REACH 211 - Encourage working in office (SK)
29 Mar 2021 (11am - 7pm)
REACH
[10:46 am, 29/03/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,
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Megan ๐
[11:00 am, 29/03/2021] +REACH: ๐ข Topic ๐ข
The multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 announced on Wednesday (March 24) that more restrictions will be eased as Singapore moves forward with its vaccination programme and continues to keep the pandemic under control.
๐ฌ How have you been preparing to go back to your workplaces while keeping safe?
More employees can return to workplace (from April 5)
Up to 75% of employees can be at the workplace at any one time, up from 50%. The restriction on how long a worker spends at the workplace will be lifted.
Split-team arrangements are also no longer required. Social and recreational gatherings, such as team bonding events, will be allowed but must be limited to no more than eight people.
Singapore's largest employer, the Government, is encouraging public servants who can work from home to return to the office three out of five working days as a general guideline.
The private sector is expected to take a cue from the public service as it persuades employees, many of whom have become used to the convenience of working from home, to return to the workplace more.
๐ Further easing of Covid-19 measures in Singapore: What you need to know: https://str.sg/J92M
๐ Public Service new working arrangements: https://str.sg/J9CA
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[11:01 am, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: When mrt breakdown. All shld wfh for that day
[11:02 am, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: Else later covid spread
[11:04 am, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Lol
[11:06 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: if all continue wfh, then bosses don't have to worry about staff coming late because mrt broke down
[11:07 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: To answer the question: nope many don’t follow such rules. Masks off when inside office, jiak breakfast and drink Kopi. Chat without masks etc. it’s like things are back to normal liao so I expect another community cluster coming soon.
[11:08 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yep.....
[11:08 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: i second that observation!
[11:09 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Take a look at all other countries when they let down their guard you will know.
[11:09 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Unless you tell me you have Heath officers patrolling all offices
[11:10 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: even with SDAs now and they remind people to wear their masks properly, all they do is pull it back up, then pull it back down when the SDA walks off. you can't be policing everyone every second of the day
[11:11 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: so practically, why are we then opening up when the virus is still clearly lurking around? it's clear based on the one-two community cases that come from dunno where
[11:17 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Up till today MOH still dunno where the Mandarin Orchard Hotel cluster come from
[11:17 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: lol
[11:17 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
1. Roster 2 days for every staff to work at home, and 3 days in office as per the 75% / 25% guidelines.
2. Request all staff to maintain social distancing measure eg. Put on mask, 8 person maximum in a group etc.
3. Encourage all staff to vaccinate when their turn come and where they are medically fit to vaccinate. Preparing to lead a pre-covid working life is the aspiration.
4. Boss lead by example to vaccinate when their turn come, put on the mask and maintain social distancing in office.
[11:20 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: i don't even think it should be a roster. it should still be WFH default for those, but you can increase the quota for the number of people allowed in office to g up to 75%
[11:21 am, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: ๐
[11:21 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
More countries has reported positive outcome that vaccination indeed have curb covid infection.
Vaccination now become the de-facto solution to defeat the covid pandemic.
[11:21 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: not all offices have the ability to "socially distance". workstations are usually in a cluster. when you have a 75% capacity, there's no way that you can do the alternate seating anymore. so there will be people who are seated next to each other, and with masks off in office, that's just disaster waiting to happen
[11:21 am, 29/03/2021] +Timothy Low: Working from home is the safest. It will help to reduce road traffic and thus carbon emission and its more time efficient to work at home
[11:22 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Agreed
[11:25 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yes yes, i get that vaccination is key. but shouldn't we reopen only AFTER a good proportion of the working population have been vaccinated?
[11:27 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
1. If all work at home, that means boss can engage and outsource to foreign workers who demand much lesser salary who are working overseas at home to do Singaporean work.
2. Also boss prefer staff to value add from people to people interaction in office, meeting clients for opportunities and brainstorming for ideas.
[11:28 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: er... no.... not all work can be outsourced. please stop fearmongering...
[11:29 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Not all work can be done working from home.
[11:31 am, 29/03/2021] +jimmy chew: Agree. Let them have the freedom to choose and negotiate
[11:31 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: exactly. thus those who cannot work from home can go back, those who can should still WFH as default. you can increase capacity to 75% to allow for greater collaboration within the team, but it should not be mandated/rostered/scheduled/coerced/pressured.
[11:34 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
There is no need to pressure or coerce.
Those staff who perform well in hybrid arrangement working in office and WFH - will get good appraisal.
Those who insist on WFH and not appear in office despite the need to do so but cannot perform as well will get poorer appraisal.
[11:34 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: personally i've found it more efficient working from home. i haven't had any disruptions so far, better ergonomics since i can customise my workstation in a way that works for me. minimal disruption during the day cos it's a lot faster for me to grab a pack of biscuits from my kitchen than it is for me going downstairs to buy a bao. at home i've configured my workstation with an additional screen, in office i don't have that 2nd screen to work off cos we're hotdesking. whatever materials i need are available remotely. if anything, we chat on the phone or schedule a zoom call.
[11:36 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: that IS coercion isn't it? and it's a false equivalence to equate WFH and performance. if you can perform well on 100% WFH, it shouldn't matter whether you're physically in office. likewise if you're kan chui in your outputs, it doesn't matter whether you're WFH or physically in office cos you're not adding value to the company.
[11:38 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Well simple as that.
If staff don't meet clients in person, I can't see how clients will want to zoom with staff.
[11:40 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: you're assuming that every job is a sales job... and even if we're talking about sales jobs, you can move around to meet clients, we're not in a lockdown. but it still doesn't mean you MUST go back to office after that. it's still a choice whether you can complete your paperwork in office or at home
[11:42 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Look like boss can sell off the office already.
Why need an office and pay high rent when staff don't turn up for work.
[11:42 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/dbs-joins-global-banks-surrendering-office-space-in-hong-kong
As more staff work from home, DBS release more office space due to high rental.
[11:43 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: you can give up office space and hotdesk. that's cost saving for the company, which is a good thing
[11:43 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Including employing more foreign staff.
[11:44 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Many backend jobs can engage cheaper foreign staff.
[11:45 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
No need to pay CPF some more.
[11:46 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: ๐ sure. everything outsource. sg has no value except showing face. such high regard.
[11:49 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Showing face with no value add - has no value to boss.
Boss want staff to have initiatives, value creation, able to bring more business opportunities to work, brainstorm new ideas to improve work process, bring in new business, transform business etc.
Zooming can't produce all the above.
Hiding at home working like a donkey don't produce such dynamics.
[11:51 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: I think in future will be hybrid of onsite and wfh. If you need to wfh today just tell boss and can do so.
[11:51 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: that is not true. you CAN produce these results even via zoom. the only question is capability. are you zai enough to deliver these results nonetheless?
[11:52 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Agree.
That's the right way going forward.
[11:53 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: so who's the better worker? one who can produce value add only when they're physically present, or one who can bring value to the company regardless where he/she is?
[11:53 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Out of sight of mind.
You don't understand human dynamic and human psychology.
[11:53 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: End of the day wfh should always be an option for those who want
[11:53 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: But this isn’t the case now
[11:53 am, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Bosses might say all must go to office
[11:54 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Out of sight out of mind.
You don't understand human dynamic and human psychology.
[11:55 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: i may not understand them but i still did well enough for my appraisals, tyvm.
[11:55 am, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: That’s why companies go into digitalisation. After business process re-engineering , more and more jobs can be performed remotely if the company built secured and high available infrastructure .
Singaporeans has to smarten up to identify what’s we can do best in SG and those skills set that can be developed and aced here .
By then so long the job permits , anyone can choose to work from home .
[11:55 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: amazing how little you need to understand to do well huh?
[11:56 am, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Tweak the kpi, supervisors would drive things differently .
[11:58 am, 29/03/2021] +jimmy chew: Haha then don't need Boss ๐
[11:58 am, 29/03/2021] +jimmy chew: AI boss ๐
[11:58 am, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
You will be surprised what boss can do.
[11:59 am, 29/03/2021] +CQ: if according to you employees all have to come up with ideas, do everything, meet clients, bring in biz, by that reason boss really no value add
[0:00 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Hopefully
[0:00 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
I have seen quite a number of restructuring.
I am sharing my experience.
Don't cry one day suddenly a person's job are loss - because it was outsource.
[0:01 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: I actually torn between the two
[0:01 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Sometimes really need to go back to office
[0:02 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: It had been the case for many IT companies . Note that IBM and HP started work from home concept in 1995 . I enjoyed the flexibility . The success is because the mgt measured me on my performance and of course the org has to provide collaboration tool so that we can meet from home with our colleagues too
[0:03 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Of course .. major meetings, system maintenance etc . Got to go back office .
[0:05 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
DBS at one time outsource all the IT backend work to India - and the whole local IT staff lost their jobs.
After a few years, DBS in-source back.
[0:06 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: DBS outsource to IBM since early 2000 .
[0:07 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Yes. That's is the shockwave - the 1st major outsource where local IT staff lose their jobs.
[0:07 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yeah, having this kind of flexibility is great. it allows cost savings on the company's part also, because you don't need to factor as much overhead costs per employee in terms of 1-employee-1-desk. you can have a ratio of 3 employees to 2 desks, then whoever needs to book can book. you can still maintain that same office space if you want to, but you build more meeting/collab rooms for discussions, cos this is sorely lacking in a lot of offices
[0:09 pm, 29/03/2021] +jimmy chew: Canon sales folks no office. Sales folks should be on the road ๐ฅบ
[0:09 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
So does canon staff feel a sense of identity or belonging?
[0:10 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Yes my wife just move desk cos they release one more floor space
[0:10 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
That's why I say - Out of sight out of mind.
Singaporean need to understand human dynamic and human psychology.
[0:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Why not?
[0:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Sense of belonging doesn’t just need a desk
[0:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: good one!
[0:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: I’ve worked in org where I’ve a desk but no one talks to me at all
[0:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: End up I feel so lonely didn’t stay long
[0:14 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Agree .. it saves space and spaces are created mostly for collaboration or labs .
In my context , project delivery and engineering also can work from home too . Unless the clients’ security requirement , the default is staff all can work from home .
[0:14 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ben: Whilst community cases are very rare, it's not clear why gov is recommending people go back to work while the vaccination programme has only just started for those under 60. Surely waiting for the vaccine to be administered to the majority of working age people would make more sense?
[0:14 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Well there are 2 group of staff previously in my office.
1. Onsite mainstream staff.
2. Remote moving staff that don't have office.
Group 2 turn out to have lower corporate identity, and lower sense of belonging.
[0:15 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yep, totally agree
[0:16 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: There was one role previous where I’m a roving engineer and I mix with lots of different team members. I felt very strong sense of belonging.
[0:18 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Well a mix is the best.
In office and roving and work at home.
Cannot be always stay at home, or always roving or always stay in office.
[0:19 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: It is difficult . You either pay a space or don’t . It is a waste of $ just to keep a space for a wfh worker .
[0:20 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
That's why there's a combination of fixed office space and hotdesk.
[0:21 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Hotdesking bro
[0:22 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Hot desking does not guarantee space for workers . Besides with the safe distancing required in office .. I would not recommend hot desking in long run
[0:22 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Else when boss always see office empty, what comes to the boss mind is - let's sell the office since no one wants to use it.
This is boss mentality.
[0:22 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Agree this hotdesking concept before covid
[0:23 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Finance . Business Rental is not cheap in SG .
[0:23 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: that's a good mentality. reduce office space, convert to hotdesking, save on monthly rental.
[0:24 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Soon Singaporean will have no office.
And bosses will be thinking, can employ foreign workers who can permanently work off-site.
[0:25 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yeah . My usual room for 4 can only takes 2 now . I got to pay rent for 4 .. I might well surrender and use the $$$ to fund my team’s wfh or rent co space eg justco which is still cheaper .
[0:25 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
I have seen quite a few such cases.
DBS is just one example.
[0:26 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ben: Agreed
[0:26 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: This has Already started many years ago just that many didn’t realise . That’s why co-space companies were doing well for past 5 years
[0:28 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
When Singaporean can't see this trend, more jobs will be outsource.
Then more Singaporean will lose jobs.
[0:30 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Singaporeans workers has to start appreciating cost and finance . So long they don’t value add and yet expensive , they will be easily replaced
[0:30 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Unless Singaporean workers can convince boss keeping and continuing engaging local staff - has much more values than engaging foreign workers to do your job.
Else Singaporean will have to worry what is our value add.
[0:32 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Shares office space is now the trend
[0:32 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Just pay membership and you can use the space any of their offices
[0:33 pm, 29/03/2021] +REACH: Six F&B outlets ordered shut for breaches of Covid-19 measures, three fined
Six food and beverage (F&B) outlets were ordered to close and three were fined for breaching safe management measures, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on Monday (March 29).
More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/six-fb-outlets-ordered-shut-for-breaches-of-covid-19-measures-three-fined
[0:33 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yup .. it is the trend and more conventional office space will be let go
[0:35 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yep! this is awesome actually. you have shared facilities like shared pantry, printer/copier, receptionist (who can receive documents), meeting rooms.... you don't need to maintain your own which means lower costs!
[0:36 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim hope businesses move towards that
[0:36 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Just be mindful of security and confidentiality work .. that’s why these people also can choose to work from home .
[0:36 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Free up space and more flexi for workers
[0:38 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: definitely! just need to be mindful of that but all you need to do is to tweak your operations slightly to cater for that. but of course, co-working spaces work better for some industries than others.
[0:41 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Besides all , hope more workers understand and practiced techniques to stay productive .. eg effective meetings , effective email communications , develop better digital business processes . Many things can be achieved within the daily workday .
[0:42 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yes!!! and if it can be an email, put it in an email! not everything has to be a 1-hour meeting!
[0:43 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Meeting has to be conducted properly .. very organised with proper agenda so that don’t waste time .
[0:44 pm, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: +1
[0:46 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: for sure! i've attended so many meetings where the person leading is just going through the draft point-by-point painfully instead of focusing on just the key issues. i find that this is a skill which is lacking, but nothing that some mentoring and experience can't fix! I make it a point to provide feedback to my juniors after the meeting (privately of course) to encourage them and how to do better for the next meeting they're chairing.
[0:48 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ben: ๐
[0:51 pm, 29/03/2021] +KS Foong: Those who had good mindset and self motivation will remain productive no matter where they are. Issue is, what and where are the norm ?
[1:35 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Examples of how WFH (Work from Home) - can do a social media pseudo diplomacy - without incurring political prices.
[1:35 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
So my posting in SCMP is effective.
[1:37 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Sat, March 27, 2021, 12:59 AM
U.S. needs new understanding with China or it risks conflict, Kissinger says Speaking at a Chatham House event in London via Zoom, Kissinger said the ultimate question was whether or not the United States and its Western allies could develop an understanding with China about a new global order. "If we don't get to that point and if we don't get to an understanding with China on that point then we will be in a pre-World War One-type situation in Europe, in which there are perennial conflicts that get solved on an immediate basis but one of them gets out of control at some point," he said.
"It is infinitely more dangerous now than it was then," Kissinger said. He said the high-tech weaponry on both sides could lead to a very gave conflict.
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[2:24 pm, 25/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ: America if emulate what Henry Kissinger do - geopolitical tension will instantly be released.
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[1:56 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Hahahaha.
MRT need to be in tip top condition - if people are to go back to office to work.
Today's problem look like a complex signalling issue - where Thales the France conglomerate need to rectify.
[2:02 pm, 29/03/2021] +Stella Yip: True but how can our public bus service be an effective alternative to serve the public when such issues happen again.
[2:03 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Public bus service should provide redundancy to MRT service - to pre-empt such breakdown.
[2:05 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Singapore now has higher bandwidth submarine fibre directly to US.
[2:07 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
That means social media content now becoming increasingly important.
[2:13 pm, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: +1
[2:42 pm, 29/03/2021] +jimmy chew: Inevitable. Matter of time they will take over our jobs ๐
[2:43 pm, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: for the wheelchair people too
[2:43 pm, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: bus may be a better option
[2:46 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Then Singaporean must value add to make our presence felt and cannot be replaced by off-site foreign workers.
That is precisely my flurry of messages here.
Else thinking as a boss, if I spend so much money to pay local staff salary, what other value add local staff are giving me - in which foreign workers can't give?
I am not opening a business for charity - I need to make money.
Working hard is not good enough.
\[2:48 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: ๐ totally... if your job can done outsource likely it will be outsource
[2:48 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Because I can engage 2 foreign workers at the salary of 1 local staff - who can work equally hard and give me double the output.
[2:49 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Sometime 2 also can’t do out one job... but our pay can hire more than 3 or 4 than it makes a big different
[2:51 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
That's why Singaporean must be smart to think about our and our future.
1. We must think like our boss.
2. We must be careful foreign workers don't replace our jobs that can be done remotely.
3. We must be able to value add - in which foreign workers can't replace our jobs if work remotely.
This is the gist of my whole list of messages here.
[2:51 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ: Job.
[2:54 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Hence the need to improve and getting relevant to the gobal economy.. we really have to go out to learn from others and bring it in. Rather than we bring in talent to teach us which sometimes are not as cutting edge.
Balance of both side so we can gain over our ASEAN counter parts. Of course to a high extend stable government also why we are doing so well here in Singapore as investors are more willing to invest in us.
[2:56 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Thus local Singaporean must not only need to work hard, but also need to work smart.
[3:02 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: https://www.google.com.sg/amp/s/m.huffpost.com/us/entry/581807/amp
Having a degree makes you top 6% of the world population. So if we were to go overseas.. you should know how valuable we are.
[3:03 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes . I agree
[3:05 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Most degree graduates are in cities.. as supply demand.. that’s why we feel under paid.
If only we dare to explore ๐คฃ
Lol... if...
[3:06 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Realistically , once moved overseas . Wages vary and its about PPP and we can’t use Sing$ as a yardstick
[3:08 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Living standard is different everywhere... if we paid the same 3rd world.. lol should be more than most manager/GM.. realistic not possible.. but to climb up higher in overseas for sure yes possible.
[3:08 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
To cite an example, previously our group is bidding for an international project.
1. One US very strong conglomerate bid.
2. One EU conglomerate bid.
3. One local conglomerate bid.
To beat all these strong overseas conglomerates - our solution need to be very niche.
1. We shouldn't use the products that we traditionally source from that US conglomerate.
2. We know what are the product solutions and it's prices that both US conglomerate and EU conglomerates will be - based on our many dealing with them.
3. We just need to come out with hybrid solutions that are source from our own R&D, source from non-traditional sources and even get those products from the 2 conglomerates that we can't get from other sources - but as technically sound as the 2 conglomerates but bid at a much lower price than their.
Even at a high bid price than the local conglomerate, we won the bid - because we are price competitive and yet technically competent.
Thus working hard is given, we must must also work smart and must be able to beat global competitors.
[3:09 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Big fish is a small pond, or small fish in the big sea.
[3:09 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Agree . Just be realistic and opportunities are there .
[3:10 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Chemical engineering for instance .. it is a plenty of opportunities overseas
[3:11 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Yup... I want to go.. but wife don’t let me ๐ฅฒ
Still trying to convince her haiz.. I have a chem eng degree lol doing quality
[3:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Easily a manager when go overseas ๐
[3:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Rather than small executive here ๐
[3:12 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: My son is in Chem also ; I am trying to push me out of SG too . There are more demands for Chem qualification in developed countries too
[3:13 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: Him*
[3:13 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Lol too comfortable out government made here ๐คฃ๐คฃ
[3:14 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Seen many even without degree go out made it well there.. but if course the loneliness and longer work hours comes with it..
[3:15 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Being bilingual we are high in demand..
[3:16 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: i've had friends who moved to Australia and Canada. neither of them are particularly high fliers here, yet they're much happier where they are now and it's a more comfortable life. not hard to see why, esp with SG bosses who expect their employees to "bao sua bao hai bao ti bao dueh", don't want to pay a lot, expect staff to be always visible and value add, but perpetually hanging the threat of outsourcing to someone cheaper better faster in India.
[3:18 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Lol cause we are quite good at Bao Sua Bao Hai.. lol that’s why we are still hired..
Not many countries can take such high load.
[3:18 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: They will flip table lol.. we won’t just complaint and continue to work ๐คฃ
[3:18 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yah, but that's why SG is so high stress right? no matter how much the staff can do, the bosses are never satisfied
[3:19 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Oh well squeeze what they can.. lol
I junior executive take over AM role lol.. for 3 years still not even Senoir ๐๐๐
[3:19 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Not happy leave lor lol
[3:19 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Just wait for my hours clocked then will be good bye move on
[3:20 pm, 29/03/2021] +Poh S Lim: ๐doing senior job for junior pay
[3:20 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Very common isn’t it?
[3:20 pm, 29/03/2021] +CQ: yah lor. just that boss will never look out for your interests, you have to look after your own...
[3:21 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: Err cannot... cause must follow rules... so I promote every 2 years lor.. the only compromise lol
[3:21 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: AM if promote every 2 years I would that 8 years ๐
[3:22 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ken: 5 years will move on to be manager Liao.. who want to wait 8 years ๐
[3:28 pm, 29/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: It’s not about the MGR role ; it’s the exposure as well . Highly Engineering feat usually can be experienced in developed countries where we don’t usually see here
[3:32 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
That's why we must do our own R&D.
Then we can match highly engineering feat of developed countries.
Our standard are not too far off from theirs.
This is the value add to our boss that I am talking about.
[3:52 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Previously, many of our technical people and sales people mindset - is to source from foreign high tech products, package it, integrate it and then bid for the tender.
Then I ask what is your value add if your competitors do the same as you do.
It is then who cut price better and compromise profit margin to win bid and work very hard to put the solutions together.
Do you think boss will be happy?
We must attempt to R&D products and solutions, source from non-traditional sources, come out with creative and innovative solutions - in which your local competitors and foreign competitors don't have.
Then you can win the bid with niche solutions - in which no other competitors can beat you - and yet earn a good profit margin.
That's is our value add.
[4:03 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
With such niche solutions, customers will have to keep renewing maintenance with us - because no other vendors can maintain our niche solutions.
Then we secure recurrent business.
For competitors who package off-the-shelf solutions, customers if not happy with the service can easily outsource the maintenance to other competitors - and you will lose the recurrent maintenance contract.
This is the value add - the boss want to hear - not just show face in office.
[4:13 pm, 29/03/2021] +REACH: 21 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/moh-covid-19-new-cases-singapore-imported-community-march-29-14514782
Image
[4:18 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Good R&D stuff.
[4:18 pm, 29/03/2021] +jimmy chew: Wonderful idea..the auto safe gadget. Making checking in easy ๐๐๐
[4:18 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
This is what I mean - value add.
[4:21 pm, 29/03/2021] +jimmy chew: We should praise government when they do well
[4:22 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Yes.
I am fair and objective.
[4:51 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: In Sg also have but very little
[5:26 pm, 29/03/2021] +Rama: PSI hits unhealthy level due to high ozone:: https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/psi-hits-unhealthy-level-due-high-ozone?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=addtoany
[5:27 pm, 29/03/2021] +Rama: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/malaysia-reimburses-singapore-102-million-for-costs-incurred-in-terminated-kl-spore-hsr?utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram&utm_campaign=sttg
[5:51 pm, 29/03/2021] +Ben: Curious, are these arrivals by plane and are they tested before boarding?
[5:58 pm, 29/03/2021] +REACH: As population ages, Government committed to ensuring affordable, quality healthcare: DPM Heng
As Singapore’s population ages, the Government remains committed to making sure citizens have access to affordable and quality healthcare, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Monday (Mar 29) as he marked Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) bicentennial celebration.
More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ageing-population-singapore-healthcare-sgh-heng-swee-keat-14516944
[6:11 pm, 29/03/2021] +REACH: Hong Kong calls for mandatory vaccination in travel bubble talks with Singapore
All passengers taking advantage of a travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore should be vaccinated, the government of the territory proposed on Monday (March 29).
More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hong-kong-calls-for-mandatory-vaccination-in-travel-bubble-talks-with-singapore
[6:31 pm, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: https://youtu.be/mDytggB26bg?t=93
[6:35 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Which poll is this done by bro? Straits Times?
[6:35 pm, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: should be
[6:35 pm, 29/03/2021] +Caleb: video is by ST
[6:38 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: ๐๐ป
[6:45 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Another example of what WFH social media pseudo diplomacy can do and work wonders to resolve complex global problems - without incurring political costs.
[6:45 pm, 29/03/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
[6:45 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
China will not surpass US as global leader on his watch, says Biden
26 Mar 2021 03:32AM (Updated: 26 Mar 2021 08:32AM)
CNA mews
Biden, who plans to unveil a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal next week, said he would ensure increased US investment in promising new technologies, such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
He said he aimed to return US investment in research and technology development closer to the 2 per cent of GDP invested in the 1960s from the current rate of about 0.7 per cent.
"We are going to make real investments," he said, noting China spending three times more than the United States on infrastructure.
-----
[1:46 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
eg. 2 not planning strategic competitiveness of industry and business -- left to market forces whereby business will just sell their business for money when become profitable. Thus strategic industry like telecoms, semiconductor, 5G, etc are lost --- because Government fail to do long-term strategic planning.
eg. 3 no long term planning for infrastructure upgrade
=========
CNA News 26 Mar 2021 03:32AM (Updated: 26 Mar 2021 08:32AM)
"He (Xi) doesn't have a democratic - with a small 'd' - bone in his body, but he's a smart, smart guy," Biden said.
----
[1:45 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Part 1 - Socialism System vs Democratic System ---
Into a Hybrid System (Democracy in Communism) and (Pre-qualified elected candidate in a Democratic System)
1. Democracy in Communism - Core Leaders are elected by the Party - according to meritocracy, compassion, and ability to bring progress, peace and prosperity to the Country.
(In future if confidence develop, the Party-elected core leaders --- can open up to the citizens --- whereby Core Leaders sell their governing visions to the citizens --- and citizens can vote whether they support the Party vision or not. If more than 50% is secured - then the Core Leaders will form the Government. Else a new set of core leaders needed to be re-elected by the Party.
This could be a new kind of democracy in Communism --- whereby continuation of Governance, long-term strategic planning, political stability can be ensured.
[4:03 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
The solution is to move the 2 Superpowers into middle ground - where their differences are reconciliable.
[4:04 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Like what the China diplomats always say - meet each other half way.
This is the middle path resolution.
[4:07 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
From 2 opposing extreme irreconcilable poles - move them into the middle - hence the middle path resolution.
[4:08 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
And first have to start with their system of governance.
[4:39 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
When both system of governance are corrected and move into middle ground - all their differences and core interest will automatically be solved.
[4:54 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
And the Thucydides trap can't apply to China - because China win its legitimacy and support from other Nations - based on its merits and relationships - through wholesome governance, domestic support, ties with international countries, trade and business.
The accusations of autocratic government no longer apply.
[4:55 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Difficult issues like HK, Xinjiang, Tibet and possibly Taiwan - can also be resolve.
[5:01 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Got time then elaborate.
This is the key to resolve the seemingly unsolvable deadlock.
======
CNA News 26 Mar 2021 03:32AM (Updated: 26 Mar 2021 08:32AM)
"China has an overall goal ... to become the leading country in the world, the wealthiest country in the world and the most powerful country in the world," Biden told reporters at the White House. "That's not going to happen on my watch because the United States is going to continue to grow."
------
[2:08 pm, 25/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Mr LKY say, we can punch above our weight - not because we are big, not because we are rich, not because we are powerful.
It is because of our soft power, our ability to emphatse, our ability to work with anyone and our ability to work out mutual benefits with everyone.
=======
CNA News 26 Mar 2021 03:32AM (Updated: 26 Mar 2021 08:32AM)
"He (Xi) doesn't have a democratic - with a small 'd' - bone in his body, but he's a smart, smart guy," Biden said.
----
[6:21 pm, 24/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Btw, I have posted all my comments about the key to resolve China and US tension in SCMP (South China Morning Post).
Our politicians need not bring up any solutions that are deem sensitive to China politicians that could compromise our national interest.
China leaders are very smart people.
They will determine whether it will help them or not.
=======
CNA News 26 Mar 2021 03:32AM (Updated: 26 Mar 2021 08:32AM)
In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, said China's goal is to "meet the growing aspiration of the Chinese people for a better life". "Our goal is not to compete with or replace any other country. This is never our national strategy."
He said dividing the world is not a solution that will help get rid of the coronavirus, tackle climate change or eradicate poverty.
"We don't think any attempt to divide the world into different camps or even build confrontational military blocs, we don't think that this kind of approach is a solution."
----
[5:21 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Trump fast track the breaking the world apart into 2 Blocs with his :-
1. Trade war (turn inward) - force China to do dual circulation.
2. Tech war - force China to develop its own tech instead of trade in tech parts.
3. Financial war - force China to develop digital yuan and break away from US dollars Swift system.
Now in front of us is impending head-on confrontation that need to be defused quickly before it degenerate into 2 blocs and trigger World war 3.
Alaska spark and fury - also give indication how urgent it is to defuse the 2 Superpowers tension.
[4:02 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
If countries take sides, then world war 3 will break up - because of irreconcilable differences between 2 blocs.
This is what happens to world war 1 and 2.
[5:13 pm, 22/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Because 2 blocs will snatch scarce resources - as they are not sharing it and trade on it for mutual benefits - hence world war break out.
In world war 2, nazi facism and ancient jap want to snatch rich resources in China and SE Asia - started World war 2.
======
Coincidental or Biden read and echo?
It is anybody's guess.
The good thing is, wise man thinks alike - and if can defuse a global disaster - all the better.
My guess is :- cannot be so many identical comments - just a few days apart.
Both could have read my postings in SCMP.
=====
[6:45 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
1. Yahoo online news diabled "Comments" in 2020 due to US Presidential election, whereby online netizens no longer able to comment on Singapore news or International news.
2. Similarly, CNA online news also remove the "Comments section" in 2020 just before the General Election 2020 - and never open since.
3. A goggle search also reveal many online news worldwide disable "Comments" - even though they express values in feedback from online news readers. Many World mainstream media eg. AL.com, Reuters, Chicago Sun-Times, The week, Mic,Recode, Popular Science, The Washington Post
a. Mainstream media can engage readers
b. Get feedback
c. Online audience interactions
d. Ensure more online readership - that will bring more online ads and sponsorship for the mainstream media
e. Build a strong community - and be able to monetise readership.
f. Retain once-loyal print readership to the digital platform and not annoying them by disabling the "online comments section"
g. Comments section contributed by online netizens - are "content" too.
4. The "comments" are disabled or remove citing :-
a. Abusive comments
b. Hateful speech
c. Bully
d. Ridicule correspondents and reporters' news article
e. Fearful of legal liability
f. Not enough resources (or no budget) from mainstream media to moderate or filter the netizens comments.
g. Inciting hatred or social unrest against the Government or Society or influence elections.
5. The only mainstream online media that still allow reader online comments is SCMP (South China Morning Post).
Surprisingly, China is more liberal than US and the West to allow online expression of free speech.
SCMP online comments are very structured :-
- SCMP cover not only China news, HK news, but also International news that are categorised according to region eg. US, EU, East Asia, SE Asia, Africa, Russia, Middle East etc --- just like any other international media.
- it allow comments only for 14 days for every news article.
- 1500 words are allow for each comments.
- healthy comments are seen for each news articles. It can go up to few hundred comments for popular news.
- it is well patronised by not only China and HK netizens, SCMP is equally well patronised by Americans, Britsh, Canadians, Aussie and other nationalities - based on their self-expressed profile.
- the comments are of high quality, constructive - regardless of whether they are supportive or critical of the news.
- but I noticed something, China netizens mainly posts supportive of their government official line. Whereas the Western netizens are critical toeing the US, and the West official line.
- What is lacking are impartial, neutral and solutions that are able to resolve and break deadlock.
- Also noticed that all comments are carefully collected, organised and i believe analysed by SCMP (sanction by China Authorities).
- I won't be surprised that US and the West news intelligence will also carefully monitor SCMP news as well as netizens comments ---- since China and US are tussling for geopolitical influence.
- Hence look like posting good opinion, views and even solutions that can resolved China-US geopolitical tensions in SCMP could be a good approach - a psuedo foreign affairs diplomacy that will prevent backlash if voice by politicians.
- SCMP for comments can only sign-in via facebook, google, apple and email - so it is targeting many foreigners and China nationals who have privilege with such accounts to access.
6. In fact, with China-US tension rising, all the more important, social media comments to influence politicians thoughts and actions become of vital importance.
a. A couple of years ago, Trump get ready 80 nuclear bombs, and US nuclear stealth bombers run a few sortie to test run dropping of nuke bombs near NKorea.
b. De-classified documents mention ex-Defense Secretary sleep with his military uniform on, to get ready in case Trump activate him to do live bombing any time.
c. Whereas NKorea missile test launch Intermediate range ballistic missile that landed near Guam. In one false alarm, Guam residents scrambled into sewaage hole thinking nuclear missiles have been launched.
d. Luckily in the nick of time, a flurry of social media comments in Yahoo online news and CNA news online manage to convince the NKorea leader to pull back just in time through his new year speech and averted a near nuclear attack. Else the world won't be able to talk about "bromance" and take up the suggestion to come to Singapore Sentosa for peace talk. Asia will be breathing nuclear radiation.
e. 1 nuclear bomb is 10 times more powerful than the atomic bomb drop in Japan. 80 nuclear bombs will have the effect of 800 times more powerful - and the whole of East Asia will be cover with nuclear cloud - and the whole of Asia could have died a slow and painful death through cancer from the nuclear radiation.
7. Hope SCMP online comments (the last online platform - to hear the public voice) will remain open and not disabled. This coming decades won't be a peaceful world - it can be turbulent.
Mainstream Politicians may not be enough to hold back any geopolitical tussle, may need to enlist the help of social media netizens to hold back any eventual "Holocaust" confrontation....... (but mainstream online media are not helping ---- like Yahoo online, CNA online etc...)
=======
[6:46 pm, 29/03/2021] ☸️ Danny ๅฟ:
Trump on the verge of nuking NKorea with 80 nuclear bombs previously - each nuclear bomb 10 times more powerful than the atomic bomb drop in Japan.
If NKorea leader didn't pull back in the nick of time - the whole Asia Pacific region will now cover with nuclear cloud - a human calamity.
And we will now be bombarded by nuclear radiation - dying slowly from cancer.
[6:47 pm, 29/03/2021] +Alvin Lim: Gdnite Megan!
[7:01 pm, 29/03/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
=========
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