In late May 2021, contrary to the official advisory that working from home should be the default mode of operation, many employers asked their staff to go back to office. This was a clear sign to the Singapore workforce that their bosses did not trust them to get the job done anywhere but in the office.
These bosses cracked the whip because they said they couldn’t trust their employees to deliver an honest day’s work if they were at home.
Frankly, it is fair to say that bosses like these won’t be in the running for employer of the year awards, either because they have hired a bunch of untrustworthy slackers or because their management skills are so poor they cannot instil loyalty and dedication in their employees.
More importantly, all bosses should know the truth of working life – the mere presence in the office does not equate to productivity.
All of us who have tasted corporate life can name the “duds” who, despite being at work on the dot daily, are usually the least productive. It is one of life’s biggest mysteries – how people can spend so much time at work and yet cannot deliver any tangible results that can help the company or their colleagues.
That said, employees have to do their part too – if your boss does not trust you, chances are you will not get a promotion or a big bonus any time soon. So you either have to work harder to gain his confidence or look for another job if you have done your best.
With global trends showing that working from home is here to stay, it pays for bosses and non-front-line employees who can function remotely to adapt and make the best of this new normal.