Singaporeans turning into workaholics
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SINGAPORE: The line between work and personal life is fast blurring, with increasing workplace connectivity and higher expectations from bosses keeping more workers connected to work at all times.
According to Robert Half's latest Workplace Survey, 69 per cent of Singapore employees tune into work when they are out of the office or on holiday, higher than the regional average of 66 per cent.
Reasons cited by Singapore respondents include the need to be available in case of an emergency at work (66 per cent) and filtering through work emails to ensure less stress when returning to the office (60 per cent), suggesting rising work pressures.
The survey also noted a high level of employee dedication, or "workaholism".
Many claimed they preferred to stay on top of work issues even when on holiday (45 per cent), believing they should be available at all times as they are using a company mobile phone (29 per cent) or simply finding it impossible to "switch off" (25 per cent).
59 per cent of respondents also cited technological advancements allowing access to work information from anywhere in the world as a key reason.
Managing Director of Robert Half Singapore and Japan Tim Hird said the phenomenon of 24/7 workplace access made possible by technological advancements has led to hyper-connectivity and faster turnaround time, which is undoubtedly an advantage for businesses in this competitive world.
However, the pervasiveness of constant work connectivity also result in the erosion of personal space, higher stress levels and overall decline in the quality of life for employees.
He said employers need to be realistic in their expectations to avoid overloading their staff and negatively affecting employees' morale and work productivity.
Indeed, the survey found a strong correlation between employees' workplace connectivity and employers' expectations, with a substantial 96 per cent of Singapore employers expecting employees to be available or contactable while on leave or during out-of-office hours, higher than the regional average of 83 per cent.
Fortunately, a sizeable 77 per cent said that they expect their staff to be available or contactable only for emergencies, higher than the regional average of 57 per cent.
This suggests that although expectations are high, Singapore bosses are comparatively less unreasonable in their demands than their regional counterparts.
And the more senior you are the greater the expectation for you to be available or contactable while on leave or out of office hours.
In terms of compensation for being available while on leave or during out-of-office hours, employees in Singapore are most commonly offered time off in lieu (43 per cent) or overtime payment for additional hours worked (31 per cent).
However, 39 per cent of workers are not compensated for working outside of office hours, higher than the regional average of 33 per cent.
- CNA/fa -
actually, i effing hate work.. if i could afford to retire right now, i would
p.s. this Dilbert comic made me not know whether to laugh or cry
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Singaporeans are very efficient wage earners. That's all. It's a society which favours the educationally qualified. It's the opposite in Indonesia where I am. Qualifications get you nowhere. Brains do. The number of rags to riches stories here are amazingly endless.
Poor chap going on to own a chain of restaurants, petrol stations, factories etc are nothing new and going on holidays while their workers slog it off ha. That's life.
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with foreigners coming to steal our jobs, do you think singaporeans will survive if they do not become workaholics?
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Seems like somewhat directly or not, It has to do with the falling birth rate.
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According to Robert Half's latest Workplace Survey, 69 per cent of Singapore employees tune into work when they are out of the office or on holiday, higher than the regional average of 66 per cent.
I'm the other 31%. Once I'm out of office, it's time to play, rest and relax.
Humans are not born to work only, there must be a balance between work and rest.
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even in places like toilets, eating halfway...clubbing, we find people keeping talking/ smsing work ....even those having extramarital affairs cannot escape the deadly calls of duty....
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This is very no good, a form of illness of mind that need medical attention
. The best option is when their romance failed to function after work, they can think of God of Mercy 
or look for Ganesha, or think Jesus or Mary Love the world, or their parent's love. -
Longest working hours
Americans are workig the longest hours ever in histoy.
Singaporeans are also working the longest ever in our history – in fact, Singaporeans now have the longest hours worked per week in the world, at 46.6 hours. (Report on Labout Force in Singapore 2010
and 2010 Census http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/popn/C2010sr3/cop2010sr3.pdf)http://www.alexlew.com/2011/05/ge-usa-spore-financial-crisis-parallels.html
ps: mine's 55hrs....wat yours?
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I may probably quit my full time job end of year 2011.
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Originally posted by eagle:
I may probably quit my full time job end of year 2011.
and then what's the plans next?
i eff-ing hate mine too. -
Even if you're not doing work for your company out of official working hours, you still have to read industry news to keep up.
-_-!
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Originally posted by L.lawliett79:
and then what's the plans next?
i eff-ing hate mine too.I don't hate mine, but I have better plans for myself
It was a small vision I had when I was in sec 3 13 years ago, and it became clearer in recent years. So I might be quitting to work full time towards my vision and goal.
That said, you never know if I will be repeating the previous sentence again next year.
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yeah, even the kids
my poor juniors :*(
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Originally posted by eagle:
I don't hate mine, but I have better plans for myself
It was a small vision I had when I was in sec 3 13 years ago, and it became clearer in recent years. So I might be quitting to work full time towards my vision and goal.
That said, you never know if I will be repeating the previous sentence again next year.
Is your vision and ur current job a drastic difference? How did it come to you?
My work is so mind-numbing...and poor mgmt...if not I wouldn't hate it..cos it's relatively simple. :C I still wouldn't like it though. -
Originally posted by L.lawliett79:
Is your vision and ur current job a drastic difference? How did it come to you?
My work is so mind-numbing...and poor mgmt...if not I wouldn't hate it..cos it's relatively simple. :C I still wouldn't like it though.Yes, totally different industry.
But super long story... I'm working on my vision now... Workaholic in a different way, but answerable to myself :)