Working so that we can vote

a shout-out to the civil servants working hard today as they set up the polling stations and counting centres for the Presidential Election Polling Day tomorrow. Thank you for your hard work, especially today and tomorrow, and for the preparations beforehand!

Cycles of Build, Demolish, Build

“…set up the Academy of Public Communications and Engagement in the hopes that it will provide more opportunities for public officers to acquire new competencies. A structured competency framework will set out career progression and training schemes for clearer career pathways.” https://psdchallenge.psd.gov.sg/people/cuppa/communications-is-about-meeting-people-where-they-are?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023-001-Sep Having such an academy for the stated purpose is not new. Many years ago, the then PS of MITA set up the Public Relations Academy. It was running well. Then some years later, some wise senior person decided it was better to park it in the Civil Service College. The PR Academy was then shut down. Now it’s set up as a new initiative. That’s the problem. And the worry deep down for the civil service. Instead of consolidating on foundations, as new groups of management come in, they decide it’s no longer useful and demolish it. The another group come in later on and re-gather the bricks and build again from scratch. What a waste of resources!

Remembering a case of near donation

When we heard that Frederick was down with leukaemia, we were sad. Such a young child. I felt I had to do something for the child of my then favourite Minister. But I was scared of what it entailed. Eventually I found a colleague who was going to donate too. And I planned to go with him. We didn't have to donate after all. Though I don't remember what we were told then. Blessings indeed. A life full of miracles: Jennifer Yeo on how she and her 2 sons survived cancer https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/believing-in-miracles-helped-jennifer-yeo-overcome-her-own-cancer-and-cancer-in-her-two-sons

Lost Opportunity

A govt building evacuated

Security incident,  it seemed

Later announced to be bomb hoaxes at 18 places

Yet not a peep

From the app for security SG

Not a peep

What a loud silence

Making an Impact

Making an impact (while enjoying your work) instead of driving purely on ambition up the corporate ladder

 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/listen/work-it/leaders-chair-dbs-ceo-piyush-gupta-crisis-culture-and-power-storytelling-3601756

OVERlooked

Overlooked

Again

Meeting our expectations

So good, yet so downcasting

Taken for granted?

 

Yet, count your blessings,

Pollyanna says

Many do far worse

Dispel the morale drainers,

Pollyanna says

Keep up the spirits

And see where you can make an impact

 

No Running Away

Re-organisations Strictly structural Strictly to strategically strengthen the organisation But how painful it an be How emotional, even if irrational Yet another re-org in one's long career (deemed by some perhaps as too long) Yet another demotion in hierachy Thumbed down to be with the rest Attention more and more Micro-manage, do you call it? Regular meetings to report at Major groan Escaped it years ago But there's no running away now Pollyana says look at the bright side; it isn't so bad Yah but major groan There's no escape Can someone offer a path out to a better place?

An Inconvenient Feeling

 A wave of sadness

At the change in reporting

A demotion in reality

Though no change in remuneration

The casualty of re-org

 

A prick of sadness

Of history repeating itself

Again

And again

And again

Perhaps one is easy to do this to…

 

Brace up and be confident in one’s value

Brace up and face the world

Even if sobbing within

What an inconvenient feeling

Things Come in Threes

Happened more than once

Not twice

But thrice

So far

 

First, from Director to Manager

Fallout from organisational re-structure

Manager title less directly demotion-like than DD, no?

 

Second, a boss’ promise to “bring everyone up”

So promising!

Yet so false.

From divisional director

To a lower rung director

Under a group director

 

Then, in the twilight of one’s career

Yet another re-org

A Head like the rest

Down another level

The only one affected among one’s peers

 

Things come in threes…

Que sera sera

Pangs of Aches

 Pangs of aches

Shooting through the heart

Like electric impulses to pacemakers

Pangs of aches 

Hearing the now oft-repeated calls

For extending the retirement age

Pangs of aches

Of being retrenched (though coated under “early retirement”)

While still in prime 50’s

Pang of aches 

Recalling the audacity of the perpetrator

Recalling the “you have to go find a job yourself within the one year”

Permanent establishment post it was

What permanent?

Was it eyed for someone else?

What a caring organisation!

Kids = retirement plans

When parents view kids as their retirement plans

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/business/retirement-immigrant-families.html 

That's me! 

He said: “NTUC does not tolerate, condone nor approve of any discriminatory and unfair practices in the workplace, and will not hesitate to red-flag such practices.”

Workers supporting causes outside workplace should not face discrimination under beefed-up guidelines     
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/workers-supporting-causes-outside-workplace-should-not-face-bullying-harassment-or-ostracism-under-beefed-up-guidelines 

Really? Does it apply to the govt service too or are they exempted?