Latest news with #employer
Independent Singapore
10 hours ago
- Health
- Independent Singapore
Employer says, ‘My helper is unprofessional for coming back from her day off with a big hickey on her neck' — sparks FB debate over personal choices
SINGAPORE: If you thought a hickey was just a harmless mark of affection, think again. In Singapore's domestic helper Facebook circles, it has become a full-blown symbol of moral panic — at least for one employer. Posting in the Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper Facebook group, a concerned employer wrote: 'My helper came back from her off day with a big hickie on her neck… As much as I think they can do whatever they choose to do during their free time, I felt that it was very unprofessional of her to do that.' Photo: FB/Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper Her post didn't stop there. She took it a step further, adding that it raised suspicions about her helper's lifestyle: 'How can you know that they are keeping out of trouble and not doing anything illegal like prostituting themselves or getting themselves STDs?' From hickey to heated debate What began as a one-woman Facebook rant quickly evolved into a digital battleground. Some employers rushed to back her concerns, with a mix of prudish horror and speculative fiction. 'Not a good role model for your kids,' one chimed in. 'A lot are doing illegal part-time on their off days… massages and prostitution,' added another, confidently vague. 'Personally, I take the safer route… such character I will ask to leave mainly cause I have two kids at home,' said one who seemed ready to issue termination papers over epidermal evidence. One particularly stern employer laid down a manifesto on household ethics: 'Working in a private home means maintaining a high standard of professionalism and personal conduct…Coming back with visible marks such as hickeys is not appropriate in a professional caregiving environment… The house is a shared space, not your personal quarters.' That's right — welcome to the etiquette manual of post-day-off body presentation. But the helpers are not having it Other maids in the group were quick to clap back, schooling employers on boundaries, respect, and how not to jump to conclusions over a suspicious red blotch. 'Her body, her rules — as long as she's not putting others at risk,' one helper wrote. Another went straight for the jugular (pun possibly intended): 'Are you jealous because you can't get those marks?' However, one helper tried to mediate between both sides: 'Yes, you can do whatever you want on your off day, but also remember, don't give trouble to your employer. What happens to you here is their liability, so think before you act.' A few pointed out the elephant in the room — or rather, the mole on the neck: 'How can you be so sure it was a hickey? Have you had it before? Ask your helper [first]…' 'Sometimes, go out and go places, got some insects… scratching it could irritate.' In short, not all red marks are created equal. One maid, clearly tired of the drama, summed it up: 'So busy body this employer. I think she doesn't have any job, so her only job is checking her helper.' The bigger issue Beneath the surface of Facebook snark and love-bite theories lies a deeper issue about privacy, power, and professionalism. Yes, foreign domestic workers are expected to maintain standards of conduct, especially when living in close quarters with the families they serve, but do those expectations extend to their bodies during their day off? Are we now policing leisure-time skin conditions? Are we one suspicious mosquito bite away from a termination? While employers worry about health risks and household reputations, many helpers say they're just asking for basic respect — and the right to live as autonomous adults when off-duty. As one group member put it: 'Whatever she does in her off-duty, it's up to her. Why do you need to know her personal life? As long as she does her job properly, please lah, treat her as a human being too.' Maybe the next time someone spots a red mark on someone's neck, they should consider this revolutionary idea: ask them first to confirm, before starting a moral crusade on Facebook. In other news, a foreign domestic worker (FDW) in Singapore asked, 'Have I committed a crime to get married?' in a twist that sounds like a modern-day Cinderella tale with immigration red tape and a surprise termination letter as she was abruptly fired and told to pack up and leave the country, all because she fell in love with a Singaporean. 'I was shocked today,' she wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post. 'My agency came and let me know to pack my things and leave the country immediately. I got terminated. My boss said this is because I'm going to get married to a Singaporean.' You can read her full plight over here: Maid says, 'I got terminated and was asked to leave Singapore immediately because I want to get married to a Singaporean'
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
How to boost your pension pot now if you have no savings at all
Warnings that millions of people are heading for a retirement crisis due to a shortfall in pension savings are nothing new, but a new government review aims to tackle the issue to prevent a 'tsunami of pensioner poverty'. It's estimated that a single person will need more than £14,000 for every year of retirement, while a couple will need £22,000 to maintain a minimum level of lifestyle. It sounds a lot, but it is achievable without the need to immediately start stuffing thousands of pounds a month into an account. But how do you get there if you haven't already started saving? Check employer contributions If you're already in work, the first thing you should do is check if your employer pays the minimum three per cent of your salary or higher – some may well offer to match your own contributions, but this might only happen if you opt to pay more. For example, if you're paying in five per cent, your employer could raise their contributions by an additional two per cent, and it won't cost you anything extra or remove anything from your pay packet. Do remember to ask if it means you change pension plan, provider or anything else though, to make sure it suits your needs. Focus on building an emergency savings buffer Next, it's time to get that money in place so you don't need to worry about unexpected bills or costs. Experts say you should ideally have between three and six months' worth of expenses in an easy-access account paying a good level of interest, to cope with things such as the loss of a job, higher-than-expected living expenses or a major outlay for repairs or purchases. Again, if you're just starting out, it's important to forget the eventual size of the pension pot and focus on the first steps. If you are starting with nothing, open a new savings account and start to pay money in weekly or monthly, whichever helps you stay on track best. The consistency of seeing it grow will help you get used to building a savings buffer, and it doesn't matter if that begins with £5, £20 or whatever else you can initially afford. Cut expenses if you need to; one pint of beer fewer a week is about £6-8 (depending where you live), which could add to your savings, and one unused subscription cancelled is a monthly boost of even more than that. Regularity and time will see you hit your goals. And, if you are really in need of a quick boost to your savings, you can consider changing banks. Several will offer over £150 in cash or bring other perks to your account if you switch your current account. Check here for details, and always ensure you choose a bank or building society right for your needs, not just which offers the most immediate funds. Pensions contributions are no different The same process can see you boost your pension pot once you've got a chunk of savings you're happy with – plus, if you're putting money into a personal pension, you'll get tax relief too. For example, if you're a basic rate taxpayer and you put £80 into a pension pot, the government will add £20. Again, it seems small, but do that monthly over a 40-year work career and it's an extra £9,600 being put to work for your future. 'Putting your money away in a pension is a good place to start, rather than a standard savings or investing account. You get the perk of government tax relief on the money and this will significantly boost your pot over time, particularly as you benefit from investment returns on your own money,' said Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell. 'The money will be locked up until your pension age, which is currently 57. It means that you can't dip into the cash if you needed it in the short term, so you need to bear that in mind, but it also means that you can't be tempted to dip into it before retirement. Even small contributions each month can add up. Putting away £100 a month, which then gets topped up to £125 a month after tax relief, would be worth almost £52,000 after 20 years, assuming 5 per cent investment growth a year after charges.' What if you earn more but have no pension? Pension concerns are far from limited to those with low earnings. There are plenty of reports, for example, of NHS staff – who would typically get a large employer contribution – opting out of that pension plan to receive a larger immediate salary because the cost of living is so high. If so, trying to take advantage before any possible rule changes might be wise. If you're a higher- or additional-rate taxpayer – with income over £50,270 this tax year – then making use of the extra tax relief can provide a huge boost to your retirement pot. There, instead of the aforementioned 20 per cent relief, you can get 40 or 45 per cent (whichever tax band you are in). The government will contribute at the basic tax rate, as your pension provider will claim it for you, and then you are able to claim the additional amounts by noting your pension contribution when you complete a self-assessment form for the tax year. It has been suggested that such relief may change in future, which makes it important to utilise existing allowances, says Reme Holland, a financial planning partner at accountancy firm Albert Goodman. 'My top advice would be to act now while we know the available allowances and reliefs,' he said. 'For an additional rate taxpayer, you can receive 45 per cent tax relief on your pension contributions, there is the ability to use the last three years of unused allowances via a mechanism known as carry forward. If a flat rate of tax relief is introduced, that could make it far more expensive to fund pension contributions in the future.'
Independent Singapore
16 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Independent Singapore
'Two jobs, no life — Is this hustle culture or just slow suicide?'
SINGAPORE: For the past three months, a Singaporean has lived a life that many would call 'extreme' and damaging. In an honest and very revealing post, the poster shared how he's been working two full-time jobs nonstop — an exhausting 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. night shift, followed by a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. day job. That's a full 24 hours of work with hardly time to breathe, and just one day off a week. The motivation is financial independence. This Redditor is resolute in wiping out his financial liabilities, building up savings, and starting to invest. 'I don't see any chance of getting a job that pays S$4k to S$5k, let alone hitting the S$10k mark with just one job,' he wrote. 'So, I'm working two jobs to beat that ceiling.' Each month, when the salaries come in, there's a sense of pride — a concrete prize for persistent determination, but the effect on the body and mind is obvious. 'My body? It's beaten, running on low battery. I look like I have cancer, pale, exhausted, like a zombie. I feel drained all the time,' he shared. Heart tremors, anxiety, and seclusion have become routine. 'Is this sacrifice worth it?' he asked. 'Has Singapore become like this?' Empathy, tough love, and reality checks One response zeroed in on the blatant health hazards: 'How much sleep are you getting? Success amounts to nothing when your health suffers, and you can't enjoy what you worked hard towards.' The commenter advised the original poster to re-examine his approach now that the debt has been settled, and to make rest and upskilling the priorities. Another netizen provided a frank but vital reality check: 'No, Singapore hasn't 'become like this'. It's your own choice to live like this. You could've taken longer to clear your debt by working one job. This is not a success. This is self-destruction.' A recurring theme emerged from the readers' reactions — the difference between short-range gains and continuing sustainability. Many commented that dashing for a financial target without considering physical and mental well-being is a hazardous move. 'This isn't what success feels like, this is what stupidity feels like — something which will dawn on you when you're lying in a hospital bed,' one Redditor said. Others recommended a few options — upskilling, side hustles, or concentrating on building a single career path instead of grinding out two jobs in an unmanageable twist. 'The aim isn't to grab on to whatever money you can now. The aim is to build a life and career such that money finds you.' When hustle culture turns toxic Underneath the real-world advice and frank commentaries are deeper issues — the pressure of combating financial uncertainty and meeting societal expectations. The Redditor's story resonates with many young adults who are stuck between stagnant salaries, escalating prices, and the craving to become financially independent. However, as several netizens pointed out, forfeiting sleep, physical strength, mental well-being, and happiness for the sake of a somewhat quicker climb out of debt is not a sustainable or honourable path. Success, one commenter said, isn't about working yourself to death. 'Job success is when you get paid to do nothing. When something goes wrong, you fix it to remind people why you're paid highly.' It's about leverage, not hundreds of hours worked. To those grinding themselves into dust, one netizen asked – 'Is this the life you want? Because if your body breaks down before you reach your goals, none of that money will matter.' Sometimes, the most heroic act isn't crushing through the pain — it's stopping long enough to rebuild, re-evaluate, and pick a better path onwards.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Washington Post
Work Advice: How to keep workplace tech off your personal phone
When a reader recently sought advice on how to get out of installing work-related apps on a personal cellphone, others were quick to point out the risks of using personal devices for work. Their concerns included granting the employer backdoor access to snoop on or even wipe the phone's data, or having the employee's personal phone seized for evidence in a legal case involving the employer.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Maid says, 'I got terminated and was asked to leave Singapore immediately because I want to get married to a Singaporean'
SINGAPORE: 'Have I committed a crime to get married?' was the question from a foreign domestic worker (FDW) in Singapore in a twist that sounds like a modern-day Cinderella tale with immigration red tape and a surprise termination letter as she was abruptly fired and told to pack up and leave the country, all because she fell in love with a Singaporean. 'I was shocked today,' she wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post. 'My agency came and let me know to pack my things and leave the country immediately. I got terminated. My boss said this is because I'm going to get married to a Singaporean.' Photo: FB/Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic helper The maid, who had taken a weekday off for her pre-wedding photoshoot (offering to swap it with her usual Sunday rest day), said she never expected that a budding romance would cost her job and her right to remain in Singapore. 'I've informed my employer I can't continue the contract and will work until the end of October, and they had no objection. I thought we didn't have miscommunication, but I'm wrong,' she shared. 'They never tell me early and give me no chance to prepare myself.' Well, it turns out, love isn't the problem—but protocol is. When wedding bells meet work permit rules According to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM), FDWs on work permits are not allowed to marry Singapore citizens or permanent residents without first obtaining written approval. This rule applies whether the marriage takes place locally or overseas. A recruitment agency also chimed in: 'Yes, a foreign domestic worker can marry a Singaporean, but they must first obtain MOM's approval. Failure to do so can lead to work permit cancellation and bans on re-entry.' In other words, skipping the paperwork is like skipping the wedding cake—it doesn't end well. Employers weigh in Several employers in the same Facebook group were quick to explain their side of the story, many citing that they could lose their S$5,000 security bond if the helper violates MOM rules. 'If you've not obtained approval from MOM, it's the employer's legal duty to report it. Otherwise, they're liable,' one commented. Another employer added: 'You came here for a purpose. You should at least have a good mind to complete the contract and then get married, not break the contract as and when you want.' Still, some employers showed sympathy: 'Many helpers are married to Singaporeans, and there's nothing wrong with that. Some employers are happy for them,' wrote one. 'Maybe your boss just didn't have the right mindset.' Maids react with a mix of empathy and real talk Other helpers shared similar experiences and dished out their advice, sister to sister. One wrote: 'It's not a crime, sis, but as a work permit holder, we can't get married to a Singaporean unless we go back to our own country and apply for a visa the right way.' Another commented with a laugh: 'You came here to do your job, not to make love to somebody. Before I entered, immigration staff even asked me, 'You come to work or find a husband?'😂.' A fellow FDW added this sobering reminder: 'You must ask before you do it. MOM rules state that we cannot get married to a Singaporean boyfriend while working as a maid. If you want to get married, go home first. Your boyfriend can then apply for a fiancée visa.' So… was she in the wrong? Legally speaking, yes—rules were bent. Emotionally? That's a different story. While love stories rarely come with a government-issued rulebook, work permits do. The reality is, when you're in Singapore under a work permit, your employer is responsible for you, and any legal slip-up (intentional or not) can put their money and reputation on the line. That said, many agree that the situation could've been handled more compassionately. A little communication might've gone a long way. Or as one maid put it: 'Your failure is also your employer's failure to MOM.' Moral of the story: Don't let Cupid violate immigration rules If you're a foreign domestic helper in Singapore thinking of tying the knot with a Singaporean, here's the checklist: Talk to your employer first. Respect and honesty go a long way. Apply for MOM approval. This step is non-negotiable. Don't break your contract unless you're prepared to face the consequences. If in doubt, call MOM or an approved agency for advice. Because in Singapore, even love needs a licence… if you're an FDW, that is. In other news, a foreign domestic helper in Singapore has shared her culinary conundrum: being expected to whip up restaurant-worthy meals… with nothing but a lonely cabbage and some soy sauce. You can read her episode of 'MasterChef: Minimalist Edition full story here: Maid says, 'My employer asks me to cook fancy meals like in a restaurant, but there's only 1 cabbage in the fridge, and they refused to give me a grocery allowance'
