Hong Kong Workers Prioritize Flexibility Over Salary
Survey finds 65% would accept lower pay for a four-day workweek, while AI is reshaping workplace expectations.
Hong Kong workers are increasingly prioritizing flexibility and control over their time, with many willing to sacrifice part of their salary for a shorter workweek or greater autonomy, according to a new study by HR and payroll platform Deel.
The Hong Kong’s Green Flags at Work Index 2026, based on a survey of 500 white-collar workers conducted by Rakuten Insight, found that 65% would give up part of their salary for a four-day workweek, while 63% would accept lower pay for fully remote work and 62% for control over their working hours.
Yet workplace practices lag behind preferences. Although 72% of respondents work in the office five days a week, only 10% would choose that arrangement. More than half (51%) have rejected a job before applying because of its office or working-hour requirements, while 41% would leave their current job within a year for greater flexibility at similar pay.
The trend is particularly pronounced in financial services, where 58% would leave their jobs for greater flexibility. In technology, 54% would consider the same move.
Work-Life Balance and Pay Flexibility Gain Importance
Control over time also influences personal relationships. The survey found that 59% consider control over one's schedule a positive trait in a potential partner, while 51% view regularly working overtime as a red flag.
Over the past year, 61% of respondents said rigid schedules or heavy workloads disrupted their personal plans. One-third canceled plans with partners or friends, while 14% reported that work had ended or significantly strained a relationship.
Workers also want greater control over when they are paid. Only 34% feel in control of their pay timing, while 53% would accept lower pay to choose their payment frequency. That share rises to 70% among Generation Z workers, compared with 36% of millennials.
AI Boosts Productivity but Raises Expectations
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping work and personal decisions. While drafting work emails remains its most common use (43%), 30% of respondents have sought AI advice on balancing work and relationships. Another 39% would trust AI more than their HR team to assess whether their pay is fair.
Nearly nine in 10 respondents (88%) said AI had freed up time at work over the past year. Among those reporting time savings, 56% said they had gained more time for life outside work.
However, the benefits come with additional demands: 52% said managers now expect faster turnaround times, while 48% reported increased workloads. In technology, 62% reported expectations of faster turnaround, while 61% of financial services workers said their workloads had increased.
“Retaining” talent requires genuine autonomy, balanced with the consistency, visibility and trust needed to operate at scale,” said Karen Ng, regional head of expansion for enterprise in North and South Asia at Deel.
Ng said employers that offer flexibility while maintaining clear boundaries and ensuring AI-driven efficiency does not simply increase workloads will be better positioned to attract and retain talent.
