tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post7396755806142678751..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: Realities of the Working WorldGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-1759226923397026602007-12-15T22:47:00.000+08:002007-12-15T22:47:00.000+08:00If you have served in the army, you would have not...If you have served in the army, you would have noticed that the army is full of people who are a waste of space and waste of tax payers' money.<BR/><BR/>Maybe the army wanted to get rid of these people from their payroll.<BR/><BR/>The moral of story is, do not expect the Singapore government to take care of you. You have to take care of yourself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-7423243224341329502007-11-18T23:12:00.000+08:002007-11-18T23:12:00.000+08:00Kite, well said.Pay MOM website a visit. All rule...Kite, well said.<BR/><BR/>Pay MOM website a visit. All rules governing employees' obligationns to the employers, are laws and policies. All "rules" governing employers' behaviour towards employees, are GUIDES.<BR/><BR/>Where else you have such a good gahmen (and Union) taking care of your welfare. If YOU don't sacrifice, your mother and sister will be maids in The Phillipines tomorrow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-14190548245818167122007-11-14T11:52:00.000+08:002007-11-14T11:52:00.000+08:00Another double standard!http://www.asiaone.com/New...Another double standard!<BR/><BR/>http://www.asiaone.com/News/The%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20071114-36524.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-75187576922919544762007-11-13T10:52:00.000+08:002007-11-13T10:52:00.000+08:00"There s a lot of deadwood in SAF and such govt or..."There s a lot of deadwood in SAF and such govt org, with people whose first and only job is with them. In govt org, conformity is valued, not leadership, or proactivity."<BR/><BR/>generally true but imho, the system fails to reinvent itself into a non-seniority based n more performance based environment. This is the reality of that working world while the govt tries to shrink its budget. Strange as it may be, it is also not because ppl do not want a change toward a fairer, more transparent, more rewarding environment. But how to? when the budget is pressed down and the goodies are stuck on an old rigid distribution.<BR/><BR/>Even by extension, the recent taxi touting trend is highly indicative that with rising costs, how can taxi fare be artificially suppressed. Instead of acknowledging the enterprise of the touting networks, we think that the taxi drivers are simply out of hand. The point is that the system is not reinventing itself fast enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-90314573227958018682007-11-13T00:14:00.000+08:002007-11-13T00:14:00.000+08:00It appears that Henry got benefits amounting to 2y...It appears that Henry got benefits amounting to 2yrs of pay. Sounds generous in this day n age.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-37063530728899369732007-11-12T11:21:00.000+08:002007-11-12T11:21:00.000+08:00There s a lot of deadwood in SAF and such govt org...There s a lot of deadwood in SAF and such govt org, with people whose first and only job is with them. In govt org, conformity is valued, not leadership, or proactivity.<BR/><BR/>Whenever among friends and relatives we hear of some one "sign on" regular, we have this negative "cannot make it" comment. Of course there are exception.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-11886063403378135742007-11-12T00:54:00.000+08:002007-11-12T00:54:00.000+08:00Hypocrisy at its best. Recently they have really m...Hypocrisy at its best. Recently they have really made me so mad with all their unpopular policies that I had to create a blog to vent my anger.James Chiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15300785396852955689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-84686704318601240912007-11-11T18:10:00.000+08:002007-11-11T18:10:00.000+08:00For long, they have been promoting the yellow ribb...For long, they have been promoting the yellow ribbon urging companies to give ex-offenders a chance to integrate into the society however I wonder how much have they done in promoting the yellow ribbon in govt sector? Just give a try in applying for a govt sector job and declare that you have a criminal record. Look at how they will react. Another double standard. Never practise what they preached.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-48771516227406061842007-11-11T10:35:00.000+08:002007-11-11T10:35:00.000+08:00So if SAF has a contract that says it is not oblig...So if SAF has a contract that says it is not obligated to hire someone till 55, what is there to prevent private sector employers from having this same clause in their employment contracts? Maybe the NTUC will forbid such clauses in collective agreements, but isn't that double-standard? So, this talk of legislating employment for older workers is not at all a concrete idea but perhaps just a legislation put forward to quell the unease of older workers. Are we being taken for a ride? Time will tell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-28260387027318905262007-11-11T01:20:00.000+08:002007-11-11T01:20:00.000+08:00SAF is probably the only organization that tolerat...SAF is probably the only organization that tolerates incompetence. <BR/><BR/>anyway, its all written in the contract. SAF is not obligated to hire him till 55, technically but not morally.Alex Tanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09378469445401547689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-58063800295769341132007-11-10T19:30:00.000+08:002007-11-10T19:30:00.000+08:00brilliant post. it's ridiculous how the govt conti...brilliant post. it's ridiculous how the govt continues to shoot itself in the foot with comments like that. <BR/><BR/>If this is top talent we are paying for, I think we are overpaying them by a mile. <BR/><BR/>In the meantime, i'm staying put in the UK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-6927906229465171662007-11-10T16:13:00.000+08:002007-11-10T16:13:00.000+08:00Fancy having the cheek to think of enacting laws t...Fancy having the cheek to think of enacting laws to force the private sector employers to continue keeping old workers while at the same time exempting itself (now only the uniformed sector) from following the enactment. They certainly are good at this game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-50456644975948623512007-11-10T13:50:00.000+08:002007-11-10T13:50:00.000+08:00They will always say things that are to their adva...They will always say things that are to their advantage. They will tweak their words to match their strategy from time to time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-12859962741205816052007-11-10T09:42:00.000+08:002007-11-10T09:42:00.000+08:00LHL - Leader of Hypocrites and LiarsWe have been t...LHL - Leader of Hypocrites and Liars<BR/><BR/>We have been told to work until 65 and yet our people are retrenched by the Gahmen even before they reach 50! <BR/><BR/>What more can we say when the name itself stands for it. Do we have any choice that we ALL WANT to work until 65?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-86362608197177208852007-11-09T19:43:00.000+08:002007-11-09T19:43:00.000+08:00hey mr wang,your post is amazing. love your style ...hey mr wang,<BR/><BR/>your post is amazing. love your style of writing. at times i wonder on wad grounds does the govt have to accuse us of being quitters when the ministers are comfortably spending on our taxes and giving hate speeches both at the same time.<BR/><BR/>the world is getting very disillusioning. i would advise fellow singaporeans to target emigration elsewhere. all these double standards, silliness and bigotry.<BR/><BR/>poor singapore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-90116169555717445562007-11-09T18:38:00.000+08:002007-11-09T18:38:00.000+08:00I wonder how many more civil servants are like thi...I wonder how many more civil servants are like this soldier. If he presents a complete picture of the case, then the army's ingratitude is truly heart-breaking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-13888522853585885432007-11-09T11:40:00.000+08:002007-11-09T11:40:00.000+08:00Mr Wang, this is a topic that has been on my mind ...Mr Wang, this is a topic that has been on my mind for a long time.<BR/><BR/>I notice that employers always bring up the job hopping issue when it suits them.<BR/><BR/>But as someone who lived through numerous layoffs and purges in 97/98 and later during more situation specific scenarios ie firm restructuring, firm implosion as well as seeing my own job disappear a couple of times through what can only be described as unethical practices*, I can only say that firms have not treated their people well and should hence not be asking for loyalty.<BR/><BR/>*Case 1 - Fresh grad in 1997, employers say that I have no skills and experience, need to serve a 1/2 year probation. Need to show dedication by not going for other interviews during this period (secretary keeps tabs on me), ended up missing commencement ceremony as well. Passed probation successfully. Firm now says want to put me on contract, because no headcount available. I say okay! Firm then says that need to turn me into monthly renewable temp with commitment of 1 year ie I promise to stay for 1 year while they have the option to fire me every month. At this point, I started asking questions. Firm then says bye-bye on Christmas eve. When I ask them to fill in training records ( I was a trainee accountant then), my boss remarked that I am a pain in the neck. <BR/><BR/>*Case 2 - Firm gets into some litigation controversy. 1 month after promoting some associates, firm says we must sacrifice for the firm ie 20% paycut and no reducible workhours (contrary to official notice). 2 months later, mass firing of junior associates via SMS and townhall briefing -- claim that they were underperforming just 2 months after positive job appraisal and to please pack and leave in 45 minutes. Firm hits the headlines for making our junior staff cry. Another month passed, firm fires some more, but more tactful this time around. But by now, people are heading voluntarily for the exit because they have lost confidence. HR starts calling people to come back. Those who came back were lost souls, because they were put on a contract and farmed out overseas and fired all over again in less than 2 months ... I could give more details of how the story played out, but I think enough is enough.<BR/><BR/>*Case 3 - After slaving for many years and going for multiple retrainings, I am now high-flying professional with expensive brandname qualifications. I asked to work in slightly different area. Firm says need to serve 1/2 year probation. I say okay again. Went in, doing well when I got a cancer diagnosis. Asked firm for work flexibility as I explore treatment options. Boss says okay and please take care of myself. 1.5 months later, suddenly the opening dried up and 2 weeks before I needed to go for an operation, they say that they have no more work for me anymore. Bye-bye, please take care of myself ...<BR/><BR/>After I got well, I cannot finish counting the number of doors that open when they saw my resume, and slam shut when they realise that I took time-off to deal with cancer.<BR/><BR/>I personally experienced these within 10 years of my career, and people are asking why I have a choppy resume. I told a headhunter that I need him to teach me a polite way of describing some parts of my career progression.<BR/><BR/>On the less dramatic side, I learnt to deal with interviewers who complain that I was underqualified (fresh grad), overqualified (elite school kid - my fault that I went to top school and got scholarships), who ask for photo, age, marital status and child-bearing plans ...<BR/>and bosses who find devious logic to cut and withhold my pay and bonus even after I have met performance targets.<BR/><BR/>Where was the government when these happen? And what about quality behaviour from my employers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-86045990170806374972007-11-09T10:36:00.000+08:002007-11-09T10:36:00.000+08:00another elitist comment posted on the 8th of Novem...another elitist comment posted on the 8th of November at 12.43pm..<BR/>why you people so like that?!..people like to write to the media their pasar lah..why do you have to care?.. people concerned over their rice bowl and their family right?..<BR/>if you have no sympathy, keep your comments to yourself..<BR/>my god!..people like you are a bane to society..<BR/><BR/>anyone regardless of social status has a right to say whatever they want, dear elite, its freedom of speech! for crying out loud..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-74017551230183012412007-11-09T03:39:00.000+08:002007-11-09T03:39:00.000+08:00I propose that we fire Lim Swee Say and make Mr Ka...I propose that we fire Lim Swee Say and make Mr Kalaichellvan the next labour chief. At least when Mr Kalaichellvan speaks, we know that he practises what he preaches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-68827604251027720632007-11-09T00:42:00.000+08:002007-11-09T00:42:00.000+08:00dear mr wang, one of the reasons why ministers' sa...dear mr wang, one of the reasons why ministers' salaries was raised was to attract talent currently in the private sector and encourage them to serve the country. whilst there is an element of monetary incentive, it does not constitute poaching. and on the issue of loyalty, loyalty to country has to come before loyalty to your company (the idealistic view).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-55364334343841436732007-11-08T23:20:00.000+08:002007-11-08T23:20:00.000+08:00Whilst their exborbitant pay may satisfy their ins...Whilst their exborbitant pay may satisfy their insatiable greed temporarily, (before they ask for more?) it will forever stick like a sore thumb throughout their career. Weren't we told months ago that we are living in a different situation and Singapore is unique? :These people say it best when they say nothing at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-6187303072048620312007-11-08T22:26:00.000+08:002007-11-08T22:26:00.000+08:00very well said! this is so typical of the double s...very well said! <BR/><BR/>this is so typical of the double standards of the regime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-52364880319253258082007-11-08T22:05:00.000+08:002007-11-08T22:05:00.000+08:00""I received my performance bonuses annually witho...""I received my performance bonuses annually without fail.""<BR/><BR/>To Henry, if he ever on this site.<BR/><BR/>You did not realise that a person in the SAF can be a A grade performer but a low CEP. And a person can have a high CEP but a low performer.<BR/><BR/>In your case you are a high performer and that is why you still get the performance bonuses every year. But you have a low CEP and you have already reach your CEP. How do I know? It is from your own statement, that you got promoted in 2001 and that puts you at age 45 when you were promoted to 2WO. A high CEP person will be getting their 2WO at age 28 to 30 years old. Therefore, all 200 that was ask to leave must have reached their CEP already and you have to make way for the others to rise.<BR/><BR/>Accept this an move on. Sad to say nobody told you the facts and left you in the dark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-38196220245935943332007-11-08T21:07:00.000+08:002007-11-08T21:07:00.000+08:00Of course Mr Krishna is short-sighted. He should j...Of course Mr Krishna is short-sighted. He should just do what our ministers do - go tell his employer to increase his pay or else he will leave. Then he would earn even more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-58873675302148261532007-11-08T21:04:00.000+08:002007-11-08T21:04:00.000+08:00My two cents on the Henry Minjoot case.Just take t...My two cents on the Henry Minjoot case.<BR/><BR/>Just take the SAF out of the picture and look at the case as one of an employee retrenched after a "right-sizing" exercise in his company. <BR/><BR/>Yes, we will feel sad for Henry, but this is the way life is. When a company restructures, it will need new skill sets quickly and if there's no job fit between the existing workers and the new job scope, they'd have to go. It doesn't make sense to keep the workers and create "meaningless work" for them just cos' they have been loyal to you for years. It's better to do the painful cut, but thank them for their loyal service with appropriate retrenchment benefits.<BR/><BR/>Being given 6 months notice sounds fair. As for retrenchment benefits, Henry didn't mention anything cos' it'd probably make his case less of a sob story. The other thing is... although he has a compulsory retirement age of 55, I don't think it equates to an iron rice bowl till he's 55. It probably means, even if there is a job fit, you gotta go at 55.<BR/><BR/>This may sound insensitive, but I rather the SAF "right-size" than keep "dead wood" in service. After all, we are paying their bills.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com