Economic Meltdown

They said this year is going to be tough. The effects will be seen especially after the Chinese New Year.

Retrenchment is rampant. There are basically two approaches:

(1) First in, first out basis: You have been an old staff. Getting rid of you will save the cost because with the salary the company pays you, the company can hire two or three fresh graduates. And you seem to have lost the passion as compared to when you first came in; you are stagnant, not moving.

(2) Last in, first out basis: Since you are new, and still under probation, the company can dispose of you easily without much hassle. And disposing of you will not affect the company that much etc...

A friend of mine who has only started working in Singapore for about three months has been retrenched. He faces difficulty in finding a new job due to the meltdown and the imminent Chinese New Year.

Another friend was forced to resign due to company politics and communication problem. It is not easy at all to hunt for new job at this very moment.

There may be many more people that we know of that are in difficult times and trying moments. They are afraid of the future, pressured by the harsh reality, deprived of hope and livelihood. They struggle.

In reaching out to them, I have found that there are few things we should bear in mind.

(1) Be sincere. Do not fake it. They are unemployed for that particular moment but they are not stupid to tell whether you are sincere or not.

(2) Be humble. If you intend to help, do not act as if you are his (or her) saviour. Do not show as if you know better of how to secure a job or to get a new job.

(3) Be nice. Never give lecture to the already guilt-laden hearts. Soft words break no bones.

(4) Be sensitive. The troubled hearts can be very fragile. Guard your lips, watch your words.

(5) Be positive. Always give hope and encouragement.

With the burst of the economic bubble, be thankful if you are not affected. Help those in need to overcome this period of recession and retrenchment.

If you are affected tremendously, take courage and never lose faith. Be sure that things will fall in place; and we need to be calm, cool, patient and resilient.

Somehow, the darkest hour is always nearest to dawn...