Bad Management Sfyle

How would 2nd generation successor to the company, with little experience knows how to manage people and business, demanding answers from his charges, and not having a proper way of asking info from his charges, using words like how come you do not know and you think, to convey that his charges do not know his stuff, and demanding answers from his charges that are not within their scope because he himself has completely forgot about following up on things he has put on hold.

And an incompetent manager who tried to show his leadership ability, could not handle the boss's son questions, and tried to get his subordinates to answer.

Brilliant management and system.

Went for a hike yesterday, come to realise that people with different experiences, backgrounds and personalities, will have different views.

There is not much difference in a support group or general public. It still boils down to individuals' personalities and experiences.

People do not seem to be able to understand humours and jokes. Taking it in the literal sense or too seriously.

Why I am always so sensitive to noise level? Today is Chinese New Year in Singapore, there was lion dance, and all the drumming sounds, I felt unable to focus with the rumblings.

Am I going to be like that forever? Thinking about it makes me feel sad and low.

Will I be able to recover fully or I will have to rely on medications for my entire life.

Irritable. Is it related to my condition

I am losing control of my emotions lately, this morning flared up because of a mistake in my loan statement from my bank saying I still owe 2.5 K for my study loan.

The bank said it was my university which asked for the payment.

I called my university and it said my loan capital is correct but the bank has not collected the full amount and asked me to call the bank.

I was worried I had to pay an extra 2.5 K for my loan which I had fully repaid, and raised my voice at the officer who was attending to my call.

Is it normal to feel angry and anxious on this matter?

I applied for half day leave but my supervisor, granted an off, for the work I did.

I get irritated when I am tired, and I feel tired easily as I worry over work,  my loans, and the lack of family support.

Lost it over a small matter

This Friday I lost control of myself and had an argument with my manager over taking my lunch in a room where we kept our files.

I was having a busy morning, doing soil tilling, and then had to order lunch from the caterer for the office, and collecting lunch payment for this week.
To add to that, the spreadsheet formula had to be changed due to a different price for one of the lunch item and I was struggling to tally the amount

I was about to have my lunch in the room to have some quiet moment from the hustle when he approached me and said it is not a proper place to eat in the room. He said I could eat at my desk. I said I would like to be alone. I was thinking that my colleague had told him about it and at that moment I was angry that he acted on her "feedback" and not mine when I told him sometimes back that she raised her voice at me and was causing distress with her way of closing the cupboard's doors with some force.

I told him that I cleared the lunch boxes and did not damage anything in the room. I asked him who told him that having meal in the room is not allowed. He said he was the one and appeared offended. Then he told me to ask the CEO if I did not believe and asked him for permission.

I was angry that he was using the CEO's authority on such a minor thing. I  finished my lunch at the desk, thought about that he just brushed it off when I told him about the treatment I received from my colleague who is of the same nationality and said he was bias and why he did not take action but just said because they were stressed out from work.

He later said he is resigning as our department manager, although I apologised to him over the incident, he said his decision is final.

I was thinking about the bad encounters  I experienced and the bad treatment I had received from him and my other colleagues so I lost control and cried.

Dealing with people in the workplace and finding purpose

Today started on a jittery mood but was feeling ok doing the onion transplant. Think of it again, he was the one who said that we would transplant the old onions to a new row, and kept the old onions in their rows.

He was telling me the correct way to pull out the weeds is to take out the roots and to pull it when the weeds are long. Said farming is all about common sense and books are not useful. Well I think he is unhappy that I wrote to the HR to say there was no proper instructions given by him before he left for overseas.

Why didn"t he say so earlier or even showed me the proper way of doing things and yet saying all that after things did not turn out well?

Earlier I suggested an idea to make a device for my work, and he had told me earlier he would like to use the device for his business after his contract ends.

This afternoon I went to him and he said he wanted to try out the assembly and after figuring out to do his own device he was so proud that he had improvised and found out how to make it work. He then asked me to do my own device after he completed his.

I do not know how to interpret it? Is he a person who when his aims are satisfied, just leave you to your device. Not that I could not figure out myself, but I feel he is acting in a self conceited manner.

I have signed an extended contract, because I like to have hands on experience on using analytical equipments on the formulation parameters.

The other way is to transfer to lab as a chemist, which allows me to learn hands on skills that supplement my degree.

I am just worried that I lack the motor coordination and have concentration problems sometimes.

Book Sharing part 2

Book title: Consciousness and the brain

Continued

The study of conscious access was made possible through experiments like troxler fading and image rivalry.

In troxler fading, you focus on a central spot like a cross which is surrounded by gray spots as what the author presented in the book. As you focus for some time, the gray spots will start to fade awake from your sight.

The author proposes that this was due tohow our eyes evolved with blood vessels running in front of our eye receptors.

I am not sure if I understand what the authoring is explaining correctly.

He said it was due to the blood vessels in front of the receptors, that the brain will start to interpret motionless object as invisible and only detects objects when there is motion, so as we will not constantly bug by the blood vessels in front of our retina.

Image rivalry is the presentation of two distinct images to each of the eyes. The effect will be alternating images of the two pictures presented to each of the eyes.

In the initial stage of visual processing, the images are encoded equally, when it was in deeper areas of processing, the rate of neuron firing changes.

The author went on to point out that image rivalry is dependent on whether attention is given to the pictures.

In an experiment, frequency tags given to the two images (image flickering rate) shows that when image rilvary occurs, the neuron firing rates, which correspond to the image frequency tags
, alternate between the two frequencies when attention is given.

Book Sharing

Book title Consciousness and the Brain - Deciphering how the brain codes our thoughts (Stanislas Dehaene)

There was a group sharing of books in the support group. I shared the contents in this book, but do not really know what to say.

Hopefully writing my understanding of what I read will help.

The book starts off with ancient pictograms of a sleeping man, with his soul wandering from his body. The author is trying to illustrate how mankind has been curious about the link between and the mind. Since ancient time, there was a belief in soul residing in our bodies, and when the mortal bodies die, the spirit is free to wander about.

The author went on to talk about the French philosopher Descartes postulation of the mind as a nonmaterial substance distinct from the machinery of the bodies.

Modern Science until recently has refrained into studying how the mind works, in particular on consciousness due to the difficulty of objective experiment.

The author, a cognitive scientist, in this book tries to explain the concept of consciousness in terms of conscious awareness, which he terms it as conscious access.

Conscious access as I understand, is the brain processes which allow us to be aware of our senses.

There are two related ideas: Wakefulness (State of being physically awake) and Vigilance (the state of being attentive). These two elements are necessary for the state of consciousness, but the most critical element, as suggested by the author, is the state of being aware(conscious access).

Feeling a bit disappointed with the response I got from one in the support group.

She said can people choose what to do in a job when I shared about the lack of support for my suggestions in my work.

I have a feeling she cannot understand the situation I am in and how I feel being taking advantage and she has not understood the points I have made that the company was being patronising saying I was choosing the work I like when in fact I was suggesting improvement.

Anyway I have purchased a gardening book online to see how I can improve weeds control for the "product trial" they are asking me to do.

This week is a roller coaster ride emotionally. Feeling taken advantage of, by the company. When I feedbacked that the ways things are done can be improved, I got a reply that I am trying to choose not doing things that are difficult. Well it is not difficult, but the ways they are done is not effective.

This company tried and said I requested for the work, to put it that it is my duty. I did not ask for doing product trials. Some more the so called product trials is just some gardening. Does it value add to my resume and they have the cheek to say they accommodated me.

Anyway I am going to see how they are going to let me be involved in the work I like to do.

I firmly believe they can be so smug in saying all this, is because of our poor government policy.

Reading a book on human consciousness, it talks about how certain sensory information are reinforced consciously in our mind, and certain info went into our memory unconsciously.

Could this be used to treat emotional hurt and unhappy experiences by rewiring our brain in a manner that negative remarks will not get consciously amplified or we can change our subconscious mind to think differently

feeling helpless and angry at the system and my cowardice

I am feeling helpless. Why did I sign the contract when I was taken advantage of. They do not want to agree to my terms and they did not say how and what they are going to provide me to get the new tasks done.

I am angry with them for taking advantage and for all I know they are feeling smug about it.

I feel even more angry with the employment law in this so called first world country governed by first world govt who did the minimum to prevent abuse of workers by employers. This is the self righteous govt who like to preach to its citizens of putting "national interest" first. Interest of businesses. All the claims that their policies are for the good of the citizens. Who are these citizens, the rich landlords and those who enjoy wealth and power, therefore, supporting the policies? What about citizens who come from a less privileged background, have to incur debt to get an Uni education, with uncontrolled competition from foreign manpower...the so called "Singaporeans first" policy by our elite government has considered the impact of their policies on ordinary people.... Or they are just trying to serve the interest of the rich businessmen?

I have a choice and to leave at the end of the contract 1.5 years, but I have study loan to repay and little savings, do not have much family support struggling mental issues that make me vulnerable to pressure.

If I do not sign, they are going to pressure me, say awful things like I am going to outsmart the company and threw accusation that I was trying to withhold info and couldn't trust me.

Foreigners who are not putting best effort get the good end of the stick and disrespecting locals. While I tried to put in the best effort and still taken advantage of by the unappreciative and money grubbing businesses.

Is this a society that only rewards people who couldn't care less about others, protecting their own interests even if it sacrifices others.

Will any people in government ministry dare to do the right thing and not just the "legal" thing.

I have written to Ministry of Manpower but will they be standing by the so called integrity and principles, they loudly espoused, and will just get a template reply, which is common nowadays from those in office.

Probably losing it soon, see no way out of this predicament, where our employment laws do not protect the welfare and rights of workers.

This is a country where the rich and powerful have the ultimate say.

Where can an ordinary people like me get help. From the government, I have tried, they will just say companies have the rights to set contract terms or will say because they do not have details of my situation so cannot advise. Once you signed the contract, you are bound by it.

I can only say this elite government of ours are out of touch or they couldn't care the least about the struggles of the man on the streets.

After note: My manager has agreed to my request of getting the necessary tools to get the work done. Was feeling exasperated due to the inefficiency and monotony in carrying out one of the "new" skill the company is developing me in the name of an extended contract without "increase in benefits".

Hail the Almighty government and their pro capitalist policies.

In a bad state of mind today, all the past negative experiences come to mind. A Singaporean in his own country, yet has to be treated like a 2nd class subject in his own country.

Has to integrate with "foreign talents" instead of the other ways.

Has to swallow hook and bait the pro business policy of this govt who does not take the feedback of the working Singaporean class seriously.

A every man for himself working culture and a management still using archaic style of running the business.

Human resource management in Singapore

I feel human resource management in Singapore is a fraud, there is no such thing at least in the companies I have worked.

The HR cannot be independent, they will have to listen to the owners. However there are a difference between a good and professional HR and a bad one.

A professional HR will try to relay the concerns of employees to the owners and not just simply dismiss them for fear of incurring the wrath of the owners.

This type of HR is just trying to protect their rice bowls. Doing HR studies because of the comfortable and less challenging workload if they do not go against the owners.

A lot of unhappiness

Feeling a lot of resentments about the management style of my company... Was cursing verbally while doing watering of the plants (an additional task given). Just feel that the company is trying to take advantage. Saying it wants to develop my technical skills, in fact, they just want to tie me with a contract ( 6 months salary penalty if terminated early), of low benefits, with empty promises as they do not put it down in black and white

This is what local Singapore males get for serving 2.5 years of national service in my time.

Really hate the government pro business stance too.

I feel bad about affecting the group I am in with my negative thoughts on the govt and work.

Everyone is having their own issues, I have to refrain from burdening them with my issues.

Work wise I am facing pressure to sign an extended contract without any pay increase, and the so called career development chances are also vague.

When I delayed signing it, the CEO started to hint me that he will make life difficult to me, and doubted me when I omitted unintentionally some info on a matter.

Coupled with the lack of processes and info needed to get the work done has frustrated me, and have been posting negatively in the group.

Someone in the group, who is facing his battles, told me I have to manage my emotions, and he left the group, somehow I feel I was the cause of him leaving because of my negative posts.

But I wonder even if our country has good systems and processes, what about the people who drafted the policies and those who executed them? Can they really feel and understand the worries and struggles of the man on the street from different backgrounds?

An one size fits all approach and generalisation of the situations on the ground, will lead to more distrust and unhappiness, and result in more backlash.

I am not talking about the fare increase but the disillusion resulting from a system that rewards those with the wealth and resources more than the common people who have to work hard just to support the business owners and do not get appreciated.

Singaporeans' grouses about foreign workforce

In a group, I know, which consists of foreigners and Singaporeans were talking about living in Singapore.  I was saying that our government being first world did not list out the air transport regulations online like what UK, USA and Canada did.

One person replied that we are not in a position to question why it was not listed, reason being we are not in their position to understand why they did not do so.

Probably I do not understand why they cannot list the regulations but I do know to purchase the regulations will cost 300 SGD and I suspect that is the reason why a reference was not provided.

The conversation went on to about how it was good to be a foreign expat in Singapore as some feel expats are valued more than locals.

There were discussions on living in different countries, about how other countries have more liberty like Thailand although the people there were less affluent. I feel besides freedom, in these countries, the pace of life may be slower, and the competition is less strong as people there can afford to move away from the cities to the countryside.

Singapore is small with little resources  and hinterland, in addition, we are facing more competition from other cities. In this respect, I do agree, that there are some merits in the government's liberal foreign manpower policy.

On the other hand, one could understand the worries of Singaporeans in area of jobs, education, healthcare and housing. For local males, there are additional burden of 2.5 years/2 years national service.

Added to that is the perception that most foreigners are here for the benefits and the standards of their qualifications are questionable (this I can attest personally) while locals are told by our government to welcome and integrate with them.

One of the foreign member mentioned that Singapore has good city planning, compared to her country.

I could understand why she feels so, being from a middle income family in her country, she is somewhat privileged, and our country has provided her with the opportunities which means locals were deprived a chance.

However, I agree that compared to other cities in SEA, people here enjoy relatively comfortable and safe living environment, and we should treasure it.

Working life in SME

Today was a tiring day, spending the whole of the afternoon, trying to figure out the air transport regulations. Checked with Colleague and was told to ask my department foreign colleague. Was unclear in my text message and there was a miscommunication. She was offended and I apologised through text. Guess everyone was just too over-stretched to help or just could not care more?

Called the Civil Aviation Authority and could not get through on 3 times.

The lack of info on their website also did not help me to get the work done.

The latest air transport was from 2003 publication and the guidelines were outdated.

Mental healthcare system and support in employment for the mentally ill patients

Does our mental healthcare system have a good support system for patients in particular in employment matters? Do the health care professionals respect, care and believe in the ability and determination of patients to recover and lead a fulfilling life. Is the social service support adequate and treat clients with respect?

On the question of support for patients, I found that the doctor-patient relationship is one that when you go for a visit to the doctor and the first question is how are you feeling? I will like to think that even if you share your problems, the doctors especially the locum sometimes just brush it off as normal. Is this the standard of our mental healthcare system?

When you approach the job club in IMH, the first concern they have is not whether you can adapt to the work but if you will be able to commit to the job. In addition, the job selection they have are limited to F&B service jobs.

The front desk staff at the job club, I observed, did not view clients as their equals, speaking in a condescending tone.

In Singapore, employer-employee relation is not balanced, employers have the legal right to set contract terms. Although a jobseeker can also choose to reject the contract but this will mean another round of job search which in itself is a tiring process.

While in a job, the employer could have legal ways to make an employee abide to his or her wishes by making critical remarks over his or her work or any other legitimate but unreasonable demands.

The employment laws in Singapore will only step in if there is a default in salary payment and left benefit negotiation to trade unions.

This leaves a question, do trade unions have much bargaining powers? With the influx of foreign manpower, will employers heed the calls of trade unions or is NTUC trade union, besides calling for skills upgrading, be effective and willing to do more for workers?

Yes, with a new skillset, you will be able to have a higher bargaining power, but if the employers do not support your skills upgrading, how will a full time worker go for the oft-mentioned upgrading, having to juggle a hectic work demand and his studies?