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If given a choice, four in 10 Singaporeans will retire at the age of 55, a recent survey found. Almost four in 10 employees in Singapore want to retire at the age of 55 - 10 years earlier than the retirement age set by the government, revealed the 2014 Randstad Award survey released on Friday. The survey of 6,546 employees in Singapore also found that respondents would be motivated to work longer if their workplace offered a more relaxed schedule, friendlier atmosphere and shorter work hours. Randstad Country Director for Singapore Michael Smith said the findings provide organisations with a clear insight on how best to engage their top talent in order to retain them. "Singapore is already facing a talent crisis, with many organisations finding it difficult to meet the demand for skills. “If a situation arises where a large group of the talent pool are unwilling to work till the retirement age, this will make the talent shortage challenge even more acute for organisations here. “Employers need to constantly evolve their talent management strategies by understanding the motivations of their employees of all ages, including return-to-work mothers and the mature-age workforce," said Mr Smith. The survey found that female employees, in particular, find flexible working hours a key motivator for staying in the workforce. Mr Smith said this is not surprising, given female employees tend to think about family priorities at some stage during their careers. "Today's constantly changing world of work means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. “Employers need to continuously rethink their approach to ensure they are meeting the needs of their employees. These include establishing flexible working arrangements, a positive working environment and work-life balance. “Yet it is critical for employers to strike the balance between keeping their employees happy and maintaining productivity to ensure their business is well placed for the next phase of growth," added Mr Smith. The survey also found that competitive salary and employee benefits remain the most important factors for employees in Singapore when they choose an employer. This is the third consecutive year where salary and benefits have taken the top spot. The top three key employer personality traits employees in Singapore look for are: reliable, honest and sincere. Another survey finding was that Singapore employees spend an average of 42 minutes travelling to work. This is close to their acceptable time of 39 minutes. Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/4-in-10-s-porean/1058524.html