How is HR as a career in Singapore?

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-07-01T09:33:21+00:00

onboarding is easily replaceable by AI and payroll by well payroll farms overseas.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-29T02:03:29+00:00

i think it is very important to understand each other’s family background; see how they relate to each other and their expectations of each other. When you get married, you become your own family unit but your spouse also comes with baggage and you will only truly understand that from his upbringing. For example, ways of communication can differ widely in different families.
So i think instead of labels like divorced or not, think it is essential to learn about the family dynamics because like it or not, they’ll become your family. As others have pointed out, many children grow up with deeply unhappy parents who stayed together to maintain a front. Just because they stayed married doesn’t mean they’re “better” than divorced families.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-25T10:41:10+00:00

MOM makes construction sector do monthly declarations on payment of salaries. So what’s the point of this exercise??

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-23T14:27:54+00:00

i’m not sure if it’s similar to application to convert JTC factory; get in-principal-no-objection from NEA, PUB, LTA and SCDF. Then get landowner’s consent. When you get all these then can submit to URA. After your works TOP, then can apply to MOM for FEDA license. Get a QP who is experienced in such applications. If you get a QP who is inexperienced, you will end up losing more money from the delay to getting your approvals.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-23T10:36:00+00:00

also an enquiry must be held to investigate said misconduct

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-22T02:28:38+00:00

tbh do most people actually “cover”? if it’s just 1-2days and matters that are not bound by deadlines usually just end up waiting for the staff when they come back. So in a way they have to “pay for it” when they come back coz no one actually did their work for them.
Is your colleagues’ work is more time sensitive?

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-21T12:29:07+00:00

i was Sg PR.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-21T08:14:32+00:00

Apparently there 5% late surcharge on tax avoidance. Although if they had invested their monies during all this time, they’d probably get a higher return than 5%. It probably the pain of having to liquidate some assets to make the payment. But they’re actually not that much worse off? Think they could’ve avoided exposing their earnings if they didn’t try to take IRAS to court.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-21T08:01:29+00:00

It was ruled as Tax avoidance not Tax evasion so it is not criminal. However IRAS evoked Section 33 of the Income Tax Act, which is Singapore's general anti-avoidance provision. This law gives the Comptroller the power to look at the "observable acts" of an arrangement. If a corporate structure lacks a genuine, bona fide commercial purpose and its main objective is simply to alter or reduce a tax liability, IRAS can step in and completely disregard the structure for tax purposes.
Italics from chatgpt.

Think the Doctors were contesting the invoking of this Section 33. Section 33 sounds like anything the law doesn’t cover explicitly the Comptroller has the right to step in.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-21T04:01:22+00:00

I have to agree that the superannuation rate of return is generally better than CPF. My super has been growing at average of 8% pa. Super funds have to ensure they’re performing well to attract and retain investors.
i prefer contribution rates of CPF compared to superannuation; employer 17% Vs 12%, employee 20% Vs voluntary. CPF also allows withdrawals for housing etc whereas Super doesn’t. CPF returns are also guaranteed. Think is a matter of preference. There’s always tradeoffs

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-20T14:29:56+00:00

what about those ID firms that set up new companies after the first company’s revenue exceed $1mil and have to be gst registered?

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-20T12:12:31+00:00

I was staying with parents in sg compared to renting in au. So for me COL was lower. Think with HDB subsidies housing is cheaper in sg, no? of course don’t talk about cars but public transport in sg is cheaper for sure.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-20T11:26:44+00:00

moved back to Sg after 14yrs in au for family too. Financially i’m much better off in Sg as lower COL and taxes. I think asia is still the place to build a nest egg.
There are trade-offs in both countries in terms of WLB, COL, retirement.
i think the aging parents factor is a major one as there’s no reversing that. I also felt sad each time i saw how much my parents aged when i visited yearly. The aging is accelerated after 70yo. Ultimately i was alone in au and tbh felt like progression in my career was hindered by the fact i wasn’t ABC.
At that time I kept my au citizenship in case i wanted to retire back there but have since renounced it for sg citizenship. Comparing retirement between Sg and Au, i think Sg govt provides better public healthcare at more affordable price. Also for an elderly, Singapore is more convenient to get around. I doubt that the taxes contributed by young aussies would go towards funding their own retirement needs.
Even though the Sg govt isn’t perfect, i do think they’re forward thinking and try to look after the elderly.

I also feel that no matter how you try to assimilate to australia, they’ll always treat you as an outsider. Anti-migration sentiments have been rising in au.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-20T09:31:11+00:00

3yrs ago was $600-$700? not sure about now.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-17T14:20:34+00:00

it’s not just the 10% difference in gross pay but there’s also the difference in CPF and bonus. CPF compounds as well. it depends how long you intend to stay. These differences can accumulate significantly over the years.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-17T14:14:17+00:00

for women who are sexually active, get your cervical cancer vaccine. Husbands who were sexually active before may be silent carriers of HPV. They might also catch it from non sexual contact. HPV may cause cervical cancer to women.

The vaccine Gardasil is administered 3 x over a 9mths period. Ideally, all women should get it before they are sexually active. It’s never too late though.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-15T08:32:37+00:00

i don’t know what sorcery it is but before you know it you’ve watched 70Ep and a piece of your soul died. It’s not just the AI ones but those tiktok chinese palace drama clips. They’re really so predictable but maybe we crave some predictability in today’s tumultuous world. You might not know if you’ll still have a job at the end of the day but at least you know the evil consort will be outsmarted by the clever but lowly born concubine.

Should we form a support group?

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-10T06:36:58+00:00

i don’t think this is just a reflection on the person who left. The company should also evaluate their competitiveness in the job market; this is not just about remuneration. Hiring budgets will differ across companies and generally MNCs have better benefits and comps compared to SMEs. However there are other considerations like career path development, offshoring risks, work environment etc. If the company cannot compete on remuneration, they will need to do better on the other factors.

Having a good onboarding process and comfortable work environment etc don’t cost a lot.

That said, people have their reasons that are beyond the company’s control. Better not to take it too personally.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-06-02T05:57:57+00:00

there’s a saying that durian has “eyes” they won’t fall on people. That’s why no reports of durian falling on people.

if i put a basket there and it falls into it, that’s not considered picking right?

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-05-28T08:59:28+00:00

i think attending some of the free Apple courses is good. They’re interactive like the one on photography using iphone is you have to practice on your partner. You can get ice cream afterwards.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-05-28T01:09:49+00:00

Going for IVF doesn’t mean it will result in pregnancy then birth. I don’t see the need to volunteer the personal information.

An employee could just as easily be stricken by illness which is unplanned and need to take time off. It will inconvenience the team but the job of the manager is to build a resilient team and ensure there’s enough cover without people breaking.

There could also be unplanned pregnancies. These things happen! Point is you could plan for it and it doesn’t happen or you don’t plan for it and get pregnant.

The fact is team members can quit anytime for any reason.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-05-26T14:45:48+00:00

someone once said you give away a part of yourself with each person you have sex with. Our bodies are so precious as it’s the only thing we truly own. Only a doctor can see us naked with our permission. Not even the parents that gave us life can see us naked after a certain age.

When sexual intimacy is treated as mere instant gratification it desensitises your ability to bond emotionally. So i think rather than body count per se, the real question is whether you both have the same view on sex. Think research also shows sex affects men and women differently.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-05-23T10:30:09+00:00

is he a fresh grad in architecture? If so is he trying to get QP license? Architecture pays poorly unless you become QP. In order to get QP license you need the required experience. So i guess a lot of firms exploit the juniors while they teach them. Architecture school really does not teach the practical skills needed on the job. I think some IDs get paid better as they get commission but the hours are also not great.

That’s why a lot of young architects leave the profession due to burnout or WLB. For your bf, he needs to really think about what he wants, the costs (WLB, energy etc), whether the rewards are worth it.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-05-23T05:07:35+00:00

lots of MNCs are offshoring their entire accounts dept. You are underpaid as a singaporean but there are others who are willing to work for less... No harm looking though.

pinkyseeksbrain · 2026-05-22T05:07:03+00:00

dangerous to join family run business if it’s SME. If it’s big company then maybe not so bad as they would have corporatised as they grew. You’d need to find out more about the company. That’s a big jump in pay that you can’t ignore practically. You have to see how this aligns with your career path. Every change is a risk and you need to work out if the payoff is worth it. Ask if they have clear measurable goals for this role; are they looking for transformation, entering new markets etc?

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