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10 things you need to know about heading back to the office from Sep 28

Are you already in the office to start the new week? Or have received a work schedule from your employer regarding the days you should physically report for work? While some can’t wait to get their office routine back, many are sitting on the fence after being used to working from home amid the pandemic.

Here are 10 things you need to know if you’re called back to the office from Sep 28.

#1: Employer has the right to ask you back

Even if your job can be done from home, your employer has the right to ask you to return back to the office. However, you should be allowed to work from home for at least half of your working time.

In addition to that, your employer must ensure that not more than 50% of the people who can work from home are in the office at any one time.

Those who are working part-time will keep to a pro-rated system. For example, if you normally work four days a week, you should only be in the office 2 days a week.

#2: Cannot return to the office full-time on the basis of the home being unconducive for work

As we’ve mentioned earlier, if your job can be completed from home, you should be doing so at least for half your working time. You should not return to the office full-time just because home is an unconducive work environment to get your job done.

This is because employers will need to explain the business or operational reasons if their staff are not working from home for the period as advised by the authorities.

#3: Leave days count towards the total number of days you spend working from home

Image Credits: FlexJobs

This may be a little tricky to understand so here’s an example to aid us in explaining:

Based on a five-day workweek, you will be allowed to go back to the office for 2.5 days a week. But should you decide to take two days off, your boss can still require you to go back to the office for 2.5 days. With that said, you will spend the remaining 0.5-day working from home.

#4: External meetings and events count towards the number of days you spend in the office

Employees who need to attend to work meetings and events outside the office can count their time as time spent in the workplace.

#5: You may go back to the office for regular meetings

While meetings should be conducted virtually as far as possible amid the pandemic, your boss may ask you to head back to the office for meetings.

Employers can consider a flexible work arrangement for staff to go back to the office only for meetings and work from home for the rest of the day.

#6: Inform your employer if you have a medical condition that has weakened your immune system

Image Credits: Freepik

You should inform your employer if you’re undergoing a chronic medical condition with a compromised immune system. Your employer should make arrangements to allow you to work from home and provide the necessary IT equipment needed. If that can’t be done, a temporary redeployment to another role within the company might do the trick.

However, if the above-mentioned arrangements can’t be made, your employer can still ask you to return to the office. But there must be at least 1m of space set between you and your colleagues.

#7: Avoid interacting with colleagues as usual

Heading back to the office doesn’t mean that interaction is back to normal. Keep to these rules at the workplace:

Wear a mask at all times, unless impossible due to the nature of your work or the work environment.
Be 1m apart from your colleagues in the office, including at your workstation and during meetings.
Do not gather in groups larger than the prevailing permitted group size for social gatherings. This includes meal times or smoke breaks.

#8: Only work-related events of up to 50 people can take place in the office

Work-related events include:

Meetings
Training sessions
Townhalls
Corporate retreats
Tender briefings to vendors and business conferences
Onboarding or retrenchment exercises

Celebrations, parties, dinner and dance events, team bonding activities or gala dinners are not considered work-related events under the latest update by the authorities.

Also, food and drinks should not be served at such events where possible. But if absolutely necessary, individuals must be seated and served, with meal durations kept short.

#9: Employers should implement flexible workplace arrangements

singapore office with safe distancing in place

Image Credits: The Straits Times

Employers should embrace flexible workplace arrangements. For example, stagger start times to avoid crowding. There can also be a shift or split team operations to minimize interactions between different teams. Employees may also consider asking their staff to work from home in the morning but return to the office after lunchtime.

#10: Can I report my employer if rules are not kept to?

Yes, you should do so via the SnapSAFE app. Download the app via the App Store or the Google Play Store.

Apps That Can Help You Sleep Better

Are you aware that the pandemic has caused many people’s sleeping patterns to shift? According to the World Economic Forum, COVIDsomnia has shaken not just our lives but the way we sleep as well. Other than increased stress-sleeping, people have begun to have more vivid dreams.

If you’ve been suffering from a bout of COVID-related insomnia, we’ve listed a number of apps that can help you wind down during the night.These apps soothe you into a more relaxed state so you can sleep better.

Calm

Available for free for both IOS and Android, Calm is user-friendly and has plenty of options for night-time listening. They have many options, such as calm music, nature sounds, and even audiobooks to help you meditate or ease into sleep.

If you want access to more features, such as more audiobooks voiced by your favorite celebs, you can subscribe to it for an affordable price.

Headspace

Headspace is a prime app for meditative music and sleepcasts. They have plenty of adult bedtime stories and audio that can help you settle down. They even have sounds that can help you visualize a calming atmosphere and other sleep-inducing content.

The content is limited, but you can access the whole library through paid access. With around 40 themed meditation courses and other options for sleep, sleepcasts, and stories, you have a wide range of choices for relaxation sounds.

Sleep Cycle

If you want to track your sleep cycles, something we suggest you should do, then Sleep Cycle is one of the best apps to download.

They don’t just do sleep tracking but give tips to fully optimize your sleeping time. The app also has a built-in alarm clock that gently nudges you out of sleep.

Keep in mind, like all sleep trackers, this is not 100% accurate, but it won’t hurt to try. The best part about this app is that it is absolutely free! You don’t have to pay to access all its features.

Sleepa

Sleepa is an Android-only app that works as a sound mixer for different natural sounds. It creates a personalized atmosphere for you to fall asleep to.

They also have non-natural sounds like the noises of a bustling city or a train ride, which you can mix with other noises as well. You can mix up to 8 sounds, which is more than most apps can offer.

You can set it to a timer while you nap, making it a useful app for those who need a no-frills app that can be customized.

Free Calm Sleep

This is one of the best apps out there, with every category separated for easier access. They have a kid’s category, which contains lullabies and nature sounds as well as white noise.

Of course, they also offer sleepcasts, adult bedtime stories, and even meditation stories. The app even has a timer with a gentle alarm that you can set.

And the best part is that you can also download your favorite audio and save them.

We all have sleeping troubles due to the stress the pandemic has brought us, and these apps are small solutions that we can provide during these difficult times.

However, if your sleep troubles can be caused by physical factors, such as night-time urination, you may need other fixes. According to the specialists at Urologist Singapore, things like that have many causes… such as excessive fluid intake at night or conditions such as diabetes, anxiety, and more.

Whether your insomnia is caused by stress or other physical or mental issues, finding the solution you need will be easier when you get help for it. So, try to consult an expert if you really don’t know the causes of your issue.

Here’s what you need to know about the new business travel pass for senior executives

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Wednesday (Sep 23) that Singapore will trial a new business travel pass for senior executives with regional or international responsibilities. The pass is specifically for senior executives who need to travel regularly for official and business purposes.

Here’s what you need to know about the new business travel pass.

#1: It’s not open for applications

As it’s still in its pilot phase, applications are not open. Senior executives who meet the criteria set by the government and economic agencies will be given the green light.

#2: Individuals must comply with the rules

The chosen ones must follow strict public health safeguards set by the authorities.

They will keep to a controlled itinerary. Speaking of which, individuals will have to submit an itinerary of their meetings and activities, including a list of places they will visit and information on the people they will be interacting with.

#3: The travel pass does not replace any international restrictions

Image Credits: Korean Air

Though these travel pass holders are able to travel to a range of countries, they must stick to the measures set by the countries they are visiting. Reciprocal bilateral green lane conditions would also apply.

Singapore currently has cross-border travel arrangements with China, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, and South Korea. Discussions on a reciprocal green lane with Indonesia is on its way.

#4: A health declaration to be completed

Before their return to Singapore, these business travellers must fill in a health declaration form to pledge that they are symptoms-free and have not come into close contact with any COVID-19 patients.

#5: Undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival

Upon arriving in Singapore, individuals must take a PCR test in lieu of serving a stay-home notice. Until the test results are out, they must self-isolate from the public.

#6: Avoid all forms of public transport within 14 days of return

Image Credits: TODAYonline

According to GoBusiness, these senior executives should avoid all forms of public transport within 14 days of their return. In addition to that, they must use TraceTogether. Those who do not keep to the rules will have their travel pass cancelled.

#7: Authorities will consider expanding the scheme

While there is no fixed timeline for the business travel pass pilot scheme at the moment, the authorities will consider expanding the scheme should the pilot prove to be successful.

With that said, GoBusiness states that public health remains a priority. Before any further plans can be made, the relevant parties will carefully monitor this pilot program.

Great Recipe YouTube Channels That You Can Try Out

If the lockdown brought out your inner chef or baker, then we’ve got something great for you here. We have a list of channels that you should check out for ideas on the next recipes or dishes to make.

These channels offer plenty of great food recipes, as well as tips and tricks that you can use in the kitchen. From gorgeous cake recipes to fictional meals turned into reality, these channels can help you improve your cooking skills greatly!

So check them out. They offer plenty of cuisines from different places or the most gorgeous desserts you can craft.

Cooking Tree

Cooking Tree is a Korean cooking channel that focuses on dessert. They make the prettiest cakes and pastries, as well as candies.

Cheesecakes, macarons, pies — you can learn how to make food that looks good and tastes good. Every once in a while, they upload a rare, non-sweet recipe such as their version of a Monte Cristo sandwich.

The best part is they’re minimalistic in their production, making them look polished and a delight to watch!

Binging With Babish

If you’ve ever seen food in a TV show, an anime, a video game, or a movie, Babish defictionalizes these dishes so you can taste them in real life! For example, he’s made different kinds of Krabby Patties from Spongebob.

He makes other great desserts such as the sweet rolls from Skyrim and more. What’s unique about Babish is that he does two recipes, one normal one you can do in your kitchen, and a “Babish version” that is usually a gourmet version.

He even shows you the trial and error of his recipes, because no one becomes great at cooking without experimentation.

However, we do have to warn you, some of the recipes can give you a heart attack due to the serving size, which he retains to become TV-accurate. Talk about dedication!

Adam Ragusea

Adam Ragusea is an amazing cook whose videos don’t bombard you with obnoxious, unnecessary intros: he gets to the point immediately. He doesn’t harp on welcomes and greetings or comments, but introduces you immediately to how the meal is made.

He cooks things like delicious roast chicken dinners with peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, which is made finely with minimal ingredients.

Some of his videos are educational and teach different aspects of food, cooking, and diets. He’s even well-versed in the history of food. He actually has a 12 minute video educating people on the safety of MSG!

This makes him one of the go-to’s for educational cooking and fun facts.

Nino’s Home

Nino’s Home has the same homey aesthetic as Cooking Tree. The difference is that he cooks with his pet cat and makes sharp, biting humor while explaining recipes (through captions, might I add).

He offers mouth-watering recipes such as mozzarella onion rings and Taiwanese pineapple cakes. Do remember to turn on captions so you can follow his instructions when watching.

He also has insights to his daily life, and spending time with his pet animals, giving his channel a cozy, warm atmosphere that makes you feel at home.

David Seymour

Have you ever seen those minute-long recipes from Tasty, Bon Appetit, or Delish? Have you ever wanted to try them out but wondered if the outcome of the recipe is worth it?

Well, if you watch David Seymour, you’ll have a better handle on which recipes are exactly as presented, and which are polished to make them look good.

He also compares different recipes of the exact same food from other channels and recipe blogs and tests which one is best. We advise going through his Viral Tiktok Recipes to see if those Tiktok recipes that you see going around hold water.

The transparency and realism that he brings to those viral recipes and testing if they’re as advertised or presented makes him deserving of a spot in this list.

Anyway, that’s our list of YouTube channels worth checking out for food and baking experiments. We hope you’ll check out these channels and even try out the recipes that they offer.

However, as a friendly reminder, don’t make the mistake of overeating just because of these! For instance, if you’re doing the dessert ones, try not to eat all of the dessert yourself or you’ll quickly find yourself gaining unwanted weight.

According to the experts at Gastroenterologist Singapore, a solution they recommend to patients is to get used to sharing meals with others. If you do that, you won’t have to feel obliged to eat everything you make!

Jobs: Google, SingHealth, and Singtel are hiring

Good job to all for surviving Thursday!

For peeps who are looking for a new job opportunity, we found some openings at Google, SingHealth, and Singtel. If you’re searching for positions in the area of data analytics, community relations, and product marketing, keep reading.

#1: Google – Data Analyst, Global Partnerships Sales Engine

Image Credits: Vulcan Post

The Global Partnerships Sales Engine (GPSE) team is a critical part of driving operational efficiency and scale in support of Google’s publisher monetization and platform solutions. The GPSE team centralizes work away from sales teams so that sales leaders can concentrate their efforts on client-specific activities and continue growing a global business.

As a data analyst on the GPSE team, you will have the opportunity to work with an extensive range of cross-functional teams on the Global Partnerships side of the business, to further evolve and scale GPSE support.

Google’s Global Partnerships team powers extraordinary user experiences through partnerships that solve users’ needs, advance partners’ goals, and further Google’s mission. The team provides meaningful solutions — from helping publishers and developers grow their businesses through monetization solutions, to helping long-term partners anticipate and navigate change in a way that delivers economic and reputational value.

Job Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience
2 years of work experience with Account Management, Ad Operations, or Project Management
Experience with streamlining operational process (e.g. automation) and familiarity with SQL
Advanced knowledge of presentation, spreadsheet, and documentation tools
Broad understanding of online advertising (ad serving, monetization solutions) and key platforms and trends (desktop, mobile, video)
Ability to be self-motivated and proactive. Comfortable operating in a rapidly changing industry, and the ability to work well with a team
Demonstrated analytical, operational efficiency, and stakeholder management ability

Key Responsibilities

Support Sales users in areas of optimization and troubleshooting.
Maintain high service levels through meeting or exceeding customer satisfaction, timeliness, and efficiency goals.
Support implementation and optimization for Google’s Programmatic monetization and Platform solutions.
Provide consultation and support to a vendor team of agents globally.
Contribute proactively to the analysis and optimization of processes, internal tools, and product to drive efficiency and scale.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here.

#2: SingHealth Community Hospitals – Associate Executive, Community Relations

Image Credits: SingHealth Academy

SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH) comprises Bright Vision Hospital, Sengkang Community Hospital, and Outram Community Hospital. Being Singapore’s only cluster of community hospitals allows the team to shape the way they deliver person-centred care to patients.

Their community hospitals are poised to set standards in care, exchange best practices, and strengthen collaborations with other healthcare and community partners. They are also under the SingHealth Regional Health System (RHS) and are supported by the medical expertise and research capabilities of the SingHealth-Duke NUS Academic Medical Centre.

Job Qualifications

Diploma in any discipline
Higher NITEC/ NITEC/ GCE N/ O/ A Level + 8 years’ experience and demonstrated competency
Preferably 2 years’ experience in volunteer and donor management, event planning, and management and fundraising
Strong interpersonal relations, resourceful, and able to work independently
Effective written and oral communication skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Excel, Word, and Powerpoint
Interest in the healthcare industry

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Community Relations, you will:

Contribute to the development and implementation of SingHealth Community Hospitals’ development initiatives.
Provide administrative and logistics support to all activities related to volunteer management, community engagement programmes and events, fundraising projects, and donor management.
Support any other projects under the Communications, Patient & Community Relations department, as and when assigned.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here.

#3: Singtel – Postpaid Product Marketing Associate, Price Plans

Image Credits: CapitaLand

Headquartered in Singapore, Singtel has 140 years of operating experience and played a pivotal role in the country’s development as a major communications hub.

They are also strategically invested in leading companies in Asia and Africa, including Bharti Airtel (India, South Asia and Africa), Telkomsel (Indonesia), Globe Telecom (the Philippines), and Advanced Info Service (Thailand).

The brand works closely with their associates, leveraging their scale in networks, customer reach, and extensive operational experience to lead and shape the communications industry. Together, they have served over 700 million mobile customers around the world.

Singtel claims to be one of the largest listed Singapore companies on the Singapore Exchange by market capitalization. The group has a vast network of offices throughout the Asia Pacific, Europe and the USA, and employs more than 23,000 staff worldwide.

Job Qualifications

Not listed in the job post.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain comprehensive postpaid mobile product configuration in BCC and Pegasus for all mobile products (Combo Plans, XO Plans, Silver Plans, CIS discounts) across segments.
Work with Postpaid Marketing Senior Manager on Price Plan Product Strategy, to create new plans and promotions with the business case to drive profitability, ARPU upgrades, acquisition, and retention purposes.
Own MobileShare subscribers net adds and revenue.
Lead marketing requirements of mobile configuration and policy in BCC and Pegasus for Group Consumer and Group Enterprise.
Work closely with IT (IT CS, IT DT), eShop, and other stakeholders to ensure that the product pricing and policy is as designed.
Own and maintain the policy for voucher issuance, payment tally to partners, and exceptional handling for Combo 12 price plan vouchers
Manage postpaid SIM Cards purchase and stock levels monitoring
Manage Postpaid Number Management, including number reservation, purchase of numbers from IMDA, numbers recycling policy, numbers for GOMO and MVNOs.
Brief Sales & IT & Consumer Operations on the mobile product, policy, specific Terms & Conditions for each product, and address FAQs and empowerment matrix for waivers.
Manage mobile-related escalations on product behaviour and waiver requests from sales and hotlines.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here.