asia pacific AUGUST 2008 S$6.50 (INC. GST) Hospitality Industry Gears Up Manpower for FORMULA ONE™ & Integrated Resorts KUDOS TO CHAMPS OF SINGAPORE HR AWARDS 2008 National Day Parade Hones People Skills PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Opting-Out of the Workforce: A Choice or a Non-Choice? Maybe it is not even something one has to responsibilities, helping their wives to manage I remember my golden career years in the choose if work-life balance strategies are done basic domestic issues or childcare needs. As then Changi International Airport Services right. In May this year, The National Family mothering becomes a shared duty, men too, (CIAS). I had a boss in the Managing Director Council launched the inaugural Family see a need to spend more time with their who in the 1990s “walked the talk” of being Day Out with a hope to strengthen family families. Recently, a study by the American a profamily organisation. In my thirties and bonds. Families were treated to free rides on Sociological Review (ASR) reported that men struggling with two young children as well the Singapore Flyer, Singapore Ducktours, too, are complaining that they have not been as having to hold a full-time job and getting Hippotours and Rhinotours. Over time, the spending enough time with their families. Is engaged and involved with the affairs of SHRI, Council would lobby for Family Day Out to this a global phenomenon? And is opting-out it did not stop me from going for a number 3. It be a public holiday. It is a great idea to legislate of the workforce the way forward? was my target at the point of tying the nuptial such initiative. But will one event strengthen The need for work-life balance seems to knot, that I would have more than two kids, the concept and importance of family ties? be more intense now. Employees are now never mind the lack of third child maternity As a working mother, I face perennial looking for more profamily policies. A survey leave. I had gone through two caesarean births challenges in balancing work and family done by recruitment consultancy Robert and weathered a miscarriage, and yet it did time while managing civic involvement and Walters found that having flexible work-life not deter me to have a third kid. Did I need to activities conducive to a healthy lifestyle. balance is more important to Singaporeans be convinced to have more children? The act of strengthening family ties demands than earning high pay. More companies I never had a confinement lady to support more than just regular outings; it comprises a are beginning to realise the importance of me because I wanted to breastfeed and bond series of events and daily activities. Managing helping employees better handle the pressures with the babies. My attitude was simple: If I am household is one; paying attention to your of their jobs as well as their families. not prepared to give myself to my kids, who children's needs is another. At Eastman Chemical, employees on would do it more willingly than I? Did it matter Working mothers undertake professional 12-hour shifts can enjoy seven off days/rest that my husband need to be awake to change and domestic responsibilities. Both command days at a stretch every month. Changi General the nappy just because I was lactating? It never a certain level of commitment. To balance the Hospital staff gets subsidised child care fee in entered my mind that there must be equal two, you need to be able to compartmentalise their in-house childcare centre. As for HDB, sharing of responsibilities. It would really be your life, set priorities right, exercise control each staff facility has four private cubicles ideal, but it all depends on the circumstances. and do the balancing act. It is not an easy task. with comfy armchairs and refrigerators to So, I urge career women to first adopt the Drawing up a schedule to the various work accommodate lactating mothers. mindset of wanting to procreate because you and personal activities is usually unrealistic, Adopting work-life strategies will require see childbearing as a joy first and then set it physically tiring and mentally exhausting. Life employers to have a mindset change and as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for you is and should be more fluid than that. to make some alterations to the existing to accomplish. With such great challenges, there is no infrastructure. Recently, the government has Parenthood will be challenging but it also doubt that many women choose to focus announced plans to enhance its procreation comes with a bountiful supply of beautiful more on their mothering process by opting- policy. As HR practitioners, we need to moments and rewarding experiences. With an out of the workforce. And globally speaking, advocate such change and help employees open mindset, let us move forward with the the issue of women opting-out is happening in satisfy their personal needs to achieve win- spirit of “I want to” and “I can do it!” And to all most parts of the world. Opting-out countries win outcomes. Today, employers need to Singaporeans, Happy National Day! under the European Union as well as the U.S., be forward thinking to attract, develop and Australia and Japan are all affected. retain talent. HR practitioners need to create Here, the high standard of living has and implement policies or initiatives that go caused more family units to operate on a beyond traditional forms of compensation and dual-income modus operandi where both benefits. More importantly, a management parents have to work. Singaporean men that “walks the talk” and not just “talks the Mdm Ho Geok Choo, MSHRI, SHRP are now assuming parts of the care-giver walk” is what makes the real difference. President, SHRI AUGUST 2008 I humanCapital 1 MICA (P) 103/07/2008 | ISSN 1793-0359 SINGAPORE Human Resources INSTITUTE 2 Serangoon Road, Level 6, Tekka Mall Singapore 218227 Tel: (65) 6438 0012 Fax: (65) 6299 4864 Website: www.shri.org.sg EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR David Ang, MSHRI SHRI PUBlicaTIONS COMMITTEE LTC (Ret) Sardar Ali, MSHRI (Chairperson) SHRI Conferences & Seminars seek to provide Prof Sattar Bawany, MSHRI platforms for HR and Business leaders to meet, Patrick Han, MSHRI Paul FitzPatrick share, exchange and learn through various Ethan Tan, MSHRI Audrey Bong platforms. We have the following exciting activities Seow Ying Ying Teo Puay Leng lined up for you: Zuraida Junied 27-28 August SHRI Leading HR Summit 2008 EQUITY communicaTIONS PTE LTD 2008 145 Neil Road, Singapore 088874 Bringing Leading HR Tel: (65) 6324 7822, (65) 6324 4337 Wednesday - Thursday Fax: (65) 6324 7833 Practices and People to Website: www.equity.com.sg the Fore SHRI Leading HR DIRECTOR Summit 0830 - 1700 Max Chia Amara Hotel Singapore EDITORIAL TEAM Karen Fong, editor Carlo Aquino CONTRIBUTORS 24-25 September 23 October Prof Sattar Bawany K T Low 2008 2008 Alan Nankervis Wednesday - Thursday CREATIVE + DESIGN TEAM Bel Lee Henny Tjemerlang SHRI Global HR SHRI HRD Conference Conference ADVERTISING SALES Shirley Chen Traffic & circulaTion Gunjan Chaubey 2009 Cover photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board 22 January 7 February humanCapital is the official publication of the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) and it is published bi-monthly by Equity 2009 2009 Communications Pte Ltd. It is distributed for FREE to all SHRI members. Thursday Saturday SHRI is an active contributor to the global HR community, having held the office of Secretary General and Treasurer of the World Federation of Personnel Management Associations (WFPMA) for the 2006-2008 term, as well as the office of President of the Asia Pacific Federation of SHRI Outlook Singapore HR Human Resource Management (APFHRM) for the 2005-2006 term. SHRI is Challenge Singapore's national professional body for HR practitioners. For more information, please call us at +65 6438 0012 or email Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is not allowed. [email protected] Articles published in humanCapital are the opinions of the authors. The Information correct at time of print views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SHRI or the Publisher. Printed by Hock Cheong Printing Pte Ltd. HOSPITALITY DEAL OR NO DEAL? August 2008 Training to meet demand for casino dealers SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS 42 SINGAPORE ROLLS OUT THE RED CARPET Get hired or get fired up for 46 the Singapore GP season. SINGAPORE HR AWARDS 2008 8 COMPANIES SPUR AHEAD WITH HR AWARDS More employers are refining their HR policies and schemes 8 10 CONGraTulaTIONS TO THE AWARD RECIPIENTS GET READY FOR A PARADE OF STARS Be entertained from the land, the air and the sea 48 NOTHING BEATS THE EXPERIENCE! Singapore's Ministry of Education seeks service industry partners 54 BUILDING ‘SERVICE DNA’ Do you have what it takes to be a Certified Service Professional? SPOTLIGHT NATIONAL DAY PARADE 36 38 HONING PEOPLE SKILLS Great training ground for interacting with civilians and media 39 ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL The five pillars of Total Defence march to the same tune 4 humanCapital I AUGUST 2008 AUGUST 2008 I humanCapital 5 31 SHRI IN THE NEWS Highlights of media coverage for SHRI August 2008 32 QUALITY LEARNING@SHRI Courses for professional development GOING GREEN 56 INDULGE Minori offers 140 varieties of Japanese ala-carte buffet HOT ON THE PAPER TRAIL Is your company using environmentally- 58 65 HEALTHWATCH friendly paper? Raffles Medical Group: Healthcare when you need it 73 RECRUITMENT ADS MICE FOCUS MANAGEMENT Beyond your peak 60 WHEN GREEN MINDS MEET 66 STRATEGIC HRM: ALIGNING HR 80 BOOK REVIEW TO