Civil service jobs seen as ‘dumping ground'? Tech worker frustrated by Gen z peers' harsh take on public sector work
In a post on Reddit's r/SingaporeRaw forum, the 20-something shared that during a recent meetup, his former classmate told him he was 'selling himself short' by joining what he described as a 'retirement home' agency.
'While I do get his point, I was shocked and taken aback by his newfound ego,' the worker wrote. 'As such, I didn't talk to him much after that meetup.'
He added that this wasn't the first time he had heard such views. In his Gen Z circle, many seem to view civil service roles as a 'dumping ground' for fresh grads who failed to land positions in reputable or glamorous multinational corporations.
'It's not just him, though; many of my peers who have graduated and are jobless in a bad economy straight up said that they refuse to apply for government roles, ' he said.
'Reasons cited include bureaucracy, poor pay progression (if non-scholar), and the fact that such roles are not marketable to private sector companies. I can understand the first two, but the last one—is the reputation of the public sector really that bad?'
The worker said that he tries to take pride in what he does, but hearing people around him talk like that has made him 'feel worse' about his career choices.
'I am considering job hopping soon, mainly because of my contract period terms, but I won't lie that such sentiments are giving me concerns,' he said. 'Do I have a biased social circle, or are my career prospects actually cooked? Does Singapore have a low opinion of public/civil servants?' 'All jobs should be held with regard and not looked down upon.'
The post drew a flood of responses from Reddit users, many of whom defended public sector work and criticised the arrogance of those who look down on it.
'Find a way to better curate your circle of friends,' one user said. 'I have many friends working in public service as teachers and social workers, and honestly, while I can't say they live a very comfortable life with high pay and an expensive home or car, they have so much passion in what they do. And that is something I haven't found and am definitely envious of!'
Another commented, 'All jobs should be held with regard and not looked down upon. You've got bad friends who like to look down on people, it seems.
'It's not easy to get into the gov sector, by the way. So I'm not sure why anyone would think lowly of it, where the pay is pretty decent; it depends on your speciality. Sometimes the pay is higher than in private.'
A third user who's a millennial added, 'Everyone around me thinks that being a public servant is respectable and noble because you are working for the citizens. So at least your job is meaningful. Add in the stability and benefits. It's a good position to be in.'
In other news, a 32-year-old woman shared on Reddit that she is thinking of quitting her job just six months after joining because the work arrangement turned out to be very different from what was promised during the interview.
In her post, she explained that when she was applying for the role, she was told it would be a hybrid position. According to the hiring manager, she would only need to be in the office three days a week, while the other two days' work could be done from home. That flexibility was a major reason why she took the job.
Read more: 'I work in the office most days': Woman wants to quit 6 months into job after promised hybrid arrangement falls through
Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Silence does not work when dealing with job loss blues
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Retrenchment is viewed differently now. Just look at the LinkedIn networking platform, which is peppered with posts on job losses, says the writer. SINGAPORE - Growing up, I was obsessed with collecting toys that came with Happy Meals. Whenever my parents took me to a McDonald's outlet, I looked forward to going home with a Hello Kitty plushie or a Transformers autobot. For what I thought was a blissful period, my dad started adding a new toy to my collection almost every day. I learnt only recently that I had got it completely wrong. He had been retrenched. Not wanting to worry my mum, he continued to leave home as usual and spent the day at the library, often having lunch at McDonald's, until he found a new job. Unbeknownst to him, my mum knew about the ruse. She had tried to reach him in the office and was inadvertently told that he had lost his job. I did not understand why my parents, who had a loving relationship, found it difficult to talk about retrenchment, until earlier this year. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want That was when my then employer, an international media outlet, closed most of the roles in my Singapore-based division. My colleagues and I were encouraged to apply for new positions that were made available under a restructuring process. I had dialled into the meeting because I was on annual leave and thousands of miles away from home. Towards the end, we were asked if we had any questions. I found myself with a jumble of thoughts and nothing to say. I wandered around a museum and watched a ballet performance. All while feeling like I was going through the five stages of grief. I kept it from my mum, not wanting to worry her. In other conversations, I said I was feeling okay. I was determined to focus on the positives. I would not feel the impact immediately, as I was expected at work for several more months. I also had the opportunity to apply for roles within the company, and I knew I had a decent chance at them. Finally, I did not have large financial commitments. I did not have a mortgage or children. Then the insecurities crept in, and these were much harder to talk about. I felt shame, even though we were told the restructuring was not based on performance. I questioned if I was employable in an industry that I had spent a decade in. I stacked myself up against my colleagues, many of whom were trying for roles in the restructuring, and external applicants. I contended with how I would feel if I failed to get a role, and as importantly, how that would look. The optics bothered me and there was nothing I could do but sit with uncomfortable feelings. I can only imagine what was running through my dad's mind in the late 1990s, when retrenchment was a taboo subject. He was the sole breadwinner supporting a mortgage, my mum and I, and with more at stake than existential thoughts and a bruised ego. Retrenchment is viewed differently now. Just look at the LinkedIn networking platform, which is peppered with posts on job losses. The responses are overwhelmingly positive, offering comfort and, more often than not, connections to a new gig. As one retrenched worker put it: 'The response from you all has been so supportive and genuinely encouraging that it almost makes a girl want to get laid off more often! Emphasis on the almost...' In the current economic climate, with companies from Microsoft to the Bumble dating app announcing layoffs, people are using the platform to talk about the grief associated with losing a job. I have benefited from this, as it reminds me that retrenchment is a relatively common experience. But I could not find the words for a post, and having to engage in a public space felt like too much of a burden. Grief, however, had a way of reminding me that it needed some place to go. I was hypersensitive and erratic, and I knew I needed to accept that things would not be the same. With the restructuring, I lost a job that I loved, which came with a range of functions. I lost colleagues, many of whom had become friends. In choosing to leave the company, despite being offered roles, I gave up the prestige that comes with working for a global organisation. Giving grief an airing looks like this to me. In the immediate aftermath of the restructuring, my colleagues and I spoke a lot, sharing our worries, encouragement and practical resources. This grounded me during a challenging time when I was often working the early shift, and spending the afternoons and evenings at interviews. I am seeing a counsellor, which was a benefit offered to affected staff. She has helped me to balance my identity as a journalist with the other things I value. I told my loved ones about my struggles. I put aside thoughts of whether my feelings were valid and focused on what I knew I was carrying. Somewhere along the way, I told my mum. 'Never mind,' she said. 'Remember to eat well or else you will have no energy.' I learnt a big lesson. The stigma of retrenchment is nowhere as strong as my dad's experience, but it still carries a sting. During the process, I felt most comfortable keeping silent, thinking it was the best way to figure out the next steps. That silence magnified my inner turmoil. In crises, we are often our harshest judges. We live in a world that I hope has become kinder to downturns, failures and messy feelings. I don't think I have grown more comfortable with putting my thoughts online. But I did not have to look far for support, with people who were willing to see me through a difficult season.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Air Canada grounds hundreds of flights as cabin crew set up picket lines
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Air Canada cabin crew hold picket signs as they kick off their strike on Aug 16, 2025. TORONTO – Air Canada cancelled hundreds of flights on Aug 16 as it began shutting down operations in response to a strike by flight attendants, triggering summer travel chaos for its 130,000 daily passengers. Canada's largest airline, which flies directly to 180 cities worldwide, urged customers not to go to the airport if they have a ticket for Air Canada or its lower-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge. It said flights by Air Canada Express, which are operated by a third party, would not be impacted by the walkout. 'Air Canada deeply regrets the effect the strike is having on customers,' the company said in a statement. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (Cupe), which represents Air Canada's 10,000 flight attendants, said that strike action officially began at 12.58am (12.5pm Singapore time) on Aug 16. In response, Air Canada began a 'lockout' of cabin crew belonging to Cupe, preventing the employees from working during the standoff fueled by a payment dispute. Air Canada had been gradually winding down operations ahead of the possible labour action. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Singapore 3 truck drivers injured after chain collision on ECP, including one rescued with hydraulic tools Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want As of 8pm on Aug 15, the airline said it had cancelled 623 flights affecting more than 100,000 passengers. Its full 700-flight daily schedule has been scrapped for Aug 16. 'At this time, Air Canada remains engaged and committed to negotiate a renewal to its collective agreement with Cupe,' it said. Outside Toronto Pearson International Airport – Canada's busiest – hundreds of cabin crew waved flags, banners and picket signs. Union officials called on members to assemble outside all of the country's major airports, including in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Unpaid ground work The dispute between the union and the airline centres on wages. Attendants are currently paid only when their plane is moving. The union is seeking compensation for time spent on the ground between flights and when helping passengers board. The union has said Air Canada offered to compensate flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid but only at 50 per cent of their hourly rate. The carrier offered a 38 per cent increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25 per cent raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient. The impact of a strike will ripple far beyond Canada. Air Canada is the busiest foreign carrier servicing the United States by number of scheduled flights. While passengers have generally voiced support for the flight attendants on social media, Canadian businesses – already reeling from a trade dispute with the US – have urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, ending the strike. Air Canada jets sit idle on the tarmac as a cabin crew strike begins on Aug 16, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country's Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy. Air Canada has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority Liberal government to act, but the union says it wants a negotiated solution, as binding arbitration would take pressure off the airline. Ms Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides to return to the bargaining table. In a note to clients, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to 'extend an olive branch to end the impasse', adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labour would be outweighed by lost earnings in the airline's most important quarter. 'We think it would be best for AC to achieve labour peace,' the note said. 'Not budging on negotiations risks being a pyrrhic victory.' AFP, REUTERS
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
47:07 Min
Singapore Tonight Singapore Tonight - Fri 15 Aug 2025 From business to politics, health to technology, we bring you up-to-date with the latest news on Singapore and analyze how these events may affect you tomorrow.
