Bosses 'must respect staff's personal time'

[Jman888]

Anyone think this is reasonable? some think it is impossible

 

how many actually on standby after working hours or over weekend?

 

Bosses 'must respect staff's personal time'

By Poon Chian Hui

The Straits Times, Monday, Oct 15, 2012

 

SINGAPORE - DO NOT keep your employees on standby to respond to calls, e-mail and text messages, especially during weekends and when they are on leave.

 

This is the message that Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has for bosses here.

 

"I think we have very poor work habits," said Mr Tan, who is also Senior Minister of State for National Development. "Is it healthy to work 24/7? Is doing work while on leave or vacation our desired work culture?"

 

Citing findings from a 2011 survey, he pointed out that 66 per cent of Singaporeans said they have to make themselves available in case an emergency crops up at work. "Unless you work with SCDF, what conceivable emergency can there be?" he joked.

 

The survey by recruitment firm Robert Half also found that 96 per cent of employers here expect staff to be "on call" while out of office or on leave.

 

Mr Tan, speaking at an awards event for work-life balance yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, said it is vital to respect one's personal time.

 

He suggested that if the matter is not urgent, bosses make it clear to staff that they are not obliged to respond immediately. "My message to my colleagues has always been - none of you are indispensable," he said.

 

"Don't think for one moment that if you are not around the whole company will collapse," he added. And if bosses are serious about work-life balance, they should lead by example and practise what they preach, he added.

 

Some 45 companies were recognised yesterday for making efforts to promote work-life balance. The biennial Work-Life Excellence Awards, organised by the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy, also awarded two business leaders for championing the cause.

 

In addition to work habits, Mr Tan also suggested bosses can consider offering flexible work hours.

 

Among those whose companies were given awards for work-life excellence is Mr Lim Meng Wee, who allows employees of his consulting firm to work from home.

 

Some 70 per cent of them do so, he said, and this has helped retain staff. Most of his staff have been with the company for more than 10 years, said Mr Lim, managing director of SP Consulting International. "Here, we are more interested in results than seeing their faces every day in the office."

 

But not every company has the luxury of flexible working hours, pointed out Mr Yeow Kian Seng, who runs Lucky Joint Construction. But this does not mean staff cannot enjoy a good work-life balance.

 

"As a contractor, our time is very limited," he said. "While we cannot have flexible hours, we arrange for other benefits such as family trips."

 

Mr Yeow said staff are also allowed to borrow company vehicles for their own use and request interest-free personal loans. "Employees are the pillars of the company. That is why we have to take care of them," he said.

 

[email protected]

[Jamesc]

Staff have to be on standby only

 

if a company has poor management.

 

But why do we have lousy managers?

 

They are here for the perks and salary

 

and do not care about the welfare of the staff

 

and lack knowledge on how to do their job.

 

The problem is most companies hire lousy managers

 

and keep promoting them.

 

[Icedbs]

During my time, I do ensure that I try not to call my employees after office hours. But I do email to them which I think is normal.

 

The thing is, do give time to employees to respond. Problem with some employers is that their time management is chaotic, and that leads to urgent calls to employees all the time. My former boss is like that....often call me middle of the night.

 

As long it is not a habitual "urgent call" all the time to employees, then I think it is ok.

 

 

[Icedbs]

But why do we have lousy managers?

 

They are here for the perks and salary

 

and do not care about the welfare of the staff

 

 

 

Not always true la.

 

A manager can only be successful if his staff is successful.

 

 

 

 

 

[Mockngbrd]

army always keep us on standby

[RadX]

army always keep us on standby

 

 

u dun bluff lah..u 302, standby simi?? [laugh]

[Albeniz]

which are the 45 companies? I want to change job.

Edited October 15, 2012 by Albeniz

[Jamesc]

Not always true la.

 

A manager can only be successful if his staff is successful.

There is no such thing as bad employees

 

there are only bad managers.

 

If a staff is bad the manager shouldn't employ him or her.

 

If the corect employee is hired and there is proper traing, motivation

 

and environment the staff has every chance of being successful.

 

I never agree when a manager tells me he or nshe can never get good staff.

 

The truth is more like good staff don't want to work for him or her.

 

Edited October 15, 2012 by Jamesc

[Porker]

u dun bluff lah..u 302, standby simi??

 

Standby co*k lah tsk tsk tsk

[Porker]

Anyone think this is reasonable? some think it is impossible

 

how many actually on standby after working hours or over weekend?

 

Unreasonable given today's technology for connectivity.

[Roadie]

There is no such thing as bad employees

there are only bad managers.

 

If a staff is bad the manager shouldn't employ him or her.

If the corect employee is hired and there is proper traing, motivation

and environment the staff has every chance of being successful.

I never agree when a manager tells me he or nshe can never get good staff.

 

The truth is more like good staff don't want to work for him or her.

 

True to an extent.

A good manager would either train a bad employee to be good or fire him.

Bad managers hesistate to take hard decisions.

This leads to poor morale among other good performing employees.

 

[Jamesc]

True to an extent.

A good manager would either train a bad employee to be good or fire him.

Bad managers hesistate to take hard decisions.

This leads to poor morale among other good performing employees.

You are exactly right.

 

I always try to keep the good employees

 

and let the bad ones go to my competitors.

 

Unfortunately most manager end up keeping

 

the bad employees and let the good ones go

 

to their competitors.

 

[Jamesc]

Anyone think this is reasonable? some think it is impossible

 

how many actually on standby after working hours or over weekend?

If we were all fund managers being paid millions and managing billions

 

then yeah people need to be on standby all the time.

 

But many of us are not fund managers or doctors on life and death calls.

 

So for most of us, there is not need to disturb us on our free time.

 

[RadX]

If we were all fund managers being paid millions and managing billions

 

then yeah people need to be on standby all the time.

 

But many of us are not fund managers or doctors on life and death calls.

 

So for most of us, there is not need to disturb us on our free time.

 

 

yeah..in my line, die aldy wot....can wait.... [laugh]

not like the fella gonna get up

[Watwheels]

Some bosses here just think they own everyone's ass. Say what also no use.

[Jman888]

If we were all fund managers being paid millions and managing billions

 

then yeah people need to be on standby all the time.

 

But many of us are not fund managers or doctors on life and death calls.

 

So for most of us, there is not need to disturb us on our free time.

 

 

 

basket, human is you, ghost also you

[Jman888]

Unreasonable given today's technology for connectivity.

 

 

err.... I work on pen and paper, plus pigeon sending the messages

 

then again connectivity also can make you mentally standby mah

[Mockngbrd]

u dun bluff lah..u 302, standby simi?? [laugh]

ai tio ban mai?