Working in a company with hybrid arrangement but everyone is actually fully WFO-ing (work from office)?

Is this common for anyone else? I recently started a new job at a company last month under the impression there was hybrid available.

However upon joining it came to my dismay that everyone in my department was fully WFO-ing because the top manager demanded it. Apparently the hybrid option was subjected to managers’ own approvals.

I just happened to end up in the wrong department sadly. Apart from this though, the company is great and has good welfare.

But I just cant bear the thought of having to drag myself to work 5 days a week from now on. This is the very first time I’ve had to come WFO everyday.

My prev company allowed for hybrid and before that was covid so my prev prev company allowed full remote work.

Netizens’ comments

1. That sucks. Never met this before.
   They weren’t transparent with you abt this during the interviews and/or subsequent negotiations? You probably would have asked the hiring manager this right?
2. I am the reversed. We are hybrid but almost no one really go to the office. 😶 sometimes I go to the office for some human interaction.
3. My current BU is 60% WFO and 40% WFH although it is a company guideline, I’ve seen one of our teams fully WFO 5 days a week and I can see the burnout of the team that one of them just quit few days ago.
   Personally I think it is pointless to WFO daily if the same output can be delivered from home as it takes me 1.5 hours to travel to office on top of having to pay for exorbitant yet unhealthy lunch.
   I would very much rather a lower salary role for more flexibility in working arrangements as commute time and energy saved from traveling really adds up.
4. My ceo shouts all modern on Linkedin, lgbtq friendly and work life balance, wfh etc etc but in closeted meetings he is like why isnt that guy physically here
5. It is quietly disappearing. Nearly every senior management is pushing everyone to come to the office every day.
6. Got offer from a company early this year & i was told the arrangement is hybrid- later on found out, it’s subject to approval so mostly wfo. Noped real quick.

How do I find people to date in Singapore?

Context: This was my old post but was removed for some reason.Broke up recently and I’m (24M) ready to join the dating pool.

Just got back from my solo trip and still have quite some time before my job starts. I was wondering how do most people around my age meet new people to date.

I’m done with school and the only options I can think of is really to meet someone at work or through friends (how I met my ex).

I guess in the Singaporean context, most of my friends use dating apps but don’t have good results with them, so I’m not particularly too keen on them. How else do I go about dating in Singapore?

Netizens’ comments

1. All depends on your luck and fate tbh. Try everything, from work to dating apps to random strangers you encounter anywhere.
2. More people are finding relationships through dating apps.
   I would suggest using dating apps and going out to socialize.
   Yeah dating apps suck , but the logic is that if you put your profile on a dating app you are ‘exposing’ yourself to more women.
   But you need a good profile though. And its highly dependent on your looks. But then again getting someone to date you is mostly looks too.
3. I found my fiance through a game, maybe join some outside activities like meet and hang out event. or go to a concert that you like and maybe you’ll find someone there.
4. If you’re into comedy, there are many comedy nights happening in Singapore. Great place to meet people, because everyone’s drinking and laughing.
5. do tell me when you figure out where to meet people 😭😭 i broke up, went on a solo trip, went on a few more solo trips and still haven’t met anyone HAHAHAH
6. Dating apps are very superficial. Most of the matches I got were based af too. Find some interest groups and socialize in person! That way, you can also see for yourself whether their personality suits yours. Good luck!

Question regarding Annual Leave

Hi all, my company (local SME) has this policy where if we were to apply more than 1 days of annual leave, the 2nd day onwards would be unpaid but will still be deducting our Leave entitlement.

I’m new to the workforce so wondering if that’s how leaves usually work? Isn’t it supposed to be paid regardless because its an entitlement ?

Any advice on this? Thanks

Edit: Thanks everyone for your replies! I will be getting black and white from them before taking it up to MOM!

Netizens’ comments

1. It is not how it works Best to report mom and find a new job
2. Will the report be anonymous? I was already looking for a new job anyway. Just don’t wanna leave on a sour note with my colleagues.
3. Lol… exploitation at its worst. Nope this is illegal. Report to MOM and quit with immediate effect.
4. Bro working in a concentration camp
5. Nope that’s not how it works. If you have 20 days of leave entitlement, those are all paid. This is illegal and needs to be reported to MOM.
6. Your contract should state how many PAID annual leave days you are entitled to. If they are stating that the 2nd consecutive leave day is an unpaid leave then at the very least, only the first day should be deducted/consumed from your annual leave balance. If they are still deducting the “unpaid leave” from your annual leave balance, then this is wrong.
7. genuinely very puzzled how these companies actually get away with it? guessing it’s been doing on for awhile and i’m assuming every employee is held to this “rule” so how is nobody flagging this and just accepting it as the norm??
8. Hi OP.
   Don’t report yet. You will need to get this process in black and white first.
   Your best bet for compensation is if contract does not say anything about this, and HR imposes this rule without notice.
   Have fun!!

Someone mentioned feeling guilty for calling in sick, knowing that they’ll be berated. Here’s my response:
I used to be the same way, let me tell you a story about my metamorphosis from “team-player” to guy who doesn’t give af.

I was working at a clothing store for 2 years. I covered at least 2 shifts a week when people called in because the company refused to give me a full time position (probably because they needed me available to cover everyone’s shifts).

One day my older sister and her longtime boyfriend decided that they would get married the following weekend. I told my boss that I knew it was short notice, but I needed this day off. My boss knew me very well by this point and knew that my sister was my hero and practically raised me. My boss said “there’s a sale this weekend and I can’t change the schedule with just a few days notice, see if someone will switch shifts with you.”

I was stunned, but wasn’t yet the person that I am so I asked everyone who was off that day to switch shifts with me, and of course they would, I’d covered multiple shifts for literally every other employee. They were all “too busy”. Some had a party to go to, some had shopping to do, all were ungrateful selfish a-holes. And they were all women, maybe it’s a bit sexist but you’d think there would’ve been some compassion right? Nothing.

I told my boss that no one would swap shifts with me and they were just gonna have to be short staffed for a few hours. She said that if I was late or was going to leave early not to come in, ever again.

I was, regrettably, a timid pushover at the time. So I missed my sisters wedding for a shift at a minimum wage job that didn’t give af about me.

I never covered a shift for anyone there again, and quit a couple months later after making it very clear why.

I understand that it’s wrong to assume the worst of people based on past experiences. That said, I haven’t covered a shift for anyone at any job I’ve had since. If I get the sniffles I’ll call in and not think twice about it.

These companies don’t give a shit about you, they care about money and convenience, same as every coworker that is willing to complain about you calling in.

Do what’s right for you, every time.

Edit: I forgot to mention that the day of this big sale that I couldn’t possibly miss was one of the least busy days of the season. Practically zero customers and I spent my time dusting. Literally while my sister was at the alter my boss said I could head out if I wanted to make the wedding. With pure rage on my face I said “Are you gonna drive me there? Cause my rides long gone since they had to be there for the wedding. If you do wanna drive me there we can help clean up because it’ll be long over by then.”

Cheated on while pregnant

Yup you read it. Wasn’t even 24 hours after having my c-section when I got sent a video of what was my bf in bed with another woman.

He cheated on me when I was about seven months pregnant with his ex (who he still sees because they share a child).

She wanted revenge because I was the first and only person he dated after they broke up when she was pregnant in 2019. So after I gave birth she decided to send me a video of him in her bed. What an evil thing to do.

It wasn’t the first time he cheated on me and he had spent the first half of my pregnancy in jail. So while I was recovering in the hospital my family was over at our home packing mine and baby’s stuff and moving tf out asap.

I gave him more than enough chances and had hoped our baby was going to change him for the better.

I know he was the cheater but they’re both to blame. She was acting civil and nice to me knowing she f-ed him. We were talking about making sure our kids would have a sibling relationship no matter what.

Nope she decided to put her revenge over her child’s future relationship with her sister. I facilitated one visit with all of us together and being in the same room as them was too triggering. I was diagnosed with ptsd from the betrayal. I’m not exposing my child to someone who purposely causes me harm.

I’m kinda glad I didn’t find out sooner because I had a great pregnancy and that would have ruined it for me. My birth was ruined and the weeks after. I was supposed to be filled with joy at home with my newborn. Instead I cried over the sudden break up, adjusting to a new place to live and dealing with the trauma of the video.

I’ve never told my family and friends about the cheating. Sometimes it sucks having to wait for my counseling appointments to be able to talk about it. I just hope some day it doesn’t hurt anymore.

I’m at my wits end

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree with UOL. I have 10 years of administrative experience but I couldn’t find a job.

I have gone for 20 or more interviews but always left disappointed because no one wants to follow up with me after my interview.

My last drawn is $3.5k. Is there still hope for me?

Netizens’ comments

1. I’ve seen you have had many posts regarding not being able to get a job. 10 yrs exp is very significant. But many rejecting you means there are some red flags somewhere.
   The fact that you are called in for interviews means that on paper you look fine. Whatever happened during the interview is the issues.
   3.5k for 10 years exp I would hire in a heartbeat unless there are red flags. We need to figure those out.
2. How do you feel the interviews went? Honestly because you got interviewed so many times yet failed, it’s almost certainly your interviews that are not getting you through.
3. it seems to me that you aren’t interested in doing work outside of your job scope or bachelors to make ends meet, while continuing to go for interviews to secure a better job position.
   You can always temp for other kinds of low-skilled work, mostly in the service sector (barista, waitress etc), just enough to cover your bills, and continue sending out resumes & attend interviews in the meantime.
   When the time comes & you go for interviews, just tell your interviewers that you chose to take a learning approach in another field to expand your skills & knowledge, and ready to come back & continue working as an admin.
   The job market is way saturated right now with people looking for work, and employers are looking for ways to cut costs, even if it means opting for cheap foreign labour rather than SGeans.
4. If you are getting interviews, your resume is ok. Which means the issue is the interview bit. At the interviewing stage, there will be some questions that may be difficult to answer, and your work attitude will shine through.
   Google for frequently asked difficult interview questions, and get trusted friends to separately interview you using them, and get their feedback on (i) whether they would hire you after the interview, and (ii) how to say things better and what not to say.
   Separately, you might want to let go of any grievances with your past workplace(s).

Should I cancel my date because I because I have no money??

I (29F) started a new job and thought I got paid on the first of each month but turns out August is a weird month where I get paid on the second.

So now I have a date tonight and literally $0 to my name. Should I go on the date and just keep my fingers crossed that my date (29M) pays for my drinks or cancel for another time when I have money 😓

POST DATE UPDATE: Because of some very kind friends and people online I was able to scrape enough cash together to feel comfortable enough to go on the date!

He ended up paying for 2 rounds of drinks for the both of us! I did offer to pay the second round and he wouldn’t let me. He’s very sweet and kinda shy but we had a good time! Thank you everyone for your input!

Netizens’ comments

1. If you feel comfortable enough I’d just be honest. Hey, I’m waiting for my first paycheck from a new job and I’m a bit broke right now, but I’d still love to see you. Mind if we insert cheap activity
2. Yes it’s a first date! Which is all the more reason why I’m embarrassed to tell him of my situation. I’m sure he’d understand but I just need to work up the courage to say it because I don’t want that to be his first impression of me
3. Does the person have potential to be something serious? If so just say “hey I haven’t gotten paid yet this month, do you mind going for a walk in the park? If you wanna go to the agreed place we can postpone it to next week.” If they react poorly they disqualify themselves.
4. OP 14 years ago I was YOU. I was newly divorced, single mother.
   First date was drinks at a bar and a walk around – since I was driving I drank water and the overall evening cost us collectively less than $20.
   Second date planned and exactly the same experience- I thought I’d be paid and I wasn’t. One day short! I almost canceled but decided to text and explain myself. He was also a single father to a similarly young child. I told him we could reschedule OR we could keep it to a simple walk at the river with 7-11 purchased snacks and drinks. We opted for the later.
   We were married in 2015, have raised two gorgeous kids together who are each in school. Things couldn’t be better.

Pleasured myself with my wife’s underwear. Feel weird about it. Should I tell her?

This is not something I’ve done before, but I’ve just missed her a lot lately. I just got back from a business trip and she was gone when I got back home because she had to drive to her sister’s place.

Walked in our room and saw no one was around- her used underwear caught my eye on the floor and something came over me and I inhaled it.

I love her smell and really missed it. Immediately I had to jack one off and start going at it with her underwear. Afterward I washed it and felt bad.

I probably should have asked if that is something she is okay with first but got caught up in the heat of the moment. Should I tell her?

UPDATE: OP’s wife here lol. He just showed me this post. Thank you all for talking some sense into him because this is the best thing I’ve heard all week.

Will be strategically placing panties out in the open more often. Now we both gotta go – I need him for some… important unfinished business.

Netizens’ comments

1. Once when my SO was going on a trip I snuck a pair of my panties in his case. When he had arrived I told him I added something to his case. He found them and asked me why. I told him I wanted him to go ham with it.
2. I leave my PANTIES at my boyfriends so he has them for this purpose. Not weird.
3. I think your wife would be tickled pink to think that you love her natural odor.
4. No problem in telling her. It’s sweet in a twisted way. I travel a lot and when I arrive at destination, it’s not uncommon to find that she packed some in for me as a surprise. My favorite surprise.

Got bitten by centipede in field camp. Any other field camp stories and experiences?
Funny
Hi! My bf is currently in field camp and he got sent back to bunk ystd night cos he was bitten by a centipede :0

When I received his texts I was SHOCKED and my heart sank… but luckily he was ok, only given painkiller and is back at field camp this morning.

Just wondering how often does this kind of incident happen (he always attract mozzies just wondering was he just “lucky” bitten by centipede or it’s a just a norm “everyone will go thru” thing – I know it’s a jungle, things happen haha! Just curious)

Also, any funny stories frm the Laojiaos aka master of field camp by now haha!

Netizens’ comments

1. Was waiting for instruction to move off one time in outfield, and my helmet touches a random branch with hundreds of ants on it. And abt a min later, when i realised there was an ant biting my neck. It was already too late, my head my back and my whole body was full of ants.☠️ My whole section come over and help me to remove them
2. During the enemy movement, we had to take cover behind trees, and unknowingly there was a huge ant hill on the tree, so whoever was at that tree had their uniforms filled with ants
3. While cleaning up for the night, a few soldier ants took out a small chunk of my toes. It was bleeding but worst part was as I pluck the, the head remained still biting my toes. I removed them and used my smuggled mini first aid kit to fix it the wounds. It bled quite a lot.
   Fun fact about soldier ants, they are great surtures. If u have a deep cut in the wild, find soldier ants, bite and seal the wound. Good stuff
   The wild one was during night patrol my guys heard a duck quacking by one of the platoon’s camps. (this is a sign of a pontianak). Act blur never hear anything.
4. There was a quite big reddish black centipede which fell down from a tree near my sectionmate and then ran back up the tree. Was quite scared to sleep for the subsequent nights.