SINGAPORE: After a fresh grad shared on Reddit that they were having second thoughts about applying to SMEs, many Singaporean users quickly jumped into the discussion and warned them against joining one.

However, among the many responses, one comment in particular caught the attention of other readers.

The commenter, who said they had previously worked at two SMEs, gave a detailed account of the negative experiences they went through while working in such companies. 

“The leadership is filled with their blood”

According to the user, many SMEs are essentially family-run businesses where management positions are filled by relatives, including “cousins, nieces, aunts, uncles.”

The user claimed this creates an environment where it is nearly impossible for regular employees to climb the ranks.

“The leadership is filled with their blood,” they wrote. “It is impossible to penetrate into their ranks unless you follow them for a looong time, volunteer to do OTs on weekdays and weekends, and take initiatives to backstab your colleagues to make the company better.”

“Charged S$1 for every minute late”

The commenter also alleged that some SMEs impose extremely strict workplace policies. In one example, they claimed their “lady boss” charged employees S$1 for every minute they were late, adding that some colleagues ended up paying as much as S$1,000 a month because of traffic delays and long commutes.

They added, “If MOM mentioned a maximum of 44 hours of labour per week, they will make sure their working hours squeeze all the 44 hours in your official handbook, excluding OTs.”

The user also accused some SMEs of having a “save costs at all costs” mentality.

“They’d rather people work OTs to do tasks rather than invest in technology to save time,” the commenter wrote. “But even so, they never fail to bring the ENTIRE family to overseas trips 4x a year and change a new car every year.”

“Reporting to HR is like reporting to your boss”

The commenter went on to claim that it is difficult to report workplace issues because HR staff are often closely related to management.

“99.99% she will be the boss’s wife or sister,” they wrote.

“So reporting to her is like reporting to your boss. They will take note and keep it ‘confidential’ for show, but in the end, everyone will know you are the source for the complaints.”

“I had colleagues crying in the toilet”

The user also described the work environment as toxic and stressful, claiming employees would get screamed at publicly if they failed to deliver results.

“I had a colleague crying in the toilet every morning and after work,” they recalled.

The commenter also claimed that PRs and foreign workers were sometimes pressured into doing overtime or additional tasks outside their job scope.

“If you are PR/FT, good luck. They will threaten not to renew your permit if you don’t do OTs or take on more tasks, even if it is beyond the job scope. I have seen a lot of shouting matches between both parties, and it is a good source of reliable entertainment in the office.”

“I’d rather be jobless”

The commenter eventually said they would rather be “jobless” than work in an SME again.

“Work for MNCs if possible,” they told the fresh grad. “There are good SMEs, but the chances of stepping on a landmine are higher.”

Good reviews about SMEs

Despite the negative experiences shared in the discussion, a handful of users pointed out that working at an SME is not necessarily terrible and can even offer advantages that larger corporations may not provide.

One user compared SMEs and MNCs, saying, “SMEs might be a good start, actually. Feel that it’s much easier to make a larger impact on the organisation, meaning easier promotion/salary increments. MNC, on the other hand, everything seems relatively more structured, and it feels like we’re all just cogwheels in the entire system, process here, process there, and execs hardly know you even exist.”

Another commented, “Some SMEs, especially ang moh ones, can be quite good. Do your research when applying.”

A third added, “I would argue an SME has more learning opportunities as you have to wear many hats, but recruiters would not see that.”

Read also: ‘Just to survive’: Man juggles two gig jobs after struggling to find full-time work in Singapore

This article (‘The leadership is filled with their blood’: Singaporean shares harsh SME work experiences) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: One employee’s patience finally ran out after years of being asked to handle “grey areas” or tasks that had absolutely nothing to do with their actual job scope.

Sharing their frustrations on the local forum called singaporejobs on Monday (May 27), the employee said their boss had constantly expected staff to “cover the grey areas, do more work outside their job scope, and think like a business owner.”

The employee admitted that they initially followed instructions without questioning them and carried out the extra responsibilities “fairly well.” However, they eventually became burnt out as their boss continued to criticise their performance despite their efforts.

According to the employee, their boss ranks staff on a scale of one to five.

“It’s like 1 for ‘cannot make it.’ 2 for ‘barely making it.’ 3 for ‘average.’ 4 for ‘better than average.’ 5 for ‘industry best.’”

During their first year, the boss allegedly told them they “were not good enough” and “dismissed their effort.”

In their second year, the boss reportedly said they “were still a 3.”

By the third year, the employee said they had finally reached their limit. “He told me I was still a 3 and asked me to do more work.”

“I just told him politely no. Since you already said there’s no promotion, then I am happy to do my work, and that’s good enough. Please don’t ask me to do more and cover grey areas and frame it as career development.”

“I think once bitten, twice shy. Unless the remuneration or incentive is made clear upfront, I am not going to do anything that is not within my field of work.”

Wondering if they did the right thing, they asked Singaporean users: “Am I the a***ole for telling my boss no?”

“Good job for standing up for yourself.”

Many commenters quickly sided with the employee, saying there was nothing wrong with setting boundaries at work. 

One user pointed out how absurd the demands were, writing, “Do outside job scope, think like a business owner, but you don’t pay me like a business owner; it’s like asking a horse to think and work like a cow.”

Another said, “You’re not the a***ole. Bosses and owners want to get two workers for the price of one.”

A third simply said, “Good job for standing up for yourself.”

Still, some warned the employee that refusing extra work could come with consequences during future performance reviews. 

One told them, “Just be prepared that your next performance grade might be a 2, or even 1 + a PIP. From what you have shared, it seems like your boss considers covering extra work a basic expectation. Hence, the average grade. That makes not covering that extra stuff a below-average grading.”

In other news, a Singaporean Threads user who tried to call out two national servicemen on the MRT has instead found himself at the centre of online criticism, after his post struck a nerve with many who felt the men were unfairly singled out.

In a post published on Tuesday (March 28), the user, who goes by the handle “chefphotodan,” shared a photo taken inside a crowded train carriage.

Read more: Man criticised online after calling out NSFs for using phones on MRT: ‘Cut our boys some slack, please’

This article (‘Am I wrong for saying no?’ — Employee tired of being asked to cover ‘grey areas’ at work) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.