Business1 min read

askST Jobs: Is it OK to ask my boss if more retrenchments are coming?

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Human resource specialists advise leaders to communicate broader business challenges and stabilization plans openly, rather than staying entirely silent or offering misleading guarantees. Remaining workers feeling anxious should outline their goals and approach supervisors calmly instead of expressing frustration. Additionally, tripartite guidelines urge early engagement with employees and unions, while organizations are pushed to support staff reskilling during restructuring.

Key points

  • Human resource specialists recommend that leaders explain corporate challenges rather tha…: Human resource specialists recommend that leaders explain corporate challenges rather than remaining silent or making false promises.
  • Staff members facing uncertainty should clarify their specific concerns before engaging i…: Staff members facing uncertainty should clarify their specific concerns before engaging in constructive discussions with their supervisors.
  • Companies are actively encouraged to facilitate employee reskilling to navigate structura…: Companies are actively encouraged to facilitate employee reskilling to navigate structural changes caused by workplace automation.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Employers in Singapore do not have to share early retrenchment talks, but they must notify the Ministry of Manpower when retrenchments happen and should speak early with staff and unions.

- Experts say silence can raise fear after layoffs. Bosses should explain business problems, what is being done to steady the firm, and avoid false promises.

- Employees should think about what they want before asking about more cuts. They should ask calmly and directly, while firms should support reskilling as change and automation continue.

AI generated

In this series, business correspondent Timothy Goh offers practical answers to candid questions on navigating workplace challenges and getting ahead in your career. Get more tips by signing up to The Straits Times’ Headstart newsletter.

Q: How much information can employees reasonably expect from their bosses about possible further retrenchments? Are bosses obliged to tell employees if more retrenchments are being considered?

When an organisation announces retrenchments, much of the attention understandably goes to the employees who are leaving, and those who remain are sometimes overlooked.

For these employees, the uncertainty can…

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