, Aminahtul stated that since she and her staff work in the criminal law sector, having to face individuals can be challenging and draining
"Sometimes, you will face an emotional battle because you are dealing with cases surrounding life and death. Therefore, I prioritise the mental health of my staff members. I take into account that as long as they work well and as long as the tasks I give them are satisfactorily completed, the time they work does not have to be under strict confines," she stated.
Aminahtul also added that when her staff members request to work from home, she will allow it. Additionally, when they are facing personal issues or have celebratory occasions that require them to take leave from work, she will allow it as well.
"As long as my staff are happy, they will perform well. I want good results. To get good results, you have to build a healthy and happy work environment," she said.
"Even if you come into work at 8am or 8.30am, about an hour or two is spent talking to your colleagues or having breakfast together and not getting work done — it means nothing," she said
Aminahtul continued on by adding that the same thought process applies to employees at the end of the work day.
"Two hours before that, your time is spent gossiping or playing with your phone or using social media because you don't feel at home at your office. It means nothing.
"What's important is that you can perform well at work when you are happy. That's what I want. I don't want any of my staff members or anyone who is working with me to feel like they have to drag themselves to work. It's not healthy," stated Aminahtul.
In concluding her thoughts, the Malaysian lawyer stated that the environment she has built for her staff members makes their work more productive, and that when people are happy, the work they produce will reflect that too.
"Find a workplace that will give you positive implications in life, and that doesn't just mean good colleagues but also a healthy environment," she stated.
Many Malaysians praised Aminahtul for her perspective on work-life balance, with her TikTok garnering about two million views at the time of writing
From thanking her for being a forward-thinking boss to wishing her and her staff members all the best in their roles, others even stated that the employees working under her must be very lucky to have an understanding boss who is willing to provide the best for them.
"This is how staff members stay happy at work, and when they go home, they can execute their responsibilities as wives and mothers without feeling stressed," wrote one user.
Some users penned how their employers do not follow the same mindset as Aminahtul, with one user saying that their boss prefers quantity over quality when it comes to the execution of work.
"If I shared this with my boss, he'd tell me to go on leave tomorrow and not bother coming back," commented another user.
A few of the most fruitful comments came from users who expressed their hope to have a boss or bosses with Aminahtul's mindset moving forward.
"When you get a boss like this, even with a minimised salary, we'd still think twice about leaving because of the environment," wrote another user.
A recent study found that 50% of Malaysians would leave their current jobs for better work-life balance:
