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Independent Singapore
17 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
‘Is Singapore's toxic work culture the same everywhere?' — Singaporean asks, ‘Why can't people just focus on doing their jobs instead of office politics?'
SINGAPORE: After eight years in the workforce and three different companies later, one Singaporean office worker said he has had enough. In a post on Reddit's r/askSingapore, the Singaporean penned a relatable rant that struck a nerve with fellow office survivors: 'Work is already exhausting on its own. Why can't people just focus on doing their jobs instead of wasting time and energy on office politics?' Is Singapore work culture the same everywhere? byu/Strong_Put6876 inaskSingapore According to him, every job he has taken has come with a side dish of 'colleagues scheming against one another, avoiding direct communication, and often speaking with hidden agendas.' His frustrated outburst ended with a question to the crowd: 'Is it like this everywhere, or have I just not experienced a wider variety of companies yet? Curious to hear from others — are you experiencing the same? And if so, what industry are you in?' And so Redditors delivered the answers to his question, with nearly 50 shades of workplace truth. 'Usually, the problem is the boss!' If you're hearing that in surround sound, you're not alone. One of the top-voted comments pointed out the root of the rot: 'Boss (tone at top), create the environment. If the boss is a slave driver and likes to pit the employees against each other to fight for that promotion, it will create a tense environment for everyone, and the culture will start to go down the drain.' Another chimed in with: 'Basically, yes. If you aren't affected by it, it's probably because you have a good boss who is tanking all the nonsense for the sake of the team.' Translation: Good management is the vaccine against corporate toxicity. 'You just work in sucky companies!' Others didn't sugarcoat it. 'You just work in sucky companies,' one said. 'Sucky companies have higher turnover. So when you're applying for jobs, it's likelier that you'll end up in a sucky company than a good company,' another quipped. This explains the loop of trauma some job seekers find themselves in — like dating all the wrong people and wondering if love is a scam. 'Been there before, but the trauma brings people together…' In a plot twist, staff members who share their emotional sufferings with each other become a bonding agent. 'During our lunch, we would rant to each other. Offer help to each other with their work due to an incompetent and toxic boss. Update each other on our job scout progress. Go for a celebratory meal during each person's last day,' one wrote. Several Redditors recalled making lifelong friends in the trenches, united by mutual disdain for management — some even likened it to army vibes. Sounds like trauma became their team-building moment for them. 'I rage-quit my last job because the drama got so out of hand!' Another Redditor recalled a nightmare from their experience in two beauty brand companies — both with majority female teams and both described as toxic local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). 'Half the people don't really care about the work. They just do the bare minimum and spend the rest of their energy gossiping and stirring things up, especially those bored, childish aunties lol.' She added that in contrast, her stint at a tech multinational corporation (MNC) was drama-free 'since everyone was too busy with work.' Not all hope is lost — some people found paradise Not everyone shared the same bleak view. Many came forward to say, 'It's not like that everywhere.' See also M17 Entertainment raises US$25M for R&D and more 'I've worked in two companies, both for over five years, and while there were some problem colleagues, my experience has generally been positive,' wrote one. 'I still keep in touch with my team from the previous company and even go overseas with some from my current company,' wrote another. And one more wrote that, 'Currently, I work at an organisation that's quite collaborative… working for a foreign government. Good work-life balance, good benefits, already my 7th year.' In these healthier, toxic-free workplaces, drama is rare, politics are minimal, and colleagues actually look out for one another. Sounds like a fairytale, but a few lucky folks do live in it. 'It could be you, not them.' Of course, no Reddit discussion is complete without some finger-pointing right back at the person who posted an issue. 'Eight years and three jobs, and all you find is drama, then maybe you are the one actively looking for it,' one stated. 'Sometimes the hardest people to work with are the people who think there's a conspiracy every step of the way,' another chimed in. 'Someone who is solely occupied with work is least likely to find gossip and office politics getting into their head,' one more shared their opinion. A Redditor also advised: 'Try to work in internationally managed companies. Workplace culture is largely set by management… if you're managed by locals with this mindset that normalises such toxic behaviour, then you stand a poor chance at having a different experience.' So… is it really the same everywhere? The verdict? Not quite. Workplace toxicity isn't universal — it's situational. Company culture, management style, industry, team dynamics, and individual personalities all play a role. In some cases, drama may be a feature, not a bug. In others, it's just a matter of bad luck — or bad bosses. See also BTS's V vacations with Park Seo Joon, Choi Woo Sik, and Peakboy However, here's the kicker: Most agree that workplace politics, to some degree, are inevitable. The difference lies in how leaders manage it — or fuel it, as one Redditor said, 'There is always politics in the workplace, for better or for worse, whether one likes it or not.' So, maybe the answer isn't to find a unicorn workplace with zero politics — but to find one where the nonsense is managed, not magnified, as another Redditor wrote: 'Avoid companies with local leadership to significantly reduce the chance of this stupid culture.' And sometimes, the best advice is the simplest: 'Welcome to reality. Anywhere with humans has politics… Don't actively look for drama, and it won't be there. Just always be sure to advocate for yourself where appropriate.' In other news, another office worker says she's caught in a similar storm of office politics and behind-the-back whispering. She explained that 'This person seems to be immune to having any action taken against him,' and wants help to know if 'Is this considered workplace bullying, and what is your advice on how to handle this workplace bullying?' You can read about her full complaint and the frustrating silence she experienced from HR over here: 'My colleagues say untruths and bad things about me behind my back, but HOD won't take action' — Office worker asks, 'How to handle workplace gossiping?'
Independent Singapore
22 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
Maid asks if she was wrong to request S$10k loan in exchange for renewing contract
SINGAPORE: A domestic helper took to social media to ask if she was wrong for requesting a S$10,000 loan from her employer in exchange for renewing her contract. 'I'm finishing my contract [with] my employer this coming October. My employer asked me if I still want to continue. Then I tried to tell them what I wanted,' she wrote in a post on the MDW in Singapore Facebook group. 'I told them if they can lend me S$10,000, then I can continue to work. I told them that I need to start to build my home in my country, and I need a big amount of money. Just trying lah if they can lend me.' To her surprise, the employer agreed to the loan. However, the helper now says she feels conflicted and guilty, as her previous employers recently returned to Singapore and contacted her as well. 'They are in Singapore already. They relocated to Thailand for four years. They contacted me to ask if I want to work for them again. And I decided to take that opportunity (but haven't voiced it out yet), because with that previous employer, I can borrow money, no matter how many thousands I really need.' 'And now I tried to tell my current employer that if they can lend me 10k SGD, then I will re-contract. And they said okay.' She then asked other members of the group: 'Am I being too harsh or taking advantage of their kindness? I feel that I pity them. But the agreement is done already.' 'She thinks her employer is picking up money from the trees.' In the comments, many netizens criticised the helper's request, saying they would have refused the S$10,000 loan without a second thought. Some added that they wouldn't have renewed her contract either, believing she was trying to take advantage of her employer. 'She thinks her employer is picking up money from the trees. I [would] replace her ASAP,' one comment read. 'Lately, I've heard more and more stories of helpers borrowing money either from employers or even unlicensed moneylenders. It makes me wonder … do we look like banks? Or is the motive for working here, for some, simply to find an easy way to borrow money?' another chimed in. 'Borrowing money from an employer is not wrong, but renewing your contract with this condition sounds absurd,' a third wrote. Still, not everyone saw an issue with the arrangement. Some netizens argued that there was nothing wrong with asking for a loan, as long as the helper intended to repay the full amount. 'If the employer says yes, then why not, as long as you pay it back and work for them diligently,' one said. Another netizen, who said she was also a helper, shared her personal experience: 'My maam, she helped me build my dream house back home. The total amount of money she sent was about S$45k, and every month she deducts like S$200. I've been working with them for 12 years.' In other news, a Singaporean man recently shared his views on why many young job seekers are struggling in today's competitive job market. In his post on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit, he said that a lot of locals nowadays focus too much on developing their hard skills while completely ignoring their soft skills. This, he believes, is costing them valuable professional opportunities. 'If you are currently a developer, for example, being technically skilled and kicking ass at LeetCode is, frankly speaking, going to get you nowhere,' he said. Read more: 'Don't skimp on soft skills': Singaporean highlights key to staying competitive in today's job market
Independent Singapore
23 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
Employer allegedly wants to charge S$1k after helper breaks drinking glass
SINGAPORE: A domestic helper from Myanmar was allegedly told to pay S$1,000 after she accidentally broke a drinking glass that her employer claimed was a limited-edition item. The case has sparked online criticism, especially after it emerged that the same glass is being sold at a local retailer for just S$60 for a set of two. According to a widely circulated post, the glass was part of a set from the brand Riedel, which the employer claimed was rare and highly valuable. The helper was allegedly informed that S$100 would be deducted from her monthly salary until the full amount was recovered. Wanting to make things right, the helper went to Tang Plaza and bought the exact same glasses, which were retailing at S$60 per pair. However, her employer reportedly refused to accept the replacement, insisting it was 'fake,' and continued to demand the monthly deductions. The netizen who shared the story, along with a photo of the drinking glass, questioned the fairness of the situation and asked whether employers are allowed to deduct more than 25% of a helper's monthly salary. She also asked, 'Could the items sold at Tang Plaza be fake? Can this case be reported to MOM (Ministry of Manpower) for help?' 'This kind of employer wants to take advantage of the helper.' In the comments, many netizens expressed outrage. One wrote: 'Employer wanna cut costs on her helper's salary, so she pretends the Riedel wine glass costs $1,000, thinking the helper is dumb. If I'm the helper, I'd let her deduct my pay, get written proof that she did it, then report her to MOM. Let her get a taste of her own medicine.' Another commented, 'Employers are not allowed to deduct the salary of any domestic helper. Employers, pls lah, treat all your helpers according to MOM law! They are not your doormat.' A third said, 'This kind of employer wants to take advantage of the helper.' Some, however, suggested there might be more to the story. A few speculated that the helper may have damaged several items previously, and the employer could be using this as a warning to prevent further accidents. One netizen also questioned whether the story was even true, writing, 'Did the employer actually start deducting S$100 from the maid's pay or was it just a threat to make her more careful in the future when handling other people's property?' 'Is there written proof that the employer said this? You do realise that if there's no proof, it's just hearsay. Anybody can say anything. The real question is whether it's the truth or a lie.' Can employers deduct more than 25% of a helper's salary? No, they cannot. According to Singapore's MOM, employers are not allowed to deduct more than 25% of a helper's monthly salary. It is also illegal to take money from her pay to cover work-related costs. MOM also states that employers should not punish their helpers for poor performance or accidents by deducting their salary. Read also: Local asks, 'Anyone else feel like Singapore is becoming less spontaneous and more transactional?'
