Check out FreelanceZone.com.sg for more Job Opportunities

Check out FreelanceZone.com.sg for more Job Opportunities

By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

We all have had an experience with a co-worker who is an eternal pessimist. You come from an encounter with them drained and down in the dumps. Pretty soon, you’re trying to avoid this person altogether because it’s affecting your work.

Consider this: Nine out of 10 people say they are more productive when they’re around positive people. Yet, 65 percent of Americans received no recognition in the workplace last year.

Now think about your attitude when you have an upbeat conversation with a colleague or receive kudos for a job well done? You feel inspired, motivated and ready to push harder.

This is the idea behind the Tom Rath and Donald Clifton’s book ‘How Full is Your Bucket?’ Be the first to praise and the first to deserve praise and you’ll have a more enjoyable and productive workplace.

Negative experiences can slowly erode our well-being and productivity. While meaningful, deserved and individual recognition increases morale and productivity. Creating positive emotions in the workplace will not only benefit the receivers but also yourself.

This is the idea behind the analogy of the dipper and the bucket Rath and Clifton use. Each person carries an invisible bucket of emotions along with a dipper, which he or she can use to either add to other people’s buckets or to dip from them. In the end, research shows that filling someone else’s bucket benefits both parties — the person who gave the praise and the person who received it.

If you think there’s no hope for a colleague who constantly brings you down, Rath suggests something else. Because both positive and negative reactions are contagious, your next interaction could start to squash the negativity with just a little effort.

“Simply try to turn your next conversation with someone who is negative into a more positive moment. See what happens,” Rath says. “In most cases, they will turn around and be more positive in their next interaction.”

Relationships at work will be much more fulfilling if you increase the flow of positive emotions writes Rath. Thus, you must make it a habit to increase positive emotion — here are the top five strategies for doing this.

If you increase positive emotions at work, you’ll also improve life at work for others and yourself. Five ways to improve your life at work

Prevent Bucket Dipping

Just as you should eliminate debt before you can truly save, you must so must you do with bucket dipping before you begin filling them. Try this: For the next few days, try to catch yourself in the act of bucket dipping and then stop it. Then encourage the same for others around you — convince them unwarranted negativity makes matters worse. If this doesn’t work, stay away from these people as much as possible.

Shine a Light on What Is Right

Take advantage of each interaction. That is, focus on what is right and fill a bucket. “Never underestimate the long-term influence of filling others’ buckets,” Rath writes. Positive emotions can create a chain of events with far-reaching results.

Make Best Friends

According to Rath, people with best friends at work have better safety records, receive higher customer satisfaction scores, and increase workplace productivity. You can start by simply learning and using the names of people you see regularly. Those acquaintances may soon become friends. The best approach: fill someone’s bucket starting with the first interaction.

Give Unexpectedly

No matter what size, unexpected gifts are often the best gifts. It’s probably due to the element of surprise. Rath suggests looking for opportunities to give gifts out of the blue — from a magnet for someone’s cube to a cup of coffee

Reverse the Golden Rule

When it comes to bucket-filling, individualization is the key. Thus reverse, or at least redefine, the golden rule. Different things have different meaning for people. Some want public recognition while others prefer a one-on-one commendation. Some prefer tangible rewards while others like words and acknowledgement.

Check out FreelanceZone.com.sg for more Job Opportunities

By HR World Editors

A happy worker is a productive worker, and it’s hard to find a happier lot than freelancers. Whether they’re entrepreneurs, Web workers or something in between, freelancers enjoy a better lifestyle than their cube-dwelling brethren. Read on for 101 reasons why.

Time

Contrary to popular belief, freelancers and other people who work at home don’t sit around watching talk shows all day. There are, however, a few perks that come along with having a flexible work schedule.

1. Time is on your side: If you charge an hourly rate, clients aren’t likely to drag their feet on the details you need to get the job done. Compare that with office workers, who often have to wait for information to funnel through various bureaucratic channels.
2. There’s a two-hour wait? That’s OK, I’ll bring my laptop: Errands that might require office workers to take an extensive lunch break or half day out of the office can be turned into productive work time for freelancers.
3. You can work through lunch and get done early: Eating lunch at your desk is slightly less depressing when you’re at home, and it saves time.
4. Squirreling away “me time”:You can load up on work now so that you can do some serious relaxing later.
5. Meetings about nothing: Corporate workers are often required to attend time-wasting meetings — like quarterly sales reviews or monthly team meetings — that are scheduled to happen whether the employee is needed or not. Freelancers may need to attend meetings with clients, but they’re easier to control.
6. You can shop when the store is empty: By adjusting your schedule, you can go shopping without dealing with crowds.
7. Opting out of a daily commute saves time: The average commute is about 23 minutes each way, adding up to almost an hour each day that you could be doing something better.
8. “Sure, anytime between Wednesday and Friday is fine”: Waiting around for the cable guy doesn’t take time out of your life if your office is at home.
9. You can work when you’re most productive: When you work at your peak hours, you can save time in efficiency.

10. Sticking It to the Man

    Big corporations have a tendency to serve high-ranking employees and shareholders above rank-and-file grunts. This is how freelancing helps you — and even others — escape their tyranny.

11. You have the ability to help other small businesses save money: As a freelancer, your overhead costs are lower than a large firm, which means that you can offer a more competitive rate that is friendly to small businesses.
12. Layoffs aren’t a concern: A freelancer’s pink slip often comes in as a trickle rather than a sudden force. You’ll be able to see it coming and take action to stop it instead of living at the mercy of fate and budget cuts.
13. Following your heart is easier: You can choose to eliminate working with organizations that conflict with your ethics.
14. No awkward performance reviews: Performance reviews seem slightly biased toward management, don’t you think? Every organization is different, but they generally consist of “this is what you’re doing wrong/right” and “this is how we’re going to control you in the future to make you do more of the right.” Freelancers just don’t have to deal with that, as performance can be rated on whether or not your clients decide to come back for more.
15. Unscrupulous accountants can’t cheat you out of your retirement fund: Remember Enron? Their employees lost pensions and savings when the company collapsed due to accounting malpractices. Freelancers generally don’t participate in sponsored retirement plans of this sort, leaving them to invest in a variety of funds of their choosing.

16. Money

    Although working as a freelancer can make for a rocky financial road, following this path can lead many workers to higher earnings than their office-dwelling peers.

17. You’ll learn more about personal finance: Freelancing rarely provides a steady paycheck, so it offers a good lesson in responsible saving and spending. It also promotes investment, as you’ll have to consider your own retirement future.
18. Save on child care: Instead of paying for full-time care, you may be able to cut care back to part-time hours or even work out a schedule with your spouse that allows you to eliminate child care altogether.
19. Casual clothing is cheaper: If you’re working at home, it’s not likely that you’re wearing a designer suit on a daily basis. The opportunity to wear more casual clothes will save you money, as they’re often cheaper to buy.
20. You’ll learn more about taxes: Freelancing involves filing taxes that are often more complicated than an office worker’s. Most are subject to self-employment taxes and quarterly payments. It sounds like a drag, but it can spark a motivation to take advantage of more public programs.
21. Save money on car maintenance: By not commuting, you’re reducing wear and tear on your car, extending its life.
22. Save money on fuel: On the same note, not commuting helps you avoid spending lots of money on gas.
23. You can get rid of your car altogether: If it works for your situation, you may be able to opt out of having a car at all. That means no car, insurance, inspection or registration payments. That’s on top of the savings you’re probably already enjoying from not really driving your car.
24. Your level of career-loathing spending is reduced or eliminated: Expensive vacations, trips to the spa and gallons of fruity alcoholic drinks are often indulged in because of a need to release work- related stress. Freelancers are generally happier and more satisfied by their work, so this type of spending is not as prevalent.
25. Save on dry cleaning: Work clothes are often dry clean only, but work-at-home clothes are generally wash and wear.
26. Home-office tax deduction: If you use a specific part of your home solely for working, you qualify for a tax deduction.
27. Better pay: Freelancers generally earn more because employers don’t have to deal with the overhead of keeping a full-time employee.
28. When buying a house, you don’t have to consider a daily commute: A commute time of zero allows you to buy a home in a more affordable but possibly far-flung area.
29. Control over your hourly rate: Freelancers decide how much to charge for their services, determining just how much their time is worth.
30. Your hobbies are cheaper: Just because you do something as a profession doesn’t mean you have to stop doing it for fun. For example, photographers can take high-quality photos of their own family using professional equipment they’ve purchased for paid work.
31. If you need a raise, you can increase your rates or work more: Freelancers aren’t subject to scheduled .0368-percent raises per year.

Relationships

Freelancing benefits workers by allowing them to devote more time and attention to relationships they want to pursue, while eliminating those that aren’t worth the trouble.

1. You’re not stuck with Crazy for the next 30 years: Every office has a Crazy; that one person in the group that just isn’t right and will never, ever leave the company. Office workers are stuck with this person until retirement, while freelancers are done with Crazy once the project is complete.
2. You’ll learn the fine art of networking: Freelancers often get a majority of their work through contacts and word of mouth, so the incentive is there to get out and sell yourself.
3. Freelancing is more personal: As you develop networking relationships and come to see loyal clients as friends, you realize that freelancing is infinitely more personal than dealing with others as a corporate employee.
4. Your dog loves you more: If you’re at home, your dog doesn’t need to be kenneled or taken to doggie day care. In fact, Poochie just might be treated to a mind-clearing stroll around the block.
5. You choose your boss: Everyone answers to someone, and freelancers are no exception. However, freelancers answer to clients, a boss that can be chosen and changed with relative ease.
6. Stinky food? Who cares!: If you’re all by your lonesome, no one will mind if you eat a gouda, sauerkraut and pepper sandwich with anchovies.

Mental Health

Whatever your work arrangement, there’s no denying that employment is a see-saw of both stress and satisfaction. These are the ways in which freelancing tips the scale in your favor.

1. Control freaks welcome: Freelancers have to take on many roles, from marketing to accounting. A desire to have your hands on every little detail is not only acceptable, it’s preferred.
2. You can donate your talent to a worthy cause: Doing a little pro-bono work isn’t just fulfilling for your soul, it’s also an excellent word-of-mouth marketing tool. You’re free to volunteer your services this way when you’re the boss.
3. Diversity: Instead of doing the same thing day in and day out, you can pick up a variety of projects to keep you occupied.
4. You decide what to work on: Freelancers can drop clients that just aren’t worth the hassle.
5. You can balance risk: Corporate employees have all of their eggs in one basket. Freelancers generally work for more than one client at a time, so if you’re dropped by one client, you don’t get completely wiped out.
6. You can do what you love: Freelancing allows for the freedom to take on projects that pique your interest.
7. Avoid traffic stress: For most people, traffic is not fun. In fact, it’s downright infuriating. Freelancers who work at home avoid commute-related stress.
8. You’ll satisfy your hunting-and-gathering instinct: Most freelancers spend about half of their time drumming up business and half of their time actually working.
9. It’s hard to get bored: Freelancing is a lot like chronic job-hopping. Once you have a chance to really get tired of the way things work, you’re already moving on to the next big thing.
10. No office politics: Office cliques, management brownnosing and superiority complexes just don’t hold up when there’s no structure to support them.

Physical Health

Even the most low-impact office work can have a negative effect on your health. This is how freelancing eliminates or improves on the health problems that plague office workers.

1. No fluorescent lighting: Fluorescent lighting has the power to suck the life out of you. If you’re freelancing at home, you have the option to use more health-friendly ambient lighting or even ultraviolet bulbs.
2. You’re safer: Not having to commute means that fender benders, floods, snow and ice aren’t a daily concern.
3. Ergonomics are simplified: When offices buy furniture, it’s generally of the one-size- fits-all variety. If you’re in charge of buying your own equipment, you’re able to create a workstation that fits your body better.
4. No workplace violence: If you’re not working in an office, you don’t have to be worried about the day when Joe Officeworker finally hits his limit and goes ballistic.
5. You don’t have to eat on a schedule: Many weight-loss programs recommend that you eat smaller, more frequent meals during the day. Working at home makes it easier to follow this type of regimen.
6. Lunch is a home-cooked meal: If you work at home, you have an opportunity every day to eat a healthy, home-cooked meal for lunch instead of something greasy from the drive-through.
7. You don’t have to burn as much sick time: No one wants to work when they’re sick, but it’s more manageable at home. Plus, you’re less exposed to illnesses at home, so chances are that you’ll be less likely to pick something up in the first place.
8. You can use an exercise-ball chair and no one will think you’re insane: Exercise balls are touted as a healthier alternative to traditional office chairs, but it’s hard to imagine using one in a traditional office. Working at home, you’re free to exercise while sitting without judgment.
9. Power napping is easier: If you’re freelancing at home, taking a health- and productivity-boosting power nap is as easy as walking a few steps to your bedroom or favorite couch.
10. You can eat healthier foods: It’s not likely that you keep a vending machine stocked with sugary snacks at home, but you probably have a refrigerator that’s great for keeping fresh, healthy foods available.
11. You’ll be less tempted to eat junk food: Office food is a very strange phenomenon. Three-day old donuts that would otherwise not pass muster are quickly gobbled up due to a toxic mix of boredom, compulsion and a simple a desire to get something for free. Ultimately, it often results in poor nutrition choices while on the job. Freelancers don’t have to deal with this. That is, of course, not counting last night’s leftovers.

Motivation

Motivation is what drives you. Whether it’s a fear of your boss or a genuine love for your field, motivation can greatly affect your job satisfaction.

1. Higher productivity benefits you, not your manager: When office workers can complete a task more efficiently, the company benefits. When freelancers find higher productivity, they benefit themselves.
2. You’ll get credit for everything: When working for a corporation, workers generally give up the right to own their work. So if you’re working for a large advertising agency and you come up with the next big thing, the idea belongs to the company, whether you stay there or not. Unless you agree to contracts stipulating otherwise, working as a freelancer allows you to put your name all over everything you produce.
3. You can learn more: By working with a number of different clients, you may pick up different insights and perspectives on an industry.
4. You define your own future: Freelancers don’t have to worry about whether or not they have “management potential”; they’re already the CEO.
5. You’ll develop an impressive portfolio: When working as a freelancer, excellence tends to snowball.
6. You can flex your creative muscles: As a freelancer, you have the ability to seek out clients who need the kind of services that you want to provide.
7. You’ll be challenged: Whether it’s figuring out your legal status or dealing with a demanding customer, freelancing presents new hurdles to climb, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
8. Rewards are immediate: Freelancers don’t toil away for 20 years just to be presented with a gold watch and a pat on the back. Instead, they get work, bonuses and positive networking that’s worth infinitely more.
9. Pushing yourself pays off: Your growth is only limited by your imagination and effort.
10. Your motivation is based on production, not a time clock: If you finish work faster than you were supposed to, you won’t have to kill time until 5 p.m.; when you’re done for the day, you can actually be done.

Working Conditions

Your working environment can have a huge impact on your productivity and happiness. These are the ways in which freelancers have the upper hand.

1. You control the volume: If you like ambient noise, you can work with the radio on or go to a coffee shop. If you prefer absolute quiet, you can keep it that way. Office workers have little to no control over the noise in their environment.
2. Your house will be cleaner: If you’re at home all day, you’re bound to be irked if it’s dirty, and you may feel compelled to clean up your act.
3. You don’t have to feel cramped: Sharing spaces with your co-workers is a thing of the past.
4. You can use Firefox if you want to: Instead of having to conform to a corporate IT policy, you’re free to choose your own preferred software.
5. Solitude: Some find freelance work to be lonely, but many others enjoy the solitude that it offers.
6. Increased productivity: Working outside of an office environment usually means that you’re subject to fewer distractions and thus are able to be more productive.
7. Catch a breeze: Unlike many office environments, your windows at home can actually be opened.
8. Rocking out is OK: You can listen to music or watch TV in the background without worrying about bothering a cube neighbor.
9. You can have the corner office if you feel like it: Working at home means you don’t have to compete with co-workers for prime office real estate.
10. You’ll never get behind on laundry or dishes: Workers sometimes need to take a quick break to clear their mind. Office workers might grab a cup of coffee. Home workers can knock out some quick housework.

Flexibility

Freelancers are generally able to define how, when and where they work. This fosters a situation that allows them to take care of business, plus a few other things.

1. You can go on your kid’s field trip: When Junior’s class needs a chaperone for the zoo, you can just rearrange your schedule instead of having to worry about requesting time off and qualifying for paid leave.
2. Your work hours aren’t set in stone: If you find yourself wide awake at 4 a.m. with lots of ideas, you can knock out some work on the spot and maybe even get done early for the day.
3. You can hop in the pool while it’s still light outside: If you feel like taking a swim in the middle of the day, it’s only a matter of working later or harder.
4. Your vision is important: Clients value your opinion.
5. Working vacations are possible: If you’re one of those crazy workaholic types who can’t bear to be without work to do, you can take your show on the road.
6. Take your grandmother to the doctor: Spend time with your elderly relatives who may not get much attention while other family members are at work. You can always adjust your schedule to accommodate the extra time.
7. Relocation isn’t a big deal: If you decide it’s time to move to a different city, you don’t have to worry about finding a new job.
8. You can go back to school: If you want to pursue further education, you can make room in your day to attend classes.
9. You can accommodate a disability: Whether it’s limited mobility or agoraphobia, working at home as a freelancer can open up doors to those who might face challenges in an office setting.
10. Work is wherever you want it to be: Whether it’s the couch, the coffee shop or even the beach, your location is completely your choice.
11. You can always go back: Even if you give up your freelance lifestyle temporarily, you’re not surrendering everything. You’ll still have your contacts, portfolio and a wealth of industry knowledge. In the corporate world, leaving a job often means starting at the bottom of the totem pole somewhere new.
12. You can expand your reach: Instead of limiting yourself to one employer in a specific location, you can spread yourself out to firms all over the country and even the world.
13. You can set your schedule to accommodate your family’s needs: If you need to start work early to finish in time to get the kids to band practice, you have the flexibility to do so.
14. You can pick up and stop work at any time: With a flexible schedule, you can sporadically pursue other interests instead of being chained to a desk for eight hours at a time.

Is This the Fun Part?

These reasons aren’t life-changers, but they are fun little perks that come along with being a freelancer.

1. It’s easy to nurse a caffeine addiction: Whether you’re at home or using public wifi, chances are you’re not far from a nice cup of coffee that’s better than the usual office swill.
2. You’ll always have a last-minute gift: Freelancers specializing in personal services can offer their assistance as a gift.
3. “Freelance” just sounds cool: Cube dwellers are naturally jealous of freelance workers, and that’s perfectly alright. So what if it’s because they think you work in your underwear?
4. You get to use really neat tools: The Internet is full of fun applications that are designed to make a freelancer’s life easier.
5. Every day is Casual Friday: We’ve already touched on this, but it’s just so fun to rub it in. Jeans? OK. Shorts? Sure.
6. You might end up in the paper: If you create a compelling press release for your freelancing business, media outlets may publish it and give you bragging rights.
7. You can have a beer with lunch: Who is going to notice or even care?
8. You can feel smug about saving the environment: By eliminating the need for a separate office space and commuting emissions, you’re greener than most office workers.
9. You may score free travel: Clients might want to fly you out to their site.
10. You have an excuse to buy an iPhone: You need an effective device for phone, email and text communication, don’t you?
11. If your red stapler gets stolen, the list of suspects is significantly shorter: Your productivity suffers if you have to hunt down office supplies that walk away. If you can narrow it down to the cat, your 11-year old and your spouse, making interrogations simply take up less time.

Check out FreelanceZone.com.sg for more Job Opportunities

Check out FreelanceZone.com.sg for more Job Opportunities

Basic policies help manage the pros and cons of telecommuting

The benefits of telecommuting
Telecommuting, properly implemented, can benefit everyone involved. For example:

• Telecommuting benefits companies: The most obvious benefit to the company is cost savings. Office space doesn’t come cheap, especially in major urban areas. According to the 2001/2002 Telework America survey, reported on the International Telework Association & Council (ITAC) Web site, AT&T saves $25 million per year in the cost of office space alone because of telework. Perhaps more surprisingly, the same source says that AT&T saves $65 million annually from the increased productivity of teleworkers. The time savings inherent in telecommuting (less time lost to travel, getting ready to go to work, and office socializing and distractions) lead to more efficiency. Telecommuting is part of a decentralized business model in which companies are no longer tied to a single location. As enterprises grow and the economy becomes more global, this model becomes more effective and desirable; in fact, decentralization may become necessary for a business to survive and thrive. Telecommuting programs also fit into the growing trend for corporations to offer more job flexibility (incorporating options such as flextime and job sharing) to attract and retain the best workers.
• Telecommuting benefits employees: The ability to work some or all of the time from home benefits employees in many ways. Again, cost savings is a big consideration, although many of the costs of commuting to work everyday are hidden and may not be realized at first glance. Savings in the cost of gasoline and parking, or public transportation, are obvious. Telecommuting employees also typically spend less on food (eating lunch at home instead of at expensive restaurants), clothing (working in more casual clothes that might not be appropriate at the office), and incidentals. More important to many employees is the flexibility to juggle job duties and personal tasks more effectively and, in many cases, to work during the hours that best suit their own biological clocks, instead of during a prescribed 9-to-5 format.
• Telecommuting benefits society: While the advantages of telecommuting for both employers and employees are fairly obvious, it is more difficult to assess the impact of telecommuting on society in general. Some may argue that it creates isolation and social withdrawal, but studies don’t seem to support that contention. On the other hand, more telecommuting means less traffic congestion (and less pollution from vehicles), and the ability of employees to work literally from anywhere in the world may help cut down on urban sprawl and overpopulation in urban areas.

The downside of telecommuting
Despite all these advantages, telecommuting can also pose some unique problems for both employers and employees:

• An initial investment in equipment is required.
• Employers have less control over employees’ time.
• Productivity may be more difficult to measure.
• Technology issues may create problems when employees don’t have access to on-site IT personnel.
• Telecommuting can limit promotional opportunities.
• Telecommuting is not for everyone—or every job.
• Security can be a thorn in the telecommuter’s side.

Importance of proper policy implementation
Now that I’ve covered some of the pros and cons of telecommuting, it should be apparent that creating sound telecommuting policy guidelines for your users is vital for telecommuting to work. However, this is only the first step. Those policies must be implemented properly in order to accomplish their purpose. Proper implementation has several facets.

Disseminating policies and educating users
It’s important to disseminate the policies to all users who will be telecommuting. This includes those who may work from home only occasionally or who connect remotely only while traveling on business. It isn’t enough to see that employees receive a copy of the policy. They should also be given an opportunity to ask questions, and they should be required to sign a statement verifying that they received the policy and agree to read and abide by it.

Ideally, a short course for new telecommuters should be provided, and ongoing education should be a priority to ensure that all users are aware of changes in the policy. The policy (and updates) should be available on an intranet site or downloadable from a company FTP site.

Monitoring for compliance and policy enforcement
How closely you monitor employees’ activities to determine whether they are complying with the policy depends on the company’s overall philosophies and a cost-benefit analysis. The easiest way to ensure compliance is to use software restrictions to enforce policy. For example, you can configure settings so that if a user tries to set a password that doesn’t conform to the length or complexity policy, it won’t be accepted by the system. Many elements of your policy can be enforced this way.

Policy violations
The policy itself should clearly state what constitutes violation and what the consequences of violation can be. Possible disciplinary actions should be spelled out for each policy issue, and the maximum penalty (for example, termination of employment) should be stated. The policy should also state that criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits may be initiated if the violation constitutes an illegal act.

Update policies for off-site access
The number of company employees working all or some of the time from home or on the road has grown steadily over the past decade. This sharp increase began in the early 90s, and the annual Telework America surveys sponsored by AT&T have shown a steady rise.

Because of this growth and the fact that technology changes so rapidly, new security issues arise when a telecommuting program is implemented. Just as hardware and software need to be updated regularly, so do your security policies. Updates should reflect changes in equipment and software, new products that become available, and changes in the company’s organizational structure and ways of doing business.

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And the worse is not deemed to be over yet, as employers and workers alike brace themselves for an even sharper economic downturn in the next few months.

Stephen Lee, President of the Singapore National Employers Federation, said: “The storm is coming, we haven’t seen the bottom of the storm yet. How bad it will get? We would like to prepare our members.”

Economists said that as the cause is a financial one, it is tough to predict the downturn’s length and depth.

Heng Chee How, Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC, said: “It is no point trying to guess a number. I think what is more productive is what we (should) do to keep retrenchments and the unemployment rate to as slow a pace as possible, so that if we can avoid, we avoid… if we cannot avoid, we delay… and if we cannot delay, we minimise – that should be the way to do it.”

To help achieve this, the Singapore government in December launched a S$600 million Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR). Under SPUR, companies with excess manpower have been urged to send their workers for subsidised retraining.

The Workforce Development Agency (WDA) said it wants to see the programme more widely implemented across more sectors in 2009.

Chan Heng Kee, Chief Executive of WDA, said: “Where necessary, we will put in place what we call conversion programmes, because moving from one sector to another is not easy. So we have conversion programmes encompassing the skills needed to move into new sectors.

“Rather than retrenching the worker as the first resort, why not take advantage of the financial support provided by the government so that by the time the upturn comes around, you have a loyal worker who is also better trained, more productive, and can do a higher skilled job for your company.”

Among those targeted for such conversion programmes are displaced mid-career workers.

Chan added: “Even as we help both employers and workers manage the current downturn, I think we are also not losing sight of the future. We are slowly putting in place the building blocks of the continuing education and training system.”

Employers and workers in Singapore will be looking forward to some key announcements in January 2009.

First, the National Wages Council – which is made up of representatives from the government, employers and trade unions – will be meeting in January to re-examine its wage guidelines to ensure that the country remains economically competitive even during these difficult times.

Next, Singapore’s Parliament has brought forward its Budget sitting to January 22, from its usual sitting in February.

In Budget 2009, the labour movement hopes the Finance Minister will announce measures to help workers strengthen job stability while the employers federation is looking at help from the government to lower operational costs.

“Singapore, being a very small open economy will get hit harder than our Asean neighbours,” said Lee. “But Singapore, with its strong balance sheet will be able to (weather) this downturn better than our neighbours.”

For 2009, the Trade and Industry Ministry’s growth forecast for Singapore is in the range of minus one to plus two per cent.

- CNA/yb

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22 December 2008

Many employers are going beyond the basic statutory requirements to provide various family-friendly leave benefits. The use of flexible working arrangements has also increased though they are still not widely prevalent in Singapore. These are the key findings from the “Conditions of Employment, 2008″ report by the Ministry of Manpower’s Research and Statistics Department on the results of the Labour Market Survey conducted in mid 2008.

Main Findings

2. The proportion of private sector employees on flexible working arrangement increased from 5.1% in 2006 to 7.4% in 2008. Including the public sector, the proportion of employees on flexible working arrangements was higher at 9.4% in 2008, lifted by a notable percentage of public sector employees on staggered hours.

3. A large proportion of establishments granted non-statutory leave benefits such as compassionate leave and marriage leave to their employees. 85% of establishments granted compassionate leave while 70% gave marriage leave. A significant proportion of establishments also granted paternity leave (47%) to their employees.

4. The 5-day workweek continued to be the norm, with a higher proportion of employees now on this arrangement than two years ago (from 43% in 2006 to 44% in 2008). The 6-day workweek (18%), 5½-day (15%) and shift work (14%) accounted for less than one in five employees each in 2008.

5. Over the years, there has been a rise in share of better qualified workers who typically enjoy more favourable leave benefits. This has led to an increase in the proportion of employees who are entitled to at least 15 days of paid annual leave from 31% in 1992 to 39% in 2008 in the private sector. Including the public sector, the share was slightly higher at 41% in 2008.

6. 56% of employees took outpatient sick leave and 4.1% took hospitalisation leave in 2007. This was broadly comparable to 52% and 4.5% respectively in 2005. Employees who had taken outpatient sick leave in 2007 on average consumed 4.6 days of sick leave, comparable to 4.7 days in 2005. The corresponding figure for those on hospitalisation leave was 16.3 days, up from 14.9 days in 2005.

Check out FreelanceZone.com.sg for more Job Opportunities

IN THIS volatile working world, you have to accept that no job is for life. You may need to change jobs and careers several times in your working life.

Job transitions skills can be developed to help make this transition easier for you. By applying these simple ideas you can improve your skills, keep your self-esteem intact and find something suitable.

1. Get support
Your company has restructured and you have lost your job. After the initial shock, anger and despair, it is time to move forward. Surround yourself with family and friends and let them know about your situation.

Stay in contact with those you care about and continue your social activities. It is easy to avoid people or stop socialising but make sure you do not do this. Your support crew will encourage you and also keep their eyes open for job opportunities for you.

2. It’s not personal
Redundancy is becoming a common term in the workforce, so do not take this personally. Remember, it is the job that has been axed, not you. You have transferable skills that can be used in a variety of industries.

3. Set up an environment to assist your job search

If you are working from home, set up a basic office to include a phone, stationary, postage supplies, computer and printer. If you have small children and pets, keep them out of this area.

Ask your children not to answer the phone while you are job searching. If you are using a job café or other facilities, be prepared. Ensure you have all the details you need to apply for any job that appeals to you, including your up-to-date resumé, your referee’s details and an e-mail address.

4. Get involved
Find out the groups that meet regularly in your area and get involved. These could be local networks or community events. This is a great way to meet new people, make new contacts and find out what jobs are available close to home.

5. Watch your language
Avoid using words like “unemployed” or “doing nothing”. Your full-time job is finding a new role you will enjoy.

6. Create an up-to-date resumé
Give a detailed description of the achievements in each role and the time you have spent in the position. Provide all contact details including phone number (land line and mobile), e-mail address and, where possible, a fax number. If you do not have a fax at home, find someone who does and ask him if you can use his number.

7. Be well-groomed
It only takes seven seconds to make a first impression. Make the most of your seven seconds by smiling when you greet someone. Invest in a good suit. If you don’t have one, borrow one for your job interviews. Polish your shoes, wear minimal jewellery and ensure your hair is clean and neat and tidy. People will remember you when you look good.

8. Stay motivated
Finding a new job is hard work. It can frustrate and disappoint you when you receive letters telling you that you did not get the job you applied for.

Stay focused and remind yourself that there is a role out there just for you, and you need to stay positive until you find it.

Article by Neen James, a US-based productivity expert, author, speaker, trainer and consultant. For more information, visit www.neenjames.com

Check out FreelanceZone.com.sg for more Job Opportunities

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Dec 22 (Bernama) — The trend of working flexible hours is catching on, albeit slowly, among Singaporeans, be it in the private sector or government.

Employers too are looking more into the welfare of their employees and getting more compassionate.

These are the findings of Singapore’s Manpower Ministry from its labour market survey on “Conditions of Employment, 2008″ conducted in mid-2008.

In its report released on Monday, the ministry said the use of flexible working arrangements by Singaporean workers had increased although it was still not widely prevalent in the republic.

It also said that many employers were going beyond the basic statutory requirements to provide various family-friendly leave benefits.

The report said the proportion of private sector employees on flexible working arrangements increased from 5.1 per cent in 2006 to 7.4 per cent this year.

When the public sector was included, the proportion of employees on flexible working arrangements was higher, at 9.4 per cent this year, lifted by a notable percentage of public sector employees working staggered hours.

The report also said that a large proportion of establishments granted non-statutory leave benefits, such as compassionate leave and marriage leave, to their employees.

About 85 per cent of establishments granted compassionate leave while 70 per cent gave marriage leave and 47 per cent also granted paternity leave to their employees.

The five-day workweek continued to be the norm, with a higher proportion of employees now on this arrangement than two years ago, up from 43 per cent in 2006 to 44 per cent this year.

The six-day workweek (18 per cent), 5-day workweek (15 per cent) and shift work workweek (14 per cent) accounted for less than one in five employees each in 2008.

– BERNAMA

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We can see that now Singapore workers are more keen in jobs which are flexible. When times goes by I believe more Singaporean will choose to stay at home and work.

So why not check out these opportunities working from home >>> See what FreelanceZone has for you!

His start-up experience: from the founder of Dovalize

“Dovalize was incorporated since April 2008 and our mission is to provide a wide range of innovative online services under e-commerce category. FreelanceZone.com.sg is our very first product. Primarily, it enables small and mid-sized businesses to operate outsourcing and staffing in an easier way to achieve cost savings across various services. Our objective is to extend and open it for the South East Asia market. We believe in this service because we, at the same time, provide the service as well as using the service. I have a small team of 3 persons, our organization structure are comprised of 30% fulltime employees and 70% freelance workforce for both management and operation team. I would say, perhaps, as the Founder of Dovalize, we might be the first company in Singapore that operates in this formula.”

Steven Diep, Founder and Managing Director of Dovalize:

If you are a freelancer, here is some advice:
- Make sure what you deliver is a quality product because this product will be the base for others to offer you the payment amount in your next freelance assignment.
- Plan your milestones, and to protect yourself, ask for the milestone-payment before moving on to the next stage. Well, for e-Bay product, they called it “cash-on-delivery”.

In a nutshell, setting up Dovalize, I think I do have the advantages because of my multi-disciplinary roles since 2002. I have worked as a fulltime employee as well as freelancer, moving across several companies with many positions like web programmer, software specialist, project leader, application architect, etc.

Our most difficult moments? Well, like many other new start-ups, we have to work hard, really really hard from marketing up to the implementation. Funding is also one of the issues. It is why we are actively seeking and welcome all the potential partnership and investments. For me, “challenge” and “difficulty” are two different terms; I would choose “challenge” to describe all the issues that we have faced so far.