SINGAPORE:

A Singaporean employee has taken to social media to air grievances about his manager's troubling management style that he claims is fostering a toxic workplace culture.

In a recent post on the Reddit forum r/SingaporeRaw, the worker recounted his frustration with a manager who, despite being promoted from an engineering position, seems ill-equipped to lead the team effectively. One of the most pressing issues highlighted was the manager's habit of sending emails during the early hours of the morning, often at around 3 AM. "This only contributes to an unhealthy work environment," the employee lamented, adding that when he confronted his manager about this behavior, it was dismissed with laughter.

The situation becomes even more complicated as the manager reportedly checks and responds to emails during his leave and on weekends, creating an unspoken expectation for staff to remain perpetually accessible. "It creates the sense that if the boss is working, why aren’t we?" the employee noted, indicating that this behavior pressures the team to work outside regular hours without proper compensation.

Additionally, the employee pointed out the chaotic documentation flow within the workplace. "There's no proper structure; everything is stored in random Notepad files with poor naming conventions, leading to wasted time and increased risks for errors," he explained.

Despite having provided feedback on multiple occasions over the past few months, the worker expressed frustration that no significant improvements have been made. "I encouraged my colleagues to speak up, but none seem willing to share their concerns," he said. His worries extend to the overall team morale, which he believes is plummeting due to overwhelming workloads and the expectation to be 'on-call' around the clock.

While he personally finds value in the work due to the exposure to niche skills in the tech field, the general sentiment among his colleagues appears bleak. "One local engineer has already expressed his intention to leave once he settles into his new home," he shared. He noted that foreign workers on S Passes are also looking to move on as soon as better opportunities arise, painting a picture of a workforce that is merely 'hanging on.'

The comments section of his post saw fellow Reddit users offering advice. Many urged him to consider finding a new job if his manager continues to ignore feedback. "The effort to enact change might not be worth it; perhaps it's better to focus on polishing your CV and look for something else," one user advised. Others echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that it may be time to 'cut your losses' and seek other employment.

However, a few users encouraged him to take action by raising these issues with higher management or during team meetings to garner support from colleagues. "If you’re voicing concerns alone, your manager might dismiss it as isolated feedback," warned one commenter.

As work cultures evolve, the challenges of remote accessibility and demands for constant availability persist, raising questions about employees' well-being and work-life balance.

This incident not only highlights a specific management issue but sheds light on a broader dialogue about workplace norms and employee rights in Singapore's fast-paced work environment.