The Workplace Ghost!
August 9, 2010
Every year, around now, the Chinese in Singapore observe the tradition of paying respects to the dead. Taoist Chinese believe that during this month, the “Gates of Hell” are opened and souls of the dead are freed and allowed to roam the earth.
How often have you stayed late at work…maybe on your own…maybe after dark… and wondered for one reason or another if the dead are wandering through the hallways of your office?
You hear someone nearby…the presence of someone next to you…footsteps down the corridor…a door gently closing shut…but there’s no one there…and there never was. Terrified, you grab your things and leave the office. Who was it? The ghost of an ex-employee or the ghost of someone with a grudge coming back to haunt others.
Tell us about your ghostly experiences in the workplace…and we’ll tell you ours. If you dare…
The Office Romance!
July 26, 2010
If you are going to fall for a colleague over the photocopier, take it slow, be discreet and know the company’s rule
For amorous colleagues, discretion is vital. Once upon a time the matrimonial journey began, very often, on the dance floor. Modern relationships are more likely to be consolidated in the office stationery cupboard – various surveys in the UK have revealed that more than half the nation’s workforce admit to having dated a work colleague and given that office hours are increasingly encroaching on home life, daily contact at the photocopier is probably more potent an introduction than a weary weekly hour at a bar.
Corporate romance can be a thrill for all concerned. It provides nutritious fodder for the gossips, energising glee for the lovers and camaraderie among the workforce. It can also be destructive, with favouritism, jealousy and distraction as the fall-out.
“When companies try to ban romantic involvement among employees it’s because they’re worried about the impact on morale and productivity if the couple breaks up,” says Kate Taylor, a relationship expert with online dating agency match.com.
Before you let your libido sink your career, therefore, make sure you know what you’re letting yourself in for.
• Beware red tape. Before leaping, pause and peruse your company’s handbook. There may be contractual restrictions on relationships between certain employees. If flouted, this could make the experience rather hotter than you’d bargained for.
• Be selective. You can only get away with a couple of affairs in one office, says Taylor, otherwise you gain the reputation of a feckless predator. Choose your commitments carefully, therefore, and steer clear of someone who could fire as well as seduce you. “Don’t,” Taylor warns, “think of the office as a dating pool if you want to be taken seriously.”
• Take it slowly. Don’t spread the word for the first three months and make sure that there’s scanty fuel for gossip-mongers. If the relationship is still blooming after that it has solid foundations and you can afford to confront the inevitable rumours head on. “Men, especially, can come on strongly for the first few weeks then withdraw and assess,” says Taylor. “You don’t want to have gone in with all guns blazing then have to face them across the desk every day if it all goes wrong.”
• Be discreet. A hasty tryst in the office lift is understandably thrilling, but office antennae are well tuned to such adventurings, you will inevitably be happened upon at some point (remember CCTV) and your indignity could be seen as unprofessional. Save the excitement for neutral ground. “Once in the office, it’s probably wiser to retain a formal, even distant relationship with those with whom one is in love or in a relationship with,” advises Jeremy Lewis, editor of the Chatto Book of Office Life. Discretion will also minimise the fall-out should it all end in tears.
• Be honest. If you’re asked whether you’re seeing Kevin from accounts, admit it. Candour should kill off speculative gossip, but don’t itemise the physical wonders of your new love to your neighbours or record them on Post-Its and emails. Public humiliation could await the unwary.
• Don’t be exclusive. However absorbing your feelings, keep your relationships with your other colleagues in good repair. You need a supportive team to do your job well and you’ll need supportive friends if romance dies.
• Know the rules. “Sexual harassment suits are unpleasant for everyone involved,” says Dawn Rosenberg McKay, career planning adviser for About.com. “Be aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and avoid doing anything that can invite those accusations.”
• Grieve in private. Should the worst happen, and in the case of office affairs it very often does, take a couple of days leave so that you can get over the worst of it before facing your ex across the desk. “Discuss it to death with friends so that when you go back to work you look as good as you can,” says Taylor. “People will judge how you’re coping on how you look.”
Anna Tims. This article was first published in The Guardian (www.guardian.co.uk)
“Managing Singapore’s Workforce During The World Cup…The HR Challenge!”
May 31, 2010
Late night World Cup games in June and July could mean higher than normal absenteeism and employee fatigue at work in Singapore – however a little planning and forethought will go a long way.
Every four years the FIFA World Cup brings people together across the globe, as they immerse themselves in this spectacular sporting event. Although the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will bring joy to many – it is also bringing concern to some employers and the need for employee planning, scheduling and good communication.
With the World Cup taking places in cities across South Africa, such as Durban and Cape Town, the time difference with Singapore means that games shown live will be broadcast early in the morning at 2.30am as well as at a more reasonable 7.30pm and 10.00pm. Whilst some employees will be sleeping through the live games, a large number will be burning the midnight oil as they watch live broadcasts and celebrate with family and friends. The world’s biggest single sporting event, The World Cup Final, will be broadcast at 2.30am on a Monday morning!
Singaporeans will be rooting for their chosen nation team, as well as the many expatriates and foreigners working in Singapore, with backgrounds from all over the world, who will want to watch their home country in action when matches are screened. So what can companies in Singapore do to be both ‘World Cup friendly’ with their workforce, whilst also ensuring that employee attendance at work stays on track, that sick leave does not increase too much and that productivity doesn’t drop?
Lynne Ng, Regional Director, Adecco South East, feels that a balanced approach is required: “It’s about setting clear expectations and communicating as to what is and what is not appropriate in the workplace during the tournament. Companies don’t want
to alienate their workers during the World Cup by pretending that it’s ‘business as usual’ – as clearly it’s not. Ensuring that employees can enjoy the World Cup in some form or another will likely be a moral booster and highly appreciated by the workforce. While every day business is bound to be affected at some level by late night games, there are steps that can be taken by human resource managers and departments to keep disruption to a minimum and to ensure continuity of business. These steps include flexible working hours, shift swaps, unpaid leave…and a little understanding”.
Adecco offers the following steps that can be taken to keep businesses running as normally as possible:
1. Liaise with your workforce to understand their level of interest in watching late night World Cup games and their views about the balance of enjoying the TV coverage while still performing well at work and executing their responsibilities.
2. Evaluate workloads and special projects that need to be completed during the World Cup period. What employees are needed to complete either regular workloads or projects on tight delivery schedules? It’s essential that companies factor in that a higher than normal number of workers may be on leave or absent from work.
3. Ensure that department heads and supervisors are talking to one another about the impact of the tournament. The cross checking of holiday requests would be a beneficial exercise.
4. Many organizations are setting policies about watching game replays on the internet or surfing World Cup related website. Every company has different measures and controls in place. It’s important that all employees understand the policies and procedure in place and the rationale behind these decisions, as well as the ramifications for abuse of the policies.
5. Bring your workforce together for social gatherings. Although no live World Cup games are being broadcast during the regular 9-5 working day, there are still opportunities for employers to gather employees for the regular 7.30pm and 10.00pm games. This can be either in the place or work, or an outside environment. In either situation, alcohol consumption should be controlled.
6. Ensure that all employees are treated fairly and equally during the tournament and remember that not everyone is interested in this sporting event.
7. Enter into the Spirit of the World Cup! This is the world’s biggest sporting event and companies can have some fun with it. Examples include world cup themed events, sweepstakes and inter-department challenges.
Lynne Ng: “The World Cup is not just about football – it’s an event that can captivate and involve those not even interested in the sport. The event is a great way for companies in Singapore to show some ‘spirit’ and flexibility and to ensure that employees can enjoy the spectacle, whilst still ensuring that workplace professionalism is maintained”.
GOOOAAALLLL!!!!
May 25, 2010
Everyone plays a different role in the office; just like every footballer has a role to play on the field. A business without the IT or sales people is equivalent to a football team lacking a goalkeeper or a goal hungry striker. Under both scenarios, being able to work independently and as a team is crucial.
TEAM FORMATION
What’s your role in the company? How does your personality plays a part in defining your role? What kind of player are you if we perceive the organization as a football club?
Forward – Sales
Strikers are the goal poachers. They are the ones outside, taking every opportunity to score for their team. Just like the forwards, sales people generate profits for the organization, ensuring that their company stays competitive and ahead of the market. While strikers get ‘goal bonuses’ when they score, salespeople get commission when they close a deal.
Midfielder – Sales Support
Midfielders serve the important role of dispossessing the opposing team, and feed to their forwards. In a corporate setup, marketing people support their forwards with creative and innovative ideas. Business development teams function like wing wizards that set the play by generating leads for the sales people. These composed anchorpeople ensure discipline will of course be the human resource team that ensures compliance and procedures.
Defender – Back Office Support
Behind the glorious victory in a football match, people tend to forget the diligence of the defenders. Unsung heroes of an organization include the finance and IT support people. Although they do not contribute directly to the profitability of the company, they are the backline that provide operational support to everyone else. Imagine a football team without defence and you will understand the importance of the back office team.
Goalkeeper – Department Head
They direct throughout the game, they coordinate the team in a match, they are the last line of defence behind the team. Goalkeepers may appear to be doing nothing most of the time, but whenever they come into action, critical decisions are made and potential crisis situations are effectively managed. They are decisive, brave and safeguard the entire team. Can you link this to what your supervisor is doing?
Manager – Manager
As the title speaks for itself, be it in football or the corporate business world, a manager is a manager. They orchestrate what the team does, aligning them to meet long and short term goals. Typically, managers are business minded, strong in people management, inspiring and passionate, well connected, play mind games at times, affect the style of the team, and lead the team effectively. A great manager will bring success to their team.
TRANSFER MARKET
Rich and well established clubs often seek to buy over star players of rival team by offering them attractive wages and incentives. The players will also seek moves to such clubs due to the prestige of the club as well as the remuneration packages offered. The scenario is very similar in the corporate world where companies headhunt the elite and management tries to retain their best talent. Chemistry with team mates is also a decisive factor.
COMPETITORS
Before a match, the coaches will become highly familiar with their opponents and their performance at that specific time, before deciding upon the tactics, formation, who to deploy and the style of play. Likewise, it is important for us to know who our competitors are, and what are their strengths and weaknesses. Right and proper training, together with the adequate knowledge on your competitors will bring you the eventual success.
Should you feel lethargic and tired at work, think about the corporate football theory! Are you the John Terry, Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi or the David Villa of your company?
Ouch! Your Worst Job?
May 14, 2010
Some of us have ‘had’ great jobs….some of us ‘have’ great jobs….but I’m sure that most of us at some time or another have had either a full-time or part time job that was just not good!
So what makes a job really bad? Some would say that it’s working in dangerous or dirty conditions….others would say that it’s because the boss or the team that you work with stink….and some might put it down to just doing a job that has no value or purpose! That’s for you to decide.
Your worst job is that job that you woke up to each morning and thought ‘Oh No…Not Again’…and when every day of the working gave you that sinking Monday morning feeling.
So what has been your worst job and why? If you dare leave your e-mail address we may send a prize to the best of the worst jobs!
Adecco Tree Planting - The Photos!
April 29, 2010
The team at Adecco Singapore headed out to MacRitchie Reservoir Park to plant 25 trees for Earth Day. 25 trees that will contribute to the greening of Singapore. Employees from the company’s 18 office and divisions were on hand to dig, plant and sprinkle! Here are some images from the Adecco Eco-Givers!
Adecco Singapore Tree Planting on Earth Day 2010 from Adecco Singapore on Vimeo.
Earth Day - What Can You Do?
April 26, 2010
The team at Adecco Singapore headed out to MacRitchie Reservoir Park to plant 25 trees for Earth Day. 25 trees that will contribute to the greening of Singapore. Employees from the company’s 18 office and divisions were on hand to dig, plant and sprinkle as the trees were planted.
But more important, is what you can be doing to support the environment in Singapore and to ensure that Earth Day is remembered not just on one day - but all year round. Here are some top tips:
1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables.
2. Use Less Air Conditioning - Turn it off when not required or turn it down!
3. Change a Light Bulb
Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.
4. Drive Less and Drive Smart
If you’re lucky enough to drive in Singapore - drive less. Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving petrol, walking and biking are great forms of exercise.
5. Buy Energy-Efficient Products
Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs. Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can’t be recycled.
6. Use Less Hot Water
Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households.
7. Use the “Off” Switch
Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television and computer when you’re not using them.
8. Plant a Tree - Just Like Adecco Did!
If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime. Contact the National Parks Board, Singapore, for more information.
9. Encourage Others to Conserve
Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbours and co-workers. ensure that they are being environmentally sound.
10. Keep Learning - about what you can do to save our planet!
The below images show the Adecco team tree planting on April 22, 2010:
Adecco Eco-Givers!
Happy Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2010
We all use the word ‘love’ everyday…..’I love this song’….’I love this nasi lemak’….’I love you’….and hopefully ‘I love MY JOB!’.
But what is Valentine’s Day all about?
Valentine was a priest who worked in Rome during the rule of Emperor Claudius II. The emperor made a rule that soldiers couldn’t get married, as he thought this made them weaker warriors.
Valentine disagreed with this and would perform secret weddings for couples. He was caught and sentenced to death. Before he died he wrote a letter an unknown woman who he himself had strong feeling for. The letter was signed “from your Valentine.” He is said to have died on February 14th.
The church later made him a saint for upholding the divine right of marriage and made him the patron saint of lovers and made February 14th St. Valentine’s Day.
Happy Valentine’s Day Singapore & Malaysia!
Singapore’s Kids Know What They Want! - Part 2
January 25, 2010
The Straits Times Razor TV takes to the streets and schools of Singapore to ask kids their thoughts on running the country and what they want to do when they grow up. These interviews were prompted by the recent Adecco Singapore kids interviews that showed that our kids are an ambitious and caring lot! Part 2
Kids Say The Funniest Things!
January 11, 2010
(photo: Kath Wildman)
An annual survey of children living in Singapore, conducted by Adecco Singapore, a subsidiary of the world’s leading human resource and staffing services company, reveals that 93% of the children surveyed believe that it is more important to spend time with family than to make lots of money.
The survey of children, aged between 7-14 years, asks just five simple questions:
1. What do you want to be when you grow up? Why have you chosen this and how much do you expect to earn?
2. What is the best/coolest job that you can think of?
3. If you became Prime Minister of Singapore, what are the first three things you would do?
4. What is more important: to make lots of money or to spend time with you family?
5. What are you looking forward to doing in 2010?
In the same survey from last year (released in January 2009), 88% of those surveyed stated that they would choose to spend more time with family than in making money. This year that percentage rose to 93%.
The most popular career choices for those surveyed are for becoming a Lawyer, Doctor, Teacher or joining the Singapore Police Force. Those wanting to become a doctor nearly all want to help people – however their monthly salary expectations range from S$2000 right up to S$60,000! Other children surveyed have slightly different career aspirations that include wanting to be a Weapons Engineer, F1 Driver, Game Critic or an Entertainer (as being an Entertainer is a ‘lot of fun’).
One of the children surveyed is hoping to earn S$10 per month as a Dancer, with another wanting to become a Food Critic as they will receive ‘free food’. Another is hoping to become a Model so that they can wear pretty clothes in front of a camera and earn enough money to ‘buy toys’.
When asked about the best/coolest job that they can image, being a lawyer came out tops for the second year running. Others thought that being The President, a vet or a scientist would be very cool too. Some of the more intriguing choices included a job where you ‘could play at the water park each day’, as well as ‘taking care of a remote nature resource on an island in the US’. One child thought that being a Deep Space Researcher would be the best job – the reason being that ‘space has no boundaries’.
The children surveyed had little hesitation in suggesting what the first ‘three things they would do’ were if they were fortunate enough to become the Prime Minister of Singapore. Many children wanted to help others and to maintain a safe Singapore for all to enjoy. Ensuring that all Singaporeans could enjoy a solid education was also a popular choice. A selection of the first things the respondents would do if they got this ‘top job’ are:
- Give a ‘thank you’ speech
- Upgrade computers in schools
- Build more theme parks
- Ensure that everyone has a job
- Make more peanut butter factories
- Use my money to help those in need
- Ensure that each child is given a game console
- Save our coral reefs
- Kill all insects
- Find more way to reduce global warming
- Ban exams
- Buy a super big white house!
The most moving answers to the survey came from the question “What is more important – to make lots of money or to spend time with your family?” As many children see their parents’ lives becoming more hectic, some wise answers make it very clear that children value family time over money earning opportunities. Some of the responses include:
- Without our family, we are nothing
- My family cares for me and loves me. Money has no heart
- Money is not important to me. I am happy as long as I have my family with me
- Family comes first
For the first time the survey also asked the question “What are you looking forward to doing in 2010?” A fascinating selection of academic & lifestyle responses were received and that include:
- Watching the Youth Olympic Games
- Getting better results in school
- Canoeing on a cyber lake (if there are any)
- Keeping my family united and together
- Living my life
This is the fourth year that Adecco has conducted this survey - a survey that allows us a peek at what our children and those around us think about their future and how they would like it to look.
Lynne Ng, Regional Director for Adecco South East Asia, commented “2009 was clearly a challenging year for many families in Singapore and this has been demonstrated in many of the answers provided by the children in the survey. Those surveyed are from diverse family backgrounds, yet nearly all show signs of being very much in touch with their hopes and aspirations for the future. Children in Singapore sometimes get criticized for being too materialistic, although we’re pleased to say that again our survey has shown otherwise.”