Our conversation:
I: Will you be able to handle full time studying and work at the same time?
He: That’s not an issue; I will be working part time only.
I: Ah, OK. So, you will have enough time for studies if you work part time and return home around 2or 3 PM.
He: No, Tom. Part time means working from 9AM to 5PM or 6 PM not from 9AM to 1PM.
I: Hahahahahahahaha. Are you kidding me or what? Part time from 9 to 5? Come on, that’s full time. So, what are the full time hours, then?
He: I guess – 9AM to 9PM.
I: Oh, my god. That’s incredible.
That’s how the working hours on average look like in Singapore or Asia in general. I, sort of, suspected that even before coming here, but after being here, talking to people and seeing people that actually work every day like that…….I guess it’s really not my cup of tea. I can now officially confirm, that I prefer Australian or European life/work balance. No questions about it. I am wondering how long is it going to take for Asia to change – or will it be the other way around – Europe and Australia degrading their work/life balance?
4 comments:
oh cmon - dont be so hard on him!!!!
it's not about him. this story should be taken as an example of cultural differences and different perceptions of work and life in general.
i guess people can work like that as long as you have a maid or if you are a robot. otherwise - what do you have out of your life if you leave home at 8AM and come back at 10PM?
I guess you are a dead fish on weekend then, recuperating from the working week? Or is it just me that is looking for joy in life besides work?
Well I think this is reflective of the Singapore work environment to a large extent.
People might make fun of this initially but I believe most of the people who wish to stay here have to get used to it.
Come to think of it, this is probably the reason why the asian economies are known to be getting more and more competitive. This would probably also explain why there are a lot of jobs getting moved to asia from the (as our FA prof would say) 'so-called' developed economies...
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