Retrenchment

Today I heard another sad news. 3 department colleagues (about 10 pps in all) in my office received their notice of termination. Their last day will be on 23 August 2008.

The reason given by the management is to centralize in Suzhou all departments that have regional impact on our business . For the time being, 3 departments will be affected.

Fast in three months time, or the most another 6 months, perhaps I will also be one of the victims. To these ‘Ang Mo’ there is no such thing called ‘Royalty’. Money is always on top priority. Compensations to these staff ? I heard, some did not even entitle to any compensation.

Retrenchment ????

Heard from colleagues another department will also undergoing retrenchment soon. The news made the staff in that department all worrying……. Do not know when is their turn and who will be the scapegoat.

How could the company hold both offices in Singapore and Malaysia. The labour cost and everything in Malaysia is so much cheaper compare to Singapore. Everyone in the office is talking that Singapore office is going to close sooner or later. With China office now being the HQ for Asia Pacific, Singapore is no longer the hub. That gave another reason to close our office down.

I hope I have good luck - I could find a suitable position in another company soon before it happen to me!!!

Last Friday, received a call from an old friend.... to tell me that her husband passed away. It's so sudden, at age 48. She guest it was sudden heart attack and the husband faithed at home. When ambulance came, it was all too late......

I could imagine, the feeling on the loss of the beloved. It took me more than a year to overcome the loss and another year to adjust the life back to normal. Even until now (more than 3 years), I still could not totally pack all my beloved hubby belonging and throw away. My beloved occassionally come into my dream..........

Life, is always so unpredictable. We should learn to treasure our life everyday as if we don't know what will happen tomorrow.

Hello and Goodbye

Yesterday heard about the retrenchment of one of my colleague, from another department. The company is closing down this department in our Singapore office and re-locating the department to our plant in China Suzhou.

This colleague wrote in his blog that he felt loss on the sudden lost of the job. With only 10 minutes notice, he packed his bag and desk and left the company. No time to say goodbye to his colleagues, no time to react what was going on.

The happening made me felt that perhaps the whole company is re-locating very soon. Perhaps next one will be my department. Our Malaysia factory has already opened. I also understand that our Finance guy is doing this project. Perhaps in the very near future, the whole operations will be shifted to Malaysia. What will happen to me? I asked myself. The company does not need a person to co-ordinate orders and shipments from Singapore if production and finished goods are all in Malaysia.

Perhaps it is time for me to think about my future………

Thank you and Goodbye Boss

Today is my boss last day in Singapore, before he retires back to his hometown in Switzerland. Having spent 23 years in Singapore, he could consider himself half a Singaporean (although he does not like to become PR). He knows how to play 4D & Toto better than any one of us in the office. He likes all the food in Singapore from Roti Prata to Roasted Meat Rice. He enjoys riding around Singapore island with his 'Yamaha' motorbike during the weekend.

He is the 'Best' boss I have met in my twenty years of working life. Although he occassionally got frustrated and sometimes very slow in actions, he shows a lot of concerns to the staff. He always said 'jokes' which helped the staff to de-stress. He treasure the value of 'family'.

My boss has given me a lot of support and helped me in one way or another to pass through the most difficult times in my life - when my husband was seriously ill and later on passed away.

I salute to my boos, and sincerely express my thanks to him. I wish him enjoy his new 'golden' years with his favourite things that could keep him occupy.

Thank you, my boss!

1 day Durian Tour to Muar

Last Saturday, Adeline and me followed the Tampinese Central CC one day tour to Muar for durian feast.

After checked in to both Customs, the coach brought us to a place for breakast on our own expense. After that, it took us about an hour to arrive at Muar for durian. Heard from the owner of the durian plantation said, these durian just started to fall, so the taste will be so good. May be 2-3 weeks later when the durian starts to fall a lot, that will be the best timing to eat durian.

After enjoying our durian feast, the guide brought us to Muar biggest bakery shop where they sell the famous 'Tao Sa Bian' and all kinds of pastry.

After that, we went for our lunch. Everyone of us was so full (eat too much durian) that the lunch become not enjoyable. What a waste!

Thereafer, we went to Batu Pahat, the guide said that 'The Summit' is the biggest shopping complex in Batu Pahat. But really, there are not much interesting things, as compared to shopping areas in JB, Malacca or KL.

After shopping in Batu Pahat, the journey continues to Yong Peng for further shopping - we went to a Chocolate Specialist shop and another Bakery shop before we went for our dinner.

After dinner, we headed back to Singapore.

This is quite an enjoyable trip...... Two of us with no worry on children following, can walk and shop as we like.