Possible To Achieve Work-Life Balance?

[Vulcann]

In a fast-pace society where we are constantly reminded of the need to strife hard to in order to bring home the bacon, I guess not many of us take heed of or truly have the luxury to embrace the concept of work-life balance...

 

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-...g-life-20130308

 

Don't let work get in the way of enjoying life

 

BUDGET 2013 set out strategies to achieve quality growth and an inclusive society. However, the issue of work-life balance does not seem to be addressed.

 

Incentives have been rolled out for workers to travel to work earlier to avoid the peak-hour crowds. But why should they do this when they cannot be sure of leaving the office earlier to spend time with their family and friends? They would ultimately end up spending more time in the office than before.

 

Almost every working individual now has a smartphone synchronised to his work e-mail account, so he can check his e-mail messages any time and anywhere, even while on vacation. If someone does not do likewise, does that make him a less productive worker?

 

Singaporeans seem almost afraid to go home on time after work. It is as if a hard-working employee is one who stays past the official working hours.

 

In a poll by Jobstreet.com last year, nearly nine out of 10 workers surveyed worked beyond their official hours; 70 per cent chose to complete unfinished work in the office while the remaining 30 per cent brought work home. It also found that only 30 per cent of the respondents claimed that their companies had initiatives in place to promote work-life balance. More worryingly, 45 per cent indicated that their companies' work-life balance policies were just for show.

 

The mentality of needing to be the first in the rat race has affected work-life balance here.

 

Singaporeans have been taught the importance of doing well in school, so they can find a good job that would allow their families to live comfortably. Perhaps it is the fear of losing their rice bowls during the economic downturn that results in workers putting in many more hours at work to prove their worth.

 

We should remember that productivity comes from working smart, not working hard.

 

I urge the Government to introduce more compulsory measures for companies to achieve a better work-life balance.

 

Everyone should also remember to take the time to do the things they love and not miss out on life's little pleasures.

 

Donovan Chee Kwok Hoe

[Kiadaw]

I think the Government do not actively put a hard stand on working hours as not to 'reduce our competitivesness'.

 

If they make working say maximum hours at 10-12 hours, a lot of companies will KPKB, & threaten to pull out of Singapore, or say cannot make money, meet deadline, unrealistic, or they need to hire more people to do the same work now. etc.

 

Anyway, it take big effort to change our working structure; in mindset, culture, work practice & organisation, so there is more balance of work/social life.

 

I have worked in 3 different countries, & at least base on my own experience, our supposely well known 'Singapore efficiency' is mostly putting more hours or using more manpower, or both. Real efficenicy is getting the work done within allocated working hours.

 

From young we (at least me & my classmates) have been drilled that in order to get better grades, or get things done, is to put hours. You are praise for putting long hours into studies/work. Bosses see your performance base on how much hours you put in. Of cousre you need to put time to get something done, but seldom do we think of improving what can be done within same time frame, because that mindset have not been drilled into us. Doesn't help that bosses will think we are lazy if we go back on time, or worst, give us more workload.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Kiadaw

[Gitanic]

I think the Government do not actively put a hard stand on working hours as not to 'reduce our competitivesness'.

 

If they make working say maximum hours at 10-12 hours, a lot of companies will KPKB, & threaten to pull out of Singapore, or say cannot make money, meet deadline, unrealistic. etc.

Problem is where these monies generated go.

 

Who is cutting down our competitiveness

[LinOrLim]

Aiyah...pay cents to hire more foreigners

[Watwheels]

I think it's a myth.

 

Talk on work-life balance is "mouth say, below song". You think employers support this? The preference of hiring foreigner workers will even be higher coz their families are way back in their homeland and they can put more man hours into their jobs.

 

Next thing they will tell you is to work smart, not to be confused with chao keng, "increase innovation, increase productivity" <----LoL

 

You mean all the while companies in sgp have been less innovative and not really productive?

[Wt_know]

in a cheaper, faster and better competitive environment ... i dare so NO WAY

 

[Tungsl]

Loved yesterday

[Ender]

Can surf MCF during office hour and after office hour, still want work life balance??

[Icedbs]

Loved yesterday

[Taipan49]

I find the problem is in the daily routine for a lot of office workers. In my experience you get people arriving around 9. From 9 to 930 they spend trying to open up their PC/programs and check emails. 930-1030 is then starting to arrange what to do for lunch so lots of chatting with work colleagues or via email. 1030 is break time for tea/coffee etc. 1130-2 is the period where must go out for long lunch with friends. 2-3, check personal emails, upload lunch photos to facebook. 3-5 start doing real work. 5-7 complain too much work to do and must work late. 7-9 order dinner to the office and get the company to pay.

 

This is a broad generalisation from working in the big banks and based on my experience so sure to not resemble other workplaces etc. Now work in smaller place and the only times I get email returns from counterparties (ie big banks) about queries etc is late afternoon which re-confirms my big bank experience. I prefer getting in early and knocking over a huge amount of work early in the day, quick lunch at my desk, and then home as soon as official work day time has finished to see my baby/wife. Works well for me and my boss is happy about it as he knows everything is done and we don't have issues dragging out.

[Maseratigood]

Can surf MCF during office hour and after office hour, still want work life balance??

MCF plays a crucial role in helping people to achieve, or even over-achieve, work life balance. Some more, it helps to achieve alignments, chambers, castors etc, in other words, it's the only comprehensive 24-7 place where people gets balanced and fine-tune, better than any alignment workshop.

 

Many surf during working hours.....to maintain work life balance, it deserves at least a mention in parliament, or even the revised white paper. Damn good use of technologies ie Internet to balance people's life.

 

Well done .

[Maseratigood]

One of the better post in MCF that I have seen for a long long time.

 

Basically a repeat of what teachers or parents told us when we reached around the age of PSLE?

[Vulcann]

MCF plays a crucial role in helping people to achieve, or even over-achieve, work life balance. Some more, it helps to achieve alignments, chambers, castors etc, in other words, it's the only comprehensive 24-7 place where people gets balanced and fine-tune, better than any alignment workshop.

 

Many surf during working hours.....to maintain work life balance, it deserves at least a mention in parliament, or even the revised white paper. Damn good use of technologies ie Internet to balance people's life.

 

Well done .

 

There is some truth in what you have mentioned.

 

Granted officially every second of our normal routine daily working hours has to be spent on earning the pay our bosses pays us (except during toilet, lunch, gossip or smoke breaks), there has to be some sort of release if not most of us, or at least yours truly, will go nuts.

 

Gotten many info, most beneficial though some crap, while surfing MCF.

 

My Engrish certainly has improved leaps & bounds [laugh] learning from learned bros

[Icedbs]

Basically a repeat of what teachers or parents told us when we reached around the age of PSLE?

 

Don't remember my parents told me anything about work except to study hard during PSLE days.

 

But when I started working, I soon realised that if I want that promotion or that increment, I jolly well find ways to help the company to make some $$$ first. Afterall, money don't drop from the sky, and if everyone expect an increment, where the company is going to find that extra money from ?

 

 

[Maseratigood]

There is some truth in what you have mentioned.

 

Granted officially every second of our normal routine daily working hours has to be spent on earning the pay our bosses pays us (except during toilet, lunch, gossip or smoke breaks), there has to be some sort of release if not most of us, or at least yours truly, will go nuts.

 

Gotten many info, most beneficial though some crap, while surfing MCF.

 

My Engrish certainly has improved leaps & bounds [laugh] learning from learned bros

The official working hours include time for activities you mentioned eg pantry time, toilet time, few minutes of day dreaming every two hours or so, looking out the window, stretching the body (for those doing lots of desk work, computer work), networking within office, etc.

 

MCF helps me improve my english also plus my typing speed, and writing things outside work subject matters, seeing how persistent a few posters can be in their negative comments to some innocent threads, etc etc ----- work life balance can do with such "entertainments" within MCF.

[Jman888]

i think i have said this before in other thread, work-life balance is good for family and relationship (less social problem), but it will also slow down the economy. There is a need for chiongster and there are some slacker.

[Jman888]

If such cases become more common like Japan, then it will be a real concern

 

[Baphomet]

i think i have said this before in other thread, work-life balance is good for family and relationship (less social problem), but it will also slow down the economy. There is a need for chiongster and there are some slacker.

 

i think depends on ones aspiration.

 

Cannot say a person value family time more means he slacks at work mah.

 

for me family time is definately more important then work.. okie la.. Im a slacker..