Working Relationships with Singapore Colleagues

[eh???]

'Life is tough in Singapore'?
How? Where? Purleeeze!

[Strange]

That is very strange. I seem to recall coming across the term "me generation" somewhere but it's definitely not in an Asian context...

[lanwarrior2]

Did you read the newspaper yesterday (Jan. 9) about an SBS bus having an accident and one of the bus passenger was thrown and injured herself, and other passenger and the bus driver couldn't care less about her EXCEPT 1 person?

Also, did you read last year about how work politics is going over the edge where an employee left a key on the desk and the others hide it so he'll get scolded, just so that the others can "save" their job?

Not making it up, man, just facts. Not saying Asian are bad though. But if your life is on the line, people do funny thing. Life in Singapore is quite tough, to my opinion. tough as in

a). Working in a company is very stressful compared to U.S. i.e. crappy boss, crappy colleague, long hours but small pay, etc.

b). Expensive! Not counting conversion rate, if I work in U.S. and get US$ 4K, I can afford myself to buy a car (like Civic), rent a 1 bedroom apartment in downtown (like SF) and still ahve money for vacation. If I get S$ 4K, no way I can get a car and rent a 1 bedroom apartment in Orchard.

c). Medical cost very expensive. When I was in U.S., my co. pays for my medical insurance, and pay a bit more extra for my wife and daughter. When my wife is gave birth to our daugther, the cost is US$ 0.

Have you ever work in say, Indonesia or Taiwan? It's worse in some way than Singapore. Actually, it makes Singapore like heaven!

I think I'll end my post now before it's going to different directions that I didn't mean to.

[D'mystified]

I must agree with Ian Warrior on certain points..... having worked in Singapore and the UK for some time.  

Singaporean bosses (most) like to feel they are getting value for money, hence they make you work overtime for free! I worked as an interior designer and never, NEVER, left the office till at least 7-8, sometimes even 10pm in the evenings. This has been the case in all the interior design firms I've worked for.

Many Singaporean bosses and customers also expect miracles but pay peanuts.

Thankfully, most of my colleagues (the female ones) were nice, except one or two bitchy ones. (pro prada-boss's pet type)

Most Singaporean males I've worked with are quite competitive and will do anything to cover their a''ses as long as they don't get caught, ie. rumormongering, blame shifting, tai qiing responsiblity to others, sabotaging other's work, don't help colleagues so they themselves can get ahead. All these are done behind everybody's backs behind a cloak of Mr Suave or Mr Hardworking.
Sure, some of them do work their b"lls off but that's just so they will be indispensable to the boss !

By the way, the above I've experienced with chinese colleagues. The odd Malay colleagues I've had were nice, relaxed and realised that there was a life outside work. They are such humble pple as well. (I know I'm generalising)

There's a saying among the older Singaporeans (I'm chinese btw) Chinese are kiasu and stingy, Indians always want discounts, Malays are very relaxed but lazy. I know it doesn't apply to everyone but 65% of Singaporeans I've met fall into those categories.

[erhmmm...]

Lanwarrior2,

Did you also read in the paper of the many thank-you letters? Why did you single out the negative ones only? Like they say, you can choose to see a half empty glass or half full one.

D'mystified,

Are you a private eye or something? Those obnoxious Singapore males did all the bad things behind everybody's back yet they failed to escape your eyes? You probably weren't paying attention to your work and instead were sticking your nose into other people's affairs...

[D'mystified]

Erhmmmm, I don't need to stick my nose into other pples affairs to know what's happening.

People who've been backstabbed or victimised talk......hard not to ignore when many fingers are pointed at the unsavoury boss or colleague. In some cases, I had been backstabbed or made the scapegoat for things I didn't do. Irritating when I've been trying to mind my  own business and juz get my day's work done. I'm juz airing what I've seen.

[local person]

D,mystified,

I'm local and I have to work late most of the time and my pay is pathetic ,at most 2k. u are not the only one in this part of the world who works late and received peanut pay.

[erhmmm...]

D'mystified,

"Singaporean bosses (most)", "many Singaporean bosses and customers", "most Singaoprean males", mostly "Chinese"...you must be a racist, sexist job-hopper who works long hours but gets little done because she's too busy eavesdropping on others or gossiping with other like-minded losers...and there seems to be a lot of "victims" in your company, in fact, you might as well say everyone is a victim. Wonder who's the culprit. If you asked the boss, he'd say he's a victim too, I'd bet...

[lanwarrior]

Geez, why are you all banging on D'Mystified like that? Have YOU ever been working in US? Have YOU ever been working in Indonesia or Taiwan?

If you haven't, then try to do that first then come back to this board. You;ll see the big difference!

Why do you think people in war torn country, like in Bosnia do what they do? Kill women, children, all for the sakes of controlling the country. When life condition is tough, people tend to do funny thing. Work in Spore is stressful, and yes you work long hour. But once you work in US, you'll bitch about working in Singapore again!

Not that S'porean are bad, but there's a reason behind every action. Why in Asian countries people get peanuts and yet force the workers to work harder? Because they bosses want to keep the same amount of big fat $$$, even when there is an economic downturn.

I own my own business here too. Last year, many companies didn't give AWS (13 months salary) because they say time is bad. Even though my business profit is suffering, I STILL give the AWS to all my employees for last year. Why? Because I follow what I have learned in US. MY EMPLOYEES are the reason my company still makes profit. But with other local company, most will not.

Why is that? If it so bad, why the bosses ar still making 5 digits PER MONTH? Kinda tell you something about this whole Asian culture, no?

Relax all localer. No bashing to any local, just having a nice discussion.

[D'mystified]

My, my, erhmmmmm.... u r getting a little touchy aren't you. Wonder why.....

Nobody's perfect and I'm not saying I am either. I'm juz stating the facts of what I've seen, experienced and concluded. Anyone's free to agree or disagree.

As you noted, I said "most","many", not "ALL". Not saying that there aren't ANY decent pple around.

Just because I'm stating the facts doesn't mean I'm complaining. It's a fact the many Singaporeans have learnt to accept.

As "Local person" says, I'm not the only overworked and underpaid person here.

Won't waste my time arguing with you on this any further.

[erhmmm...]

Lanwarrior, your post has nothing to do with d'mystified's it seems. I suppose there's really nothing to defend?...

I understand that there's no such thing as AWS in the US, only fat bonuses even for CEOs whose companies have failed to perform. There you go.

Arm's length stlye of management, hire-fire, what-not were the western ways of doing things until experts clamoured for more humane touches - read Asian, esp Jap - in the face of perceived rise of Asian economies years back.

Go read Coaster's post regarding her/his opinion on the US economy and MNCs' joint ventures with China in China.

And you've worked in Taiwan and Indonesia? And that's...'Asia'???

As for D'mystified, you're certainly free to air your grouses here. I was also merely forming my own conclusions from reading your posts. And they remain even after your latest attempt to defend your skewed observations. May I suggest your new year resolution to be: be productive and less nosy.

[HaileysMom]

Frustrated...Sorry to hear about your problems at work. I empathize with you.

Since you have the good sense to stick it out (& NOT let them "win) maybe you should learn Mandarin. That would surely shock the sh*t out of them to one day be taling about you in your presence & you suddenly pop up with a snappy retort in Mandarin. I'd bet that would put a stop to that part of the problem real quick.

Best of luck my friend.