SINGAPORE: Workplace culture can seriously shape how people feel about going to work every day. Some offices feel like everyone is suffering together as a team, while others feel more like survival mode, where colleagues keep to themselves and quietly compete with one another.

On Reddit, one Singaporean shared that his current workplace has a very “we suffer together, we laugh together” kind of energy. Even though the workload can get intense, he said people still step in to help each other.

“There’s banter, shared pain, and a sense that nobody is trying to throw you under the bus just to look good,” he wrote.

“It is not perfect, obviously, but at least it feels like people are on the same side.”

He compared it to a previous workplace where the environment felt much colder and more transactional. Despite regular team-building activities organised by HR, he said there was never any real connection between colleagues.

Curious if others felt the same way about their own workplaces, he asked: “How wholesome or toxic is your workplace?”

The question quickly got many Singaporeans sharing their own office experiences.

One commenter recalled how a machine in their department once broke down, forcing everyone to do the work manually. Instead of pushing blame around, the entire team stayed late together to finish everything.

Another Redditor replied: “If no blame game had gone around and if everyone all did their part, then it’s pretty wholesome!”

Others described workplaces that were not especially close-knit, but still comfortable enough to work in.

One person shared, “If someone asks for help we help each other out, but some days I’ll barely say hi to my colleagues. We sometimes have lunch together, though. Very cordial overall and I’m pretty happy about it.”

Not everyone had positive experiences, however.

One commenter claimed their workplace generally functioned well until someone was viewed as incompetent or socially awkward, after which gossip and mocking would start behind the scenes.

Several Redditors also said workplace culture usually reflects whoever is leading the team.

“It all depends on who is on top,” one commenter wrote.

“If the person is chill, then most likely the workplace will be wholesome, but if it’s those stern kind, it is every man for himself.”

At the same time, some people admitted they believe a certain level of toxicity exists in almost every workplace anyway.

Reading through the comments, one thing became pretty clear — many workers care less about flashy company culture campaigns and more about whether the people around them make stressful days easier or harder to get through.

This article (‘We suffer together, we laugh together’: Singaporeans share what their workplace culture is really like) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A customer has taken her complaint to social media after being disappointed with the portion size of Andres by Astons’ takeaway mushroom soup.

In a Facebook post, the netizen was clearly shocked because of how small and thin the soup container was. She admitted that she finished the entire ‘meal’ in less than five bites, making the experience even more depressing. 

With this unfortunate incident, she declared in her post that she would never order takeaway from the shop again. 

Netizens shared their thoughts and opinions on the complaint. One netizen admitted that Aston’s prices increased, but the quality of the food is not as good. 

Another commenter called what she had ordered a ‘mushroom sauce’ instead of a soup, given its tiny size. 

One more netizen shared the same experience and stated: “Same as Saizeriya seafood soup. Dined a few times, the seafood soup is much less than other soups. Every outlet is the same.. is not an isolated case.” 

The same thing happened to another victim who said: “One time I had meatballs that were still cold in the middle, and when we flagged down the manager, he just shrugged like it was normal, but he did swap it out for other things on the menu.” 

“Baby portion,” another comment concluded. 

As of writing, Andes by Astons has not issued a public response regarding the incident. 

To avoid incidents like this, it is encouraged for diners who are concerned about portion sizes to check menu descriptions and not hesitate to ask the staff about takeaway packaging. 

Other related news 

In similar news related to food complaints, there was a recent report where a concerned shopper warned others online after finding white spots on the chocolates that she had bought from a Sembawang value store.

With white dots very noticeable on the chocolates’ surface, she had doubts about whether it was safe to consume them or not.

Read more about the news story here. 

This article (‘Finished in five bites’: Customer disappointed by tiny takeaway soup portion) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A young worker who just graduated about 2 years ago has sought advice online on whether people need to enjoy their jobs or if people only work because they have to pay their bills.

On Reddit, the netizen described that his current workplace is ‘stereotypical’, and that there are a lot of processes that are outdated. Furthermore, he admitted that he can’t see himself in the industry that he is working in right now for the next 20 years. 

“Dread work every day because I just have no interest nor passion, and this has made me underperform as well…Not willing to quit without another job lined up as I’m moving out soon,” he further explained. 

He also stated that he is planning to resign even though the market is tough nowadays, and asked for advice on how to go about this from people who have been working for a long time and are not fresh graduates. 

With this, many netizens expressed their thoughts and opinions. One comment claimed: “Look at a job as a means to an end. You don’t have to love it, but it at least has to be tolerable. Mental health is priceless, and life is a marathon, not a sprint.” 

Another netizen declared that when someone is great at what they do, money automatically follows. “I think for me, I work to feel valued at work, and the ‘pay bills’ part happens by itself. I think feeling valued is the key to enjoying your job,” the comment said. 

“Through it all, bills are the only constant. Choose a job that first pays for the lifestyle you want. Then do what you like on the side,” one more netizen suggested. 

A netizen also remarked that people don’t have to love their job, but at the same time, they should not hate it as well. 

“At the end of the day, a job is a job. If you’re lucky and enjoy the work and you have good bosses, then just hang in there,” the comment concluded. 

This discussion thread is a reminder that for some, a tolerable job that covers living costs is enough for them as long as they also pursue passions outside work. For others, finding meaningful or valued work is more worthwhile. Regardless of one’s choice, it is important to prioritise one’s well-being. 

This article (Do you have to like your job or does it only need to pay the bills? Netizen seeks advice online) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A life-threatening accident happened when a portable power bank for a small fan was left charging when it suddenly caught fire early in the morning. The fire occurred last May 20, on the 10th floor of a HDB block located in Tampines Street. Fortunately, two residents managed to escape on time, and 30 residents needed to be evacuated.

As reported by Shin Min Daily News, the ceiling and walls of the unit were blackened after the incident, and many electrical wires were hanging down. More so, the interior of the unit was almost completely burned. 

Case details 

Further investigations revealed that the fire started in the living room area of the unit, in which chairs, wooden planks, and other miscellaneous items were located. Additionally, the kitchen was piled with a number of items and plastic bags. The walkway outside the HDB block was also filled with electrical appliances, wooden chairs and a number of mineral water bottles.

In an interview, the homeowner admitted that the fire was caused by a fan battery that he had bought online. It caught fire while charging in the corridor, and the flames spread to the curtains next to it.

“My wife saw the flames first, so we ran out immediately. Then the neighbours tried to help put out the fire, but the fire was too big, so we evacuated downstairs together,” the homeowner shared. 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed the incident and that civil defence personnel used two water hoses to help put out the fire. Unfortunately, a resident from the adjacent unit was taken to the hospital after inhaling smoke. 

Other related news 

In similar news related to fire, there was a recent report where that happened at a HDB block in Punggol when a recycling bin caught fire, prompting the Singapore Civil Defence Force to take action. 

A resident revealed that the accident was allegedly caused by the people who were smoking nearby, or those who decided to throw their cigarette butts into the recycling bins. 

Read more about the news story here. 

This article (All because of a power bank: Fire blazed Tampines home early in the morning, two people fortunately escaped on time) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Passengers planning trips to China from Singapore will soon have another direct flight option, as Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced new daily flights to Hangzhou starting June 1, 2026.

The route will be SIA’s first direct operation to Hangzhou and also makes it the second airline under the Singapore Airlines Group to fly there after Scoot.

SIA will also become the fifth airline operating flights between Singapore and Hangzhou, joining Loong Air, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, and Scoot on the route.

The airline said it will use its Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft for the flights, with 40 Business Class seats and 263 Economy Class seats available.

The daily services will operate under flight numbers SQ838 and SQ839.

Flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport will leave at 5:40 p.m. and arrive at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 10:50 p.m. The return flight will depart Hangzhou at 12:10 a.m. the next day and arrive in Singapore at 5:10 a.m.

Tickets are already available for booking, with round-trip Economy Class fares from Singapore starting from around S$439.

With the visa-free arrangement between Singapore and China already boosting travel between both countries, the new route is expected to attract both business travellers and tourists heading to eastern China.

This article (Heads up, travellers: Singapore Airlines is adding new direct flights to China) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Aeroplane passengers are being reminded to stay alert to their belongings even during flights after a man was accused of stealing bank cards from another passenger on a plane headed to Singapore.

According to a report by 8world News, a 59-year-old Chinese man allegedly took two bank cards from a fellow passenger while onboard a flight travelling from South Korea to Singapore.

Police said the man was arrested during an enforcement operation at Changi Airport Terminal 1 on May 18 after officers allegedly found him in possession of two bank cards that did not belong to him.

Investigations later revealed that the suspect had allegedly accessed the victim’s luggage from the plane’s overhead compartment and removed the bank cards from a wallet inside the bag.

He then reportedly placed the wallet back into the luggage and returned the bag to its original position without alerting the victim that anything had been taken.

The man is expected to be charged in court. If convicted, he could face up to three years’ jail, a fine, or both.

Other related news

In a separate theft-related case, a former company director was accused of stealing accommodation, services and goods worth more than S$100,000 from the firm he previously worked for.

The 37-year-old man faced 23 charges, including deception, fraudulent services and forgery, and was later sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Read more about the news story here. 

This article (Chinese man accused of stealing bank cards from fellow passenger during flight to Singapore) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: An accident turned into a disgusting discovery when a food delivery driver spilt food, resulting in revealing how the delivery bag used to store the food was filthy. 

As reported by Shin Min Daily News, a netizen voiced out on social media that they saw a food delivery rider’s bicycle overturned, and it spoiled the noodles and soup he was about to deliver on the ground. What even caught their attention was the delivery bag being extremely dirty, and it also contained miscellaneous items, such as the rider’s own beer.

With this, the netizen shared: “I will think twice before ordering takeout in the future.” 

In an interview, a 46-year-old who is working in the food delivery industry stated that the drivers can wipe the bags with wet wipes every day, depending on the delivery worker’s hygiene habits. 

It is shared that when food is accidentally spilt inside the bag and is not cleaned as soon as possible, it will leave an odour, and the smell may even seep into other foods. 

Another 60-year-old working in the same industry shared that the food delivery platform may allow the riders to replace their delivery bags every month when they reach their performance target. However, since some of the riders are working part-time, they can’t really meet their sales target and can’t get new bags. 

This incident truly reveals hygiene and safety concerns in the growing food delivery service industry. 

In another food-related case that sparked concern online, a shopper warned fellow consumers after discovering noticeable white spots covering the surface of several chocolates she had purchased. Although the packaging stated that the chocolates would only expire in 2027, she admitted she was hesitant to eat them because of how unusual they looked.

Read more about the new story here. 

This article (‘I’ll think twice before ordering takeout’: Netizen shocked by dirty food delivery bag after spill) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Birds are still becoming a nuisance at a coffee shop located in Toa Payoh when they directly fly onto the tables and snatch diners’ food. With this, the diners admitted that it was difficult to send them away, and the vendors even made their own partitions to prevent the birds from entering.

A 74-year-old private driver was dining at the coffee shop when he noticed that the customers near his table did not clean their dishes after finishing their meal. As soon as these customers left, about two or three pigeons flew onto the table and snatched the food, according to Shin Min Daily News.

With this, the man claimed: “These birds are not afraid of people, and sometimes you can’t shoo them away.”

This raised concerns about food hygiene and safety. When a reporter visited the coffee shop, it was discovered that several pigeons were wandering inside the shop, and others still flew onto the tables. 

A 50-year-old clerk admitted that there were more birds in the morning because there were more customers, and cleaners didn’t have enough time to collect all the dishes at once. 

Many people revealed that the said bird problem has always existed, and it has not been resolved in recent years. 

In a separate bird-related case in Singapore, a 67-year-old woman was reportedly caught repeatedly feeding pigeons across several Yishun HDB estates.

Since feeding these birds is illegal in the country, the suspect faces four charges for feeding wild animals without permission, thus violating the Wildlife Act. 

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Failed attempt to chase the birds away: Pigeons land on dining tables and snatch food from diners) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.