askST Jobs

askST Jobs: My boss keeps making passive-aggressive remarks. How should I respond?

Passive-aggressive remarks are hard enough to handle with peers, but it is even tougher to manage the conversation when they come from your boss.

askST Jobs: My colleagues get more flexibility because of family commitments. What about me?

Managers may assume that employees without children can always stay late, travel at short notice or work during holidays.

askST Jobs: My boss takes credit for my ideas and achievements. What can I do?

Employees should make their contributions visible, especially when their boss takes the credit.

askST Jobs: I keep having to pick up a colleague’s work. How should I raise it with my boss?

An employee’s role is to highlight the issue and its impact, while managing the colleague’s performance is ultimately the manager’s responsibility.

askST Jobs: My CPF contributions are missing or late. What should I do?

Employees should first verify whether their CPF contributions have been credited by checking their CPF statements through CPF online services.

askST Jobs: How to tell if you’re being micromanaged or closely supervised. What’s the difference?

There is a difference between a boss who checks in on employees and one who constantly hovers like a “helicopter parent” over them.

askST Jobs: Should I turn down a promotion to protect my work-life balance?

Employees should consider discussing workload, resources, travel, flexibility and even the timing of the promotion with their employer.

askST Jobs: Meetings, chats at the breakout area near my desk can get quite ‘lively’. What can I do?

Unlike shared public spaces, shared spaces in the office work best when colleagues are considerate of those around them, and workplaces should cultivate such norms collectively rather than impose rules.

askST Jobs: I had to work during my annual leave to meet a deadline. Can I ask for time off in lieu?

Employees should also “take ownership” if it was within his or her power to deliver the work before going on leave.

askST Jobs: My colleague and I are up for the same promotion. Can we still work well together?

The key is to compete for the opportunity, not against the person, said Tan Weixi, managing partner at Workplace Asia.

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Personal Data Protection Notice

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

中文版 (beta)

MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.