Me Time!

[lee_yl]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2131572\" time=\"1711673836\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2131572 time=1711673836 user_id=53606]
For many of my SAHM friends (with no domestic helpers), we are looking for working hours that fit with our kids’ school hours. The logical place to look is in schools, but such positions are rarely advertised.

Perhaps there is a large potential source that we can tap into, to ease the admin burdens of teachers so that they can focus on the core teaching work. Somehow no one has brought this up.[/quote]

Indeed, MOE may be the most ideally positioned to tap on this pool of SAHM returnees.

For example, can offer a PSG mum 2yr contract to be a full time librarian or support staff in school (7am to 2pm), how nice, still can go home with kid together after school.

I am thinking, why not train SAHM returnees as part-time hospital staff. Say work from 8am to 12pm.
Or be employed with AIC, to be trained as caregiver as a part time job. My DH thinks govt should be more open to other possibilities. Don’t always think of Filipinos when it comes to getting more healthcare workers or caregivers.

My DH’s question is, how best to get in touch with all these SAMH who has the intention of returning to work.

[sharonkhoo]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2131671\" time=\"1711764693\" user_id=\"17023:

Indeed, MOE may be the most ideally positioned to tap on this pool of SAHM returnees.

For example, can offer a PSG mum 2yr contract to be a full time librarian or support staff in school (7am to 2pm), how nice, still can go home with kid together after school.

I am thinking, why not train SAHM returnees as part-time hospital staff. Say work from 8am to 12pm.
Or be employed with AIC, to be trained as caregiver as a part time job. My DH thinks govt should be more open to other possibilities. Don’t always think of Filipinos when it comes to getting more healthcare workers or caregivers.

My DH’s question is, how best to get in touch with all these SAMH who has the intention of returning to work.

Agree! It would be good if the hours and terms of work can be negotiated to suit individual needs as well as the organisation needs. Some may find it difficult to do 7-2, but maybe 8-2 (pro-rated) might work better? Or job sharing - 2 people to share out a job - 2 or3 days each?

Where to find there? Probably get featured in the press and social media? On job websites? Here and other parenting websites?

[Imp75]

Many of the SAHMs used to be very highly paid and so are their spouse who can single-handedly support the household. Would the SAHM return to the workforce just to earn that measly part-time pay in school or hospital? I think the spouse would say, you stay home be a taitai better.

[Estéema]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2131671\" time=\"1711764693\" user_id=\"17023:

Indeed, MOE may be the most ideally positioned to tap on this pool of SAHM returnees.

For example, can offer a PSG mum 2yr contract to be a full time librarian or support staff in school (7am to 2pm), how nice, still can go home with kid together after school.

I am thinking, why not train SAHM returnees as part-time hospital staff. Say work from 8am to 12pm.
Or be employed with AIC, to be trained as caregiver as a part time job. My DH thinks govt should be more open to other possibilities. Don’t always think of Filipinos when it comes to getting more healthcare workers or caregivers.

My DH’s question is, how best to get in touch with all these SAMH who has the intention of returning to work.

I think that’s a good use of willing resources for schools & hospitals. It’s not easy to manage libraries, as there are systems of records & evaluation of appropriate reading materials for diff ages, besides monitoring the popular & cold store titles. Managing various vendors who will keep the calls coming can be a handful.

However, that’ll jack up our National Budget! At the moment, besides PSG are on volunteering basis, other than the core staff, AIC encourages volunteers to help out with the R&R roles engaging elderlies. Even St Luke depends on some volunteers to lower their costs & MIL wish to join the daycare for the company & aircon! The staff are typically admin, cook, and 2-3 Programme staff facilitating (depending on size of the centre). We didn’t see a single Filipino except for one therapist who’s PR fr M’sia.

With a better educated population, if the govt can do more in structuring policies in both the public & private sector to include above 40-50s returning to workforce & incentives to retain staff so long as the staff wish to continue working. I guess it’ll take awhile for the private sector’s change of paradigm. Health insurance will need to catch up too, as the workforce changes & this becomes a norm for employment of returnees to work or PT work.

[sharonkhoo]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2131683\" time=\"1711768492\" user_id=\"2358:

Many of the SAHMs used to be very highly paid and so are their spouse who can single-handedly support the household. Would the SAHM return to the workforce just to earn that measly part-time pay in school or hospital? I think the spouse would say, you stay home be a taitai better.

If you only measure everything by money terms, then yes, it's not worth it. But some (many?) people will find it much more meaningful to get a \"job\", however lowly paid, than be a tai-tai. My family can do without the little I earn, but they all appreciate that I have other things to do rather than focus too closely on everything they do!

There are benefits of feeling useful, interacting with others, helping people that are less well-off, supporting public organisations like schools/hospitals/libraries... I know many ladies who went back to relief teaching, shelving books, pushing trolleys in nursing homes, etc. Yes, up till now many such jobs are unpaid, but there is no reason why they shouldn't be paid. In fact, these are exactly the kind of things that keep people active and mobile, and probably healthier. You may not be able to see the effects on an individual organisation's balance sheet, but I believe there is a great benefit for the nation.

[Estéema]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2131683\" time=\"1711768492\" user_id=\"2358:

Many of the SAHMs used to be very highly paid and so are their spouse who can single-handedly support the household. Would the SAHM return to the workforce just to earn that measly part-time pay in school or hospital? I think the spouse would say, you stay home be a taitai better.

Agree, Singaporean returnee to workforce will be very selective, so we need to change the perception of employers as a nation to embrace returnees w/o cutting on benefits or welfare. Treat it as the new norm rather than ‘accommodating’ govt’s effort to encourage returnees.

PT work for even the young returnee mothers have not taken off since the 90s. I rmbr the NTUC made efforts to promote flexible work for female returning to the workforce & all our payroll system were twitch to accommodate the pro-rated hours of pay, annual leave, etc. Yet, this hasn’t taken off, and very few companies have these staff on payroll now.

Some of the issues arose fr responsibilities & accountabilities and continuation of service to internal/external customers. The other is the science of exact performance appraising. It’s also not easy for most higher level jobs to enable flexi-work staff to be immerse in the full culture of the organization w/o following every company events as some events are regular only in the early/later part of the day. For the librarian, AIC, cafe or supermkt outlets, etc it’s a clearer handover & any gaps ELD not be too wide to close & accept.

[lee_yl]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2131683\" time=\"1711768492\" user_id=\"2358:

Many of the SAHMs used to be very highly paid and so are their spouse who can single-handedly support the household. Would the SAHM return to the workforce just to earn that measly part-time pay in school or hospital? I think the spouse would say, you stay home be a taitai better.

You already said “used to be.” If they are not willing to let go of their past glories, and still wants sky high salary despite not working for the past 10yrs-20yrs, then i think this group better stay at home and continue be Tai Tai.

But for another group, who is willing to start from scratch and relearn, for own development or self-fulfillment, with their experience and maturity, and if they are capable, their talents will recognize.

Recently a friend who stays in private condo, returns to the workforce doing flex hour job. I find her salary meagre but I can tell from her sharing, she really enjoys putting on her office wear, stepping out of the house and talking to the younger colleagues! I do not think for her case, it’s about high salary.

Now, how to encourage those who want to return to work, and to match them with a suitable job. Government should take the lead to employ such SAHM returnees. Japan women participation in the workforce went up by 20% recently.

[Estéema]

Schootopia\" post_id=\"2131708\" time=\"1711791996\" user_id=\"143961:

I just heard about a Singaporean, 70 years old, still have to work, cannot retire. Job is to push those in wheelchairs around a public hospital. 6 hours per shift per day, no break.

Sounds very good right? Can still get a job at 70, very stable, no requirements, indirectly employed by your SG govt, practicing what they preach: work till you die.

The reality: Already 70, cannot retire, pushing something 60/70/80 kg, on your feet walking non-stop for 6 hours per day, 5/6 days per week, in non-aircon, hot and humid SG. Bus fare and lunch will cost you at least 1hr of your pay per day. Singaporeans don't tip nor say thank you. Literally \"god bless u\" if you ever fall sick and don't die. The bill will kill u.

I do feel sorry for yr example of a 70-yo gone back to a standing job, even if she’s still fit physically. I guess we do not know her circumstances - whether she’s married with family; or with family that ran out of financial support, etc.

I do know my own public tpt per day will not exceed $1 a trip or under $2 for 2-way. For hospital staff they’ll get perks & benefits of staff price.

[sharonkhoo]

Have to work is different from want to work. I do feel sorry for this person if they really don’t want to work, but are forced to. Without knowing their personal circumstances, it’s hard to comment. I do know that there are social welfare schemes and support for the low income elderly, but some may not want to access those until they have no choice.


But the issue that was being discussed earlier was how to encourage those not working, like SAHM, back into the workforce. They may not need to work although they may appreciate some additional income.

[Funz]

DH and SIL have been lectured by relatives MIL still working at her age. MIL is in her late 70s and is still working. At 1 point she was even employed in 3 different part time roles. MIL chooses to work and keeps telling people better to not depend on/burden her children. I think that gives people the impression that DH and SIL may not be supporting her.


MIL definitely is not in any financial need. House is paid for, DH pays all her water, electricity and phone bills. All her medical bills are covered by insurance or DH and SIL. DH and SIL do give her a fair bit of money monthly. On top of that, her widowed sister is living with her while renting out her HDB and they split the rental income.

I think working gives her a sense of purpose but 3 part time jobs is a bit too much. We told her to cut back as she did fall a few times at her jobs. She keeps telling us but her employers have problems getting reliable staff and keep asking her to continue or go back to help. Cannot deny that it does feel good to be needed and yet be paid I guess. So all we can do is to tell her to take it easy.

More and more, I see that not all old folks are working because they really need to. I think there are a good percentage of them who work because they want to. Among my senior staff (I do have quite a number of them) the reason they cited, to stay active, stay social, cannot tahan the husband at home, a sense of purpose, etc. I just had a few staff retiring end of last year. They are in their 70s as well. They retired very reluctantly but had to admit that given their age and health conditions, it is better for them to retire. They were also getting pressure from their families to retire.