Working like dogs: 98% of Singapore employees work overtime

[pinky]

and there are those who have to hold 2 or more jobs to make ends meet :sad:

[janet88]

My hubby works till 8 in the office, and continues at home till 11+.

Even when he goes offline, his brain is still working. He may be physically at home but mentally in the office…Mon to Fri. Come Sat, he needs time to remind himself he is AT HOME. No thanks to having a boss who screams and yells like nobody’s business. One who doesn’t understand that sales is not rosy every quarter (he’s not doing sales but has to analyse numbers).

[MMM]

I personally feel the manager should set the tone. If you are a boss, pls set the right example by not working OT everyday. Your people will feel conscious leaving before you. If you love your work so much, do it at home. With technology these days, you can always log on after work or anywhere. I feel that it just takes a boss who values work life balance to provide the right environment.


I am usually in office by 7.30am. Don't do lunch/ long lunch. Usually leave around 6pm. I've conference calls in the evening at least once a week.

I have a habit of checking emails all the time including weekends, at night and early mornings. In fact the 1st thing I wake up is to check my mails. I don't like to start my day/ week with surprises and I hate to see unread emails in my inbox.... so I make sure it's clear regularly.

During hols, I would ensure that I still have connectivity to emails even without laptop. I actually felt insecure leaving my laptop behind and pre-empted everyone to let me know of any requests/ questions before I go on leave.

Dh said I got no work life balance BUT I don't think so. I will work from home once a week and sometimes during exam period. Not everyday but a couple of days just to make my presence felt to make sure no one is skiving when i am not home. I will still connect but at the same time, it allows me to keep an eye on the kids. Also, I make it a point to attend school events or volunteer for some adhoc activities (eg. field trip) if time allows.

I spend my evenings coaching the kids or being there. During busier nights, I will be doing my work in the same room. But I will just be there....

I personally feel that the current arrangement allows me to balance work and family. I am actually happy to do the current scope. It's ok if I don't climb higher as my priority is really the family. SAHM for me is never a option and probably not suitable as well. I will go probably go crazy. I am happy... I just want to do my best for my job, family and earn a decent income. But.... I will be given additional scope. Wonder how that will work out... Yes I do have some resistance. But I still have at least 18 years of working life.... so it's not time to say... I am ok don't develop me...professionally, it's too early to stop growing... :roll: So life is tough....

[dolphinsiah]

Working life is so stressful in Singapore... :frustrated:


Especially for married woman who has to try to wear so many hats...

My daughter see me slaughtering at work to bring back $$$$ .....pity me....
I am their father/mother/helper...

I earn for 4 person to spend....so stress....
Every month exhausted all my earnings....
I am physically and mental stress out..... :frustrated: :frustrated:



My daughter already said she does not want to work , she does not want to be an working adult, :skeptical:

Even get marry also do not want to have kids ....

[Kissgurami]

Oppsgal:

Some company's \"culture\" is like that: Everyone are expected to stay at least more than working hours. If you happen to leave on the dot, everyone will look at you like an \"alien\" and start talking behind the back.

These are usually Korean & Japanese companies..... and some local GLC . They focus on number of hours instead of results

happy that I don't work for such companies anymore
[quote]Some bosses also expect you to work OT everyday. Last minute throw workload out, at least few minutes before time to go home and expect you to finish end of the day?[/quote]ALOT OF SME does this, sudden meeting at 5pm, like Hello???

[Kissgurami]

MMM:

I personally feel the manager should set the tone. If you are a boss, pls set the right example by not working OT everyday. Your people will feel conscious leaving before you. If you love your work so much, do it at home. With technology these days, you can always log on after work or anywhere. I feel that it just takes a boss who values work life balance to provide the right environment.

True.

I used work for a few bosses, very stifling as they focus on the exact time you come in or make snide comments. trying to work from home or arranging flexible work arrangements is like a nightmare. :frustrated:

Now having a team of my own, there is trust and allowance for work from home, flexible hours and ultimately, I just need to see drive for performance rather than nit-picking on why they aren't at their desk.
I get the same allowance so it allows me to engage in Parent Support events and be able to work from home if my DDs doesnt have CC or student care. The performance output is so much better as being employees if you feel good, naturally you will feel less bitchy towards your work and work place, a positive mindset just gets things moving and proactively pick things up even if it is after office hours at their discretion.

The employers need a radical mindset change , this wouldn't apply to all industries but some industries can afford to have this form of change.

[MMM]

Kissgurami:

The employers need a radical mindset change , this wouldn't apply to all industries but some industries can afford to have this form of change.

Yes, there needs to be a shift in mindset in Singapore. Actually, I feel that it is probably more role driven. Eg. people who work in a lab probably need to be in office than home.

In the US, working from home, taking time off, work demands and work life balance are words that we always hear and which my colleagues are consciously work towards. My boss has a open mind towards that.

To me, I offer this kind of flexibility to my staff if they need it. I don't ask reasons why someone need to take leave. It's their entitlement. For longer leave, including myself, it is however encourage to align with your boss first and at the sametime, make sure we are responsible to ensure everything is fine when we are away. If people trust you that you are doing your work, there wil be lesser doubt so we need to build that trust.

But.... there are some catch to it. We have seen people who has the mentally that they must fully utlise their medical leave if not they will lugi. People who will call in sick often and you really wonder if they are sick. Not that we want to doubt these people but yes, there are such people around and everywhere.

Though the key determinant is performance and deliverables, I feel that the person working from home should also be responsive. Eg. a simple straight forward email, don't reply till many hours later. It leave people to think what you are doing at home???? Are you working or skiving?

Working from home for me sometimes mean I've more time for my work. Eg. if I have to do a TC in the early morning and go to office afterwards. I will have to spend time dressing up and travelling to office after the call. That time could have been spent doing more work.

[concern2]

Kissgurami:

Now having a team of my own, there is trust and allowance for work from home, flexible hours and ultimately, I just need to see drive for performance rather than nit-picking on why they aren't at their desk.
I get the same allowance so it allows me to engage in Parent Support events and be able to work from home if my DDs doesnt have CC or student care. The performance output is so much better as being employees if you feel good, naturally you will feel less bitchy towards your work and work place, a positive mindset just gets things moving and proactively pick things up even if it is after office hours at their discretion.

We need more bosses like you in Singapore!

[Funz]

I think not just the bosses but employees too need to have a radical change of mindset. Stop saying you want work life balance but not do anything about it. Propose alternatives or compromises instead of always thinking that the answer is either a yes or a no.


I had good bosses and bad bosses. With the bad bosses, I learned to handle them but what irritates me most are colleagues who bitch and gripe but when in front of the boss, it is yes boss to everything.

When I had a team, I had to remind them to go for their lunch and chase them home even. I had to ban a staff from coming to the office when she was experiencing some bleeding early on in her pregnancy. If anything, I think they stress me more then I stress them. I felt I had to work longer hrs because of them. :razz:

[Joule]

I really like some of the responses

[quote]I have a habit of checking emails all the time including weekends, at night and early mornings. In fact the 1st thing I wake up is to check my mails. I don't like to start my day/ week with surprises and I hate to see unread emails in my inbox.... so I make sure it's clear regularly.[/quote]I have sent out emails at 11.30 pm and 1.30am....and my boss replied me instantly. What are we doing up so late? If / When I reach my boss level, must I also be answering emails at 1.30am? answering mails at 5.30 am and 1.30 am, maybe even 2 is not my idea of good career development. I know, you may say, work hard then get promoted, but good grief....
[quote]Even when he goes offline, his brain is still working. He may be physically at home but mentally in the office...Mon to Fri. Come Sat, he needs time to remind himself he is AT HOME. No thanks to having a boss who screams and yells like nobody's business. One who doesn't understand that sales is not rosy every quarter (he's not doing sales but has to analyse numbers).[/quote]errr, isn't this very dangerous? I went through this kind of period before and boy I am lucky my marriage didn't break down and my parents didn't disown me. Barely went through it alive

[quote]But.... there are some catch to it. We have seen people who has the mentally that they must fully utlise their medical leave if not they will lugi. People who will call in sick often and you really wonder if they are sick. Not that we want to doubt these people but yes, there are such people around and everywhere.[/quote]Oh boy, tell me about it. On the flip side, I have members of my team call in sick on Fridays and Mondays and the eve of public holidays.... 1 joker stayed back 20 mins on a Thursday and requested to come in 20 minutes later on the following day :frustrated:

Going to 'office' to work is an Industrial Age concept la.