In today’s dynamic work landscape, flexibility is becoming more than just a perk—it’s a necessity. With the release of the new Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, effective from December 1st, 2024, all employees who have completed their probation period will have the opportunity to formally request flexible work arrangements from their employers.
Crafted by the Tripartite Workgroup on Flexible Work Arrangements, under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), these guidelines mark a significant step towards accommodating the evolving needs of the workforce post-pandemic. While not legally binding, they outline a structured process for requesting and handling flexible work arrangements, fostering a more agile and inclusive work environment.
Here are five key takeaways to better understand the implications of these guidelines:
Variety of Flexible Work Arrangements
Image Credits: unsplash.com
Flexibility comes in various forms, including:
– Flexi-place: Allowing employees to work from locations other than the office.
– Flexi-time: Permitting employees to work at different hours without altering total work hours.
– Flexi-load: Adjusting workloads or hours to accommodate personal needs.
Request Process and Timeline
Employees can initiate a formal request through their company’s designated platform or a template provided in the guidelines. Once submitted, employers must respond within two months, either approving or rejecting the request in writing. Rejected requests should include clear reasons, and employers are encouraged to explore alternative arrangements.
Reasonable Business Grounds for Rejection
Rejection of requests must be based on “reasonable business grounds,” which may include factors such as:
– Cost implications.
– Impact on productivity or output.
– Feasibility or practicality considering the nature of the job role.
Purpose and Impact
These guidelines aim to address the evolving needs of Singapore’s workforce, particularly in light of demographic shifts and caregiving responsibilities. By promoting flexible work arrangements, employers can enhance talent attraction and retention, support caregivers, and sustain labor force participation.
Examples of Flexible Work Arrangements
Flexibility extends beyond remote work and alternate hours. Employees may also request reduced workloads or part-time schedules, fostering a healthier work-life balance and increasing overall job satisfaction.
Image Credits: unsplash.com
In essence, these guidelines reflect a proactive approach towards embracing change in the workplace. By empowering employees to seek flexible arrangements tailored to their needs, Singapore’s workforce can adapt and thrive in the post-pandemic era.
Or consider this PowerPac robotic vacuum that puts convenience at its fingertips.
With two rotating side brushes and the ability to switch between three cleaning modes – auto, focus, and edge – it adjusts its cleaning power to suit different areas and surfaces.
The auto mode uses infrared sensors to determine the dust level and adjust accordingly, the focus mode concentrates on the dirtiest spots, and the edge mode seeks out room edges.
The 80-minute run time on a full charge gives it the power to clean even larger areas.
And the low noise level means you can get cleaning done without disruption.
Best of all, the automatic return-to-base docking ensures you never have to worry about a dead battery.
Last but not least, this smart robot vacuum and mop combo tackles daily messes with efficiency.
Its zigzag path planning ensures no spots are missed while four suction modes suck up pet hair and debris with ease.
The 3-level electronic mop scrubs away sticky messes and kitchen grease for a deep clean, while the carpet auto-boost function provides extra suction power when moving from hard floors to rugs.
Control the cleaning modes and schedule through the Tapo app from anywhere, and this little robot cleaner will go to work to keep your floors without dirt.
With its clever tech features and ability to vacuum and mop, this robot takes the hassle out of housekeeping.
As we wrap up, it’s clear that keeping a clean home no longer requires sacrificing your precious time or back. With options under $180, there’s a solution for every individual who values ease and efficiency. Now, with your new robotic ally, you can go ahead and put your feet up—your cleaning companion has got the mess under control.
We have got the insider scoop that there will be a Great Rewards e-Vouchers Sale from 22 Apr onwards that allows you to secure a straight 10% OFF* your purchase over 280 participating retailers in Great World and Tanglin Mall.
Here’s how it works: Great Rewards members can snag $220 e-Vouchers for EVERY $200 e-Vouchers purchased. That extra $20 value is your magic ticket to stacking up the savings. Now picture this – if you are eyeing a big-ticket item that costs, say, $1,000 – you should absolutely take advantage of this sale to purchase $1,000worth of Great Rewards e-Vouchers to pay for your item!
Why? It’s a savings strategy that’s downright ingenious in its simplicity. Remember, for every $200 spent, you get an additional $20 value – so if you purchase $1,000 worth of e-Vouchers during the sale, you’re not just getting $1,000, but an impressive $1,100 in e-Vouchers! That’s an additional $100 waiting to supercharge your next shopping spree!
And here’s the best part, and we’re not going to gatekeep: use Great Rewards e-Vouchers to stack up with in-store promotions so that you can turbocharge your savings even further!
Let us share some hacks on how to stack these e-Vouchers with in-store discounts for the maximum savings:
OSIM (Great World, #02-123)
Photo: OSIM uThrone V Gaming Chair (MSRP $1,599)
Gamers, rejoice! Exclusively at Great World store, for a limited time only, the OSIM uThrone V Gaming Massage Chair retails for just $949 instead of $1,599. With Great Rewards e-Voucher sale, you can snag the uThrone V Gaming Chair for just $869 in total. Here’s the math: purchase $880 worth of vouchers for $800 to offset your gaming chair purchase and top up $69 of the remainder in cash, and voila – you’re enjoying a jaw-dropping 45% OFF the retail price! That’s what we call gaming in style without breaking the bank!
Sandbar (Great World, #01-158)
Photo: Sandbar
Calling all eco-conscious advocates! You can now play your part and contribute to sustainability and protect our planet Earth. At Sandbar, every piece of swimwear is a green gem crafted from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Every swimwear you buy from Sandbar removes 1kg of plastic from our ocean. And there’s more! Get an exclusive Sandbar tote bag when you pay with Great Rewards e-Vouchers or up your purchase to $350 to get a complimentary name personalization on your swimwear.
Absolute Pilates (Great World, #B2-130)
Photo: Absolute Boutique Fitness
Experience the benefits of pilates while enjoying substantial savings and rewards. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, Absolute Pilates designed to help you achieve your fitness goals and enhance your overall well-being. And exclusively for Great World, you can now enjoy 30% OFF any Great World Standard Pilates 10, 20, 50 or 100 Class Pack *Package.
Inner Alignment, located at Tanglin Mall #01-102, offers a transformative experience to enhance your well-being through a nature-driven approach.
Get started on your wellness journey with a personalized 1.5-hour Ayurveda consultation, available for $120. This session delves into your nutritional habits and teaches deep relaxation techniques to harmonize and enhance your overall health. In addition to consultations, Inner Alignment provides an array of health supplements designed to improve digestive health and reduce stress and anxiety, with prices starting at $55. Psst….they are also having a limited time only offer with 10% off all supplements.
To make these offerings even more accessible, take advantage of the Great Rewards e-Vouchers Sale which allows you to have extra savings!
Here’s a fantastic example of the incredible savings you can unlock:
20-Class Package Details:
Usual Price: $930
Enjoy 30% OFF: Now $651
Pay $400 for $440 Great Rewards e-Vouchers + Top up $211
Save $40 with Great Rewards e-Vouchers
Final Price after discounts and e-Vouchers: $611
Total Savings: $319 (34% OFF usual price)
Inner Alignment (Tanglin Mall, #01-102)
Photo: Inner Alignment
Inner Alignment, located at Tanglin Mall #01-102, offers a transformative experience to enhance your well-being through a nature-driven approach.
Get started on your wellness journey with a personalized 1.5-hour Ayurveda consultation, available for $120. This session delves into your nutritional habits and teaches deep relaxation techniques to harmonize and enhance your overall health. In addition to consultations, Inner Alignment provides an array of health supplements designed to improve digestive health and reduce stress and anxiety, with prices starting at $55. Psst….they are also having a limited time only offer with 10% off all supplements.
To make these offerings even more accessible, take advantage of the Great Rewards e-Vouchers Sale which allows you to have extra savings!
Our Music Studio (Tanglin Mall, #03-113)
Photo: Our Music Studio
Our Music Studio (OMS) is a premier destination for young children, from babies to six-year-olds, to explore the world of music through an engaging and educational music-and-movement program. The program includes vocal play, instrumental activities, and creative movement, all facilitated by experienced musicians, composers, and music arrangers in a colorful, clean, and safe environment.
OMS offers a series of 12 lessons with its course fee at $432. Taking advantage of the Great Rewards e-Voucher sale, parents can make substantial savings while investing in their child’s early musical education.
Be sure to visit Great Rewards website to discover more promotions from participating Great World and Tanglin Mall retailers, allowing you to maximize your savings even further!
Great Rewards App
While you are out busy shopping at Great World and Tanglin Mall, do not forget to utilize the Great Rewards App to score more discounts. This is a fully digital loyalty programme that rewards shoppers for shopping and dining at these malls.
Once the receipts of participating retailers are scanned and uploaded, Great Rewards Points will be awarded to your account within a day. Simply accumulate Great Rewards Points to be exchanged for more e-Vouchers and Carpark Dollars. It is that simple and convenient! In addition, Great Rewards members can look forward to double points on their birthday, score invites to exclusive events, exclusive e-deals and many more.
So what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking, and the savings are waiting for you! Rev up your savings engine and seize this golden opportunity to stretch your dollars further with the Great Rewards e-Vouchers Sale that will run from now till 31 May 2024 or while stocks last. Whether you’ve been eyeing that luxurious big-ticket item or simply want to stock up on essentials, now is the moment to act!
Don’t have the Great Rewards App? Scan QR or download their iOS or Android app to enjoy more savings!
Get a $5 Great Rewards e-Voucher when you sign up as member on the Great Rewards Mobile App with promo code GRMD24 (available for the first 100 new sign-ups)
Enrolled in a finance-related program, communications program, or related field in an institute of higher learning
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Highly organized with excellent time management skills
Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team
Ability to commit to a full-time internship from May onwards, for a minimum of 3 months
Key Responsibilities
Advocate positive strategic media coverage for Mighty Jaxx across a variety of global, regional, and local media outlets with our agency partners
Participate in meetings with external agencies to develop and support integrated brand strategy and campaigns, keeping Mighty Jaxx’s core values consistent across all messaging
Assist in drafting written material for press releases, speeches, media briefing documents, spokesperson bios, and more
Assist in the development and preparation of all external investor communication materials, meetings, information requests, investor reports and performance updates through various communication channels
Participate in the fundraising process with both existing and new investors
Participate in the development of new M&A opportunities with synergistic companies
Assist the Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Team in consolidating and organizing all Investor and public relations (PR) material
Conduct market research on the competitive landscape in various regions
Able to start in May 2024, full-time internship preferred but part-time internship (min. 3 days per week) will also be considered.
Enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program or recent completion of a degree in any field.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
Ability to work independently and take initiative in identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions.
Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records and data.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with project management tools and software.
Familiarity with event planning and logistics is a plus.
Prior experience in working with platforms such as Airtable, Notion, Discord, Slack, Eventbrite, etc. is a plus
Key Responsibilities
Gain a clear understanding of the organization’s strategic goals and operational processes, and identify areas for improvement to streamline processes, optimize operational efficiency, and reduce costs.
Work closely with the Operations team that will be working collaboratively with project managers, team members, and stakeholders to ensure operational initiatives are aligned with overall project goals, objectives, and timeline throughout the project lifecycle.
Assist in building successful events that deliver a seamless and enjoyable experience that meets the needs of stakeholders.
Assist in the development and maintenance of event registration systems and attendee databases, ensuring accurate, timely registration and communication with attendees.
Assist in event operations such as responding to participants’ inquiries, preparation of participants-related materials (eg. participants guide, event calendar), etc.
Assist in the retrieval, organization, and cleaning of project data to enable actionable insights to be made by the Operations team.
Support the management of vendor relationships and negotiation of contracts to ensure cost-effective and timely delivery of goods and services.
Assist in the coordination of in-person event logistics, including the order of tasks and activities, to ensure the smooth execution of all aspects of the event.
Editor’s note: These positions are selected based on the “remote” tag, but some are hybrid ones and you may need to report physically to the office. For more deets, do contact the employer directly.
Travelers on Singapore Airlines (SIA) services between Singapore and most of its destinations in Europe are facing slightly longer flights as the airline avoids Iranian airspace as a precautionary measure amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Over the weekend, Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles directly at Israel in its first attack on the country, in apparent retaliation for an attack on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria earlier this month.
In response to queries, an SIA spokesperson said their flights to these destinations have all been affected by the rerouting:
Amsterdam
Brussels
Copenhagen
Frankfurt
Istanbul
London
Manchester
Milan
Munich
Paris
Rome
Zurich
New York’s JFK and Newark airports
“Some flights may take slightly longer than usual,” they noted, adding that SIA will assist any customers who miss connections due to extended flight times in being rebooked on alternative flights.
All Scoot flights between Singapore and Athens have also been impacted.
Previously, SIA flights between Singapore and Europe would typically fly over Iran.
However, they now must take a more northerly route over Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus region, leading to longer flight times.
For example, on Monday, SIA flight SQ308 from Singapore to London Heathrow took 14 hours and 3 minutes compared to an average of 13 hours and 39 minutes.
SQ366 from Singapore to Rome was in the air for 13 hours and 3 minutes versus an average of 12 hours and 38 minutes last Sunday.
Image Credits: unsplash.com
With that said, SIA’s nonstop services from New York to Singapore have also adjusted flight paths but do not appear to have been significantly lengthened.
This past Sunday, SQ21 from Newark matched its average of 18 hours and 8 minutes, while SQ23 from JFK only took 6 minutes longer than its typical 18 hours.
Scoot’s Singapore to Athens flight on Monday took 12 minutes more than average as well.
The spokesperson said SIA has not canceled any flights and will continue monitoring the Middle East situation, adjusting routes accordingly.
Mirroring SIA, other airlines including Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and Qantas have also rerouted flights to avoid Iranian airspace.
On Tuesday, Lufthansa flight LH779 from Singapore to Frankfurt took a southerly route over Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt before crossing the Mediterranean, arriving after 13 hours and 36 minutes compared to the typical 12 hours 30 minutes.
Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways however continue using Iranian airspace for some flights.
Think you might be affected?
It’s good to check flight statuses on SIA’s website and subscribe to their mobile notifications for the latest updates.
Anna Agoncillo
Celeste Elle
MoneyDigest
