{"id":4131,"date":"2019-07-01T17:08:43","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T09:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev-alumn-nus.pantheonsite.io\/alumnus\/?p=4131"},"modified":"2025-07-15T16:08:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:08:11","slug":"navigating-the-new-age-of-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2019\/07\/01\/navigating-the-new-age-of-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating the New Age of Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4131\" class=\"elementor elementor-4131\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-16e382a0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"16e382a0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3307b255\" data-id=\"3307b255\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f9ab9f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f9ab9f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>A \u2018996\u2019 work schedule \u2014 9am to 9pm, six days a week \u2014 may be de rigueur in China\u2019s fiercely competitive tech industry, but it is not most people\u2019s idea of fun. On the contrary, the thought of a 72-hour workweek might cause many of us to break out in a cold sweat. So when Jack Ma, co-founder of Chinese e-commerce juggernaut Alibaba Group, endorsed the \u2018996\u2019 work culture and called it a \u201chuge bliss\u201d according to an April 2019 post on Alibaba\u2019s official Weibo account, it was unsurprisingly decried by critics from all over the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>There is broad consensus that working long hours have negative health consequences. In the last two years alone, the\u00a0<em>European Heart Journal<\/em>,\u00a0<em>Journal of Happiness Studies\u00a0<\/em>and Mayo Clinic staff, among others, have reported that overworked employees experience high levels of stress or burnout, which can manifest in a variety of physical and mental health problems such as fatigue, constant headaches, insomnia, heart disease, anxiety and depression. This raises the likelihood of employees being less productive or committing errors at work, to say nothing of the higher healthcare spending and turnover costs borne by employers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>In an ideal world, everyone will be able to strike a good balance between their career and personal life, and employers in turn would reap the benefits of a healthy, happy workforce. But if \u2018996\u2019 isn\u2019t the answer, what is? Why is it probably easier said than done? It is worthwhile to examine how well (or not) NUS alumni have fared in achieving work-life balance, and how their experiences \u2014 as well as the advice of NUS career experts \u2014 can help fellow alumni, including NUS\u2019 freshly-minted graduates who are about to join the workforce.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6421230 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6421230\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-69fdd5a\" data-id=\"69fdd5a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d7c260 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4d7c260\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daryl-Boey.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7987\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daryl-Boey.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daryl-Boey-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daryl-Boey-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5612dd3\" data-id=\"5612dd3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a5641d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a5641d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: cccccc;font-family: Roboto slab Light;font-size: medium\">WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION TIP #1<\/span><br \/>Set clear boundaries for yourself. Identify what you are willing to tolerate as far as time management, workload and work hours are concerned, and stick to those boundaries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>Mr Daryl Boey, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager, APAC, Essence<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a20d8f6 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a20d8f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4209c93 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4209c93\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3eaf25d\" data-id=\"3eaf25d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9dfc14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9dfc14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>BLURRED BOUNDARIES\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get one thing straight: there is no such thing as work-life balance anymore \u2014 at least from a binary, either-or perspective. Technological advances such as powerful mobile devices, high-speed WiFi hotspots, video conferencing tools, instant messaging apps and document collaboration software allow people to work at any time and from anywhere, causing work to spill over into home life and vice versa. This has brought about a slew of non-traditional flexible work arrangements (FWAs) including telecommuting, hot-desking, co-working spaces, staggered hours and compressed (four-day) workweeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Companies are by and large moving in this direction to attract and retain employees. More women \u2014 who tend to shoulder the child-rearing burden \u2014 are entering (or re-entering) the workforce; family caregiving responsibilities are growing due to our ageing population; and job-hopping and freelance work are becoming more prevalent in the new \u2018gig\u2019 economy \u2014 all amounting to louder calls for FWAs and other work-life balance policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>In this context, the more apt term \u2018work-life integration\u2019 (or \u2018work-life harmony\u2019) has caught on. It mirrors real-life situations like checking work emails at home or on vacation, paying bills online during office hours and socialising with colleagues outside the workplace. \u201cTo me, work-life balance means the integration of my professional and personal lives in a way that helps achieve my\u00a0goals in both realms in a meaningful manner,\u201d\u00a0 says Mr Daryl Boey (Arts and Social Sciences \u201912), Senior Talent Acquisition Manager for Asia-Pacific at media agency Essence.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Mr Boey, 32, adds that work-life integration is subjective, as it depends on the extent to which the individual is willing to make sacrifices in the work or non-work sphere. Someone intent on getting ahead in their career would readily devote more time at work, whereas another person might arrange to leave work earlier on certain days to attend hobby-related classes. \u201cManage your time to accomplish your professional and personal goals in a way that is most comfortable for you. It is a work in progress, so be prepared to adjust accordingly when it makes sense to, at different junctures in your life,\u201d he asserts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7dc4f91 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7dc4f91\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a52f1ff\" data-id=\"a52f1ff\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e643007 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e643007\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Dr-Ryan-Chaw.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8003\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Dr-Ryan-Chaw.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Dr-Ryan-Chaw-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Dr-Ryan-Chaw-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-93462ba\" data-id=\"93462ba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae84d5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae84d5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: cccccc;font-family: Roboto slab Light;font-size: medium\">WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION TIP #2<\/span><br \/>Build up financial literacy as early as possible. Learn how to invest in stocks to earn a passive income stream and reach financial stability. This will give you the freedom to leave an unsatisfying job and do something you are passionate about.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>Dr Ryan Chaw, External Technology Acquisition \u2013 APAC Lead, The Coca-Cola Company<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f165c6 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0f165c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4e3aae5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4e3aae5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1b15da\" data-id=\"c1b15da\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b6fd20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b6fd20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>The notion that work-life integration is continually evolving is something Dr Ryan Chaw (Engineering \u201902), a career-minded-person-turned-family man, can relate to. \u201cWhen I was in my 20s and just starting out in my career, I was focused on getting more work experience and growing my professional capabilities. Work took higher priority,\u201d says Dr Chaw, 41, who has two sons aged 10 and eight. \u201cThings started to shift in my 30s, after I got married and had kids. As I\u2019ve grown older, my perspective on life has changed. Chasing a career is not as important to me as spending time with my family.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Nonetheless, there have been some bumps along the way. When Dr Chaw, a former materials research scientist, joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2015 as the External Technology Acquisition Lead for Asia-Pacific, it took a while for him to get settled. \u201cDuring my first few months at Coca-Cola, I struggled with the \u2018always-on\u2019 work mindset. Because I was still new to the role, I felt like I had to respond immediately to work calls, even after office hours and on weekends,\u201d says Dr Chaw. \u201cOnce I got the hang of my job and learned how to prioritise work tasks, things became more manageable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>THE MILLENNIAL FORCE\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>Singaporeans are giving greater priority to the work-life interface, as revealed by recent surveys. In Randstad\u2019s\u00a0<em>Employer Brand Research 2018: Singapore Report,<\/em>\u00a0the employment agency noted that, next to salary and benefits (55 per cent), work-life balance (53 per cent) was the top reason Singapore employees \u2014 especially women \u2014 gave for staying in their present jobs. A separate survey by recruitment firm Robert Half found that one in four Singaporeans would leave their current organisation for a better work-life balance, valuing it just above better financial rewards (24 per cent).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>These results are consistent with a LinkedIn survey that was conducted in 2018 with respondents across nine Asia-Pacific countries. The study showed that nearly half (40 per cent) of all respondents regarded work-life balance as the ultimate job aspiration, particularly those from the developed economies of Singapore (48 per cent) and Australia (46 per cent). Interestingly, the growing influence of millennials on the job market \u2014 and their preference for purposeful work over higher pay \u2014 was posited as a major factor behind this trend.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-21e2c80 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"21e2c80\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ccd822\" data-id=\"1ccd822\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b865d10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b865d10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shamantha-Yan.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8016\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shamantha-Yan.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shamantha-Yan-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shamantha-Yan-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d4b964e\" data-id=\"d4b964e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c530235 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c530235\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: cccccc;font-family: Roboto slab Light;font-size: medium\">WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION TIP #3<\/span><br \/>Identity is multi-faceted; career is just one part of it. Don\u2019t focus solely on building your career. Discover your passion and what excites you outside of work. Be open to new experiences to find out what you like and don\u2019t like.\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>Ms Shamantha Yan, Co-Founder, Growthbeans<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee151ff elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ee151ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b920f0f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b920f0f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-017d1d8\" data-id=\"017d1d8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f6c4d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0f6c4d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>Millennial twins Ms Shamantha Yan (Arts and Social Sciences \u201908) and Ms Shane Yan (Arts and Social Sciences \u201908), 33, acknowledge that the search for purpose has been a key consideration in their working lives. Both of them used to work long hours in their corporate jobs \u2014 Shamantha at Singapore Airlines, and Shane at human resource consulting firm Mercer \u2014 before they linked up in 2015 as co-founders of Growthbeans, a social enterprise aimed at helping people form connections with others (through \u2018Sharing Circles\u2019) to facilitate career and personal development.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cThe weekly \u2018Sharing Circle\u2019 sessions serve as a safe space for participants to share their thoughts and views to non-judgmental listening ears, find their sense of identity beyond their job titles, and build meaningful relationships with others,\u201d says Shamantha. This work is aligned with the duo\u2019s passion to help people gain self-awareness to lead happier, more fulfilling lives, as they themselves have realised. Shamantha explains, \u201cAt some point, you have to stop seeing work and life as two separate things. What matters more is that you enjoy what you are doing in all areas of your life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Shane opines that millennials\u2019 increased desire for work-life balance may be the by-product of greater financial security. \u201cIn the past, people operated in survival mode \u2014 they needed to work hard to provide for their families. By comparison, our generation has not faced such hardships. Living standards have improved, and most millennials can receive financial support from their parents.\u201d Referencing Maslow\u2019s \u2018hierarchy of needs\u2019 theory, Shane says, \u201cWe are able to move on from the basic physiological needs to higher-level needs like self-actualisation, or seeking personal growth to give meaning to our lives.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7376388 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7376388\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee1a693\" data-id=\"ee1a693\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-664c8ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"664c8ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shane-Yan.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8026\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shane-Yan.jpg 881w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shane-Yan-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shane-Yan-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Ms-Shane-Yan-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cc7a1a8\" data-id=\"cc7a1a8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bffffe2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bffffe2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: cccccc;font-family: Roboto slab Light;font-size: medium\">WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION TIP #4<\/span><br \/>Reflect on your priorities and what is important to you. Practise time management; know when to hit the \u2018stop\u2019, \u2018start\u2019 and \u2018pause\u2019 buttons. Have the self-discipline to avoid getting bogged down by minor details, and let go of perfectionism.<\/h4>\n<p>Ms Shane Yan, Co-Founder, Growthbeans<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e918773 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e918773\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6522564 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6522564\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-df26296\" data-id=\"df26296\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a2c880 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3a2c880\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"447\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/FWAs.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8030\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/FWAs.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/FWAs-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/FWAs-768x429.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b79b45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b79b45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><strong>FWAs\u00a0ON THE RISE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>As stated in the Ministry of Manpower\u2019s latest <em>Conditions of Employment<\/em>\u00a0report released in January 2019, Singapore saw the following increases between 2017 and 2018:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-8031 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/50-53-percent-300x198.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/50-53-percent-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/50-53-percent-768x507.png 768w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/50-53-percent.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8032 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/75-84-percent-300x198.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/75-84-percent-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/75-84-percent-768x507.png 768w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/75-84-percent.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-8033 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/70-72-percent-300x198.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/70-72-percent-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/70-72-percent-768x507.png 768w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/70-72-percent.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8034 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/81-87-percent-300x198.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/81-87-percent-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/81-87-percent-768x507.png 768w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/81-87-percent.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b9dc113 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b9dc113\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b7dc72c\" data-id=\"b7dc72c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcb1596 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bcb1596\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><\/blockquote>\n\n<p>As employers, the Yans are strong advocates of work-life balance. They are currently based at the co-working space Social Collider, but all four Growthbeans staff (including the two sisters) can work from anywhere and have the flexibility to manage their own time. Likewise, Dr Chaw is leasing a space at the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) Co-working Zone in one-north, which puts him closer to potential external partners for \u201copen innovation\u201d opportunities. Coca-Cola\u2019s Flexible Work Schedule Policy also provides employees with the means to organise their working lives to suit personal needs in improving productive time and reinforcing work-life balance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cFWAs are increasingly becoming the norm, and hence workers have come to expect this when evaluating prospective employers,\u201d says Mr Alvin Low, Head of Strategic Relations and Planning at NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG). \u201cAmong the employers we have interviewed for CFG\u2019s Future-ready Reports, fostering work-life harmony was a prominent theme. We also highlighted that workplace culture factors like Purpose, Growth, Challenge, Trust, Autonomy, Collaboration and Well-being were key motivators for millennial talents beyond hygiene factors such as salary.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c88594f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c88594f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-323a435\" data-id=\"323a435\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d403ae5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d403ae5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><\/blockquote>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>IN THE\u00a0DRIVER\u2019S SEAT\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/nus.edu.sg\/alumnet\/images\/librariesprovider2\/issue-118-jul---sep-2019\/focus\/face-circle.tmb-thumb200.png?sfvrsn=c5703287_1\" alt=\"face-circle\" \/>A 2018 Universum global talent survey ranked Google as the most attractive employer for Business, Engineering, IT and Arts students in Singapore universities (including NUS). Moreover, work-life balance was the most-selected career goal upon graduation for the students surveyed, across all fields of study. Ms Anuprita Bhomick (Business \u201903), 45, Global Head of Partner Programmes at Google, who is also an Adjunct Lecturer at NUS Business School, shares how she has sought to integrate work and life throughout her tech career.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cFrom my experience at companies like Dell, Hewlett-Packard and now Google, I can say that the tech sector has a long history of flexible working hours, telecommuting, sabbaticals, generous paid parental leave, as well as other employee benefits and perks such as on-site gyms and subsidised or free food. This is not the case across all industries, some of which still have time cards or measure productivity by the time spent in office.\u00a0<br \/><br \/>I have had my fair share of hard lessons when it comes to work-life balance. Previously, financial security \u2014 paying off my mortgage, affording my Master\u2019s degree, and saving up for retirement and for my kids\u2019 education \u2014 was uppermost in my mind. There were times when I felt like I was doing too much at work, and I have missed important family occasions. I tried hard to live up to my bosses\u2019 and co-workers\u2019 expectations of me. Then it started to take a toll on my health. I had a difficult pregnancy with my second child [now four years old]. I had to turn inwards to figure out what was right for me.\u00a0<br \/><br \/>Now that I am in my 40s, I feel more centred and relaxed. Work-life integration to me has four components \u2014 doing more in my career, being more present for my family, giving back to the community, and investing in self-growth. You can do all this and push for four-way wins, if you have clarity on what makes you happy. At the end of the day, you are in the driver\u2019s seat of your own life and happiness. Don\u2019t drown out your own voice; do what is right for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9311f36 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9311f36\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-623a2ae\" data-id=\"623a2ae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b31a5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b31a5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><\/blockquote>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>REALITY BITES\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>Despite the increased attention to work-life harmony by employees and employers, it continues to elude vast swathes of people. Stories of advertising executives, auditors, lawyers and medical residents clocking excessive hours are legion. For every happy, productive tech employee like Ms Anuprita Bhomick [<em>see \u2018In The Driver\u2019s Seat\u2019<\/em>], there is a disgruntled, burned-out counterpart in China due to the gruelling \u2018996\u2019 system. For every individual who makes use of FWAs to lead a well-balanced life, there is another who feels compelled to be in \u2018always-on\u2019 work mode because of the ability to work anytime, anywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Japan and South Korea may be infamous for their \u2018death from overwork\u2019 problem, but the fact is that Singaporeans put in one of the longest working hours in the world. Under Singapore\u2019s Employment Act, employees are allowed to work up to 44 hours a week, which is within the 48-hour standard set by the International Labour Organization. They are also not allowed to work more than 12 hours a day, or over 72 hours of overtime a month. However, most Singaporeans appear to be exceeding this limit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a52953b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a52953b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-40ad719\" data-id=\"40ad719\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b88c437 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b88c437\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Career-Advisors-from-NUS-Business-School.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8059\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Career-Advisors-from-NUS-Business-School.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Career-Advisors-from-NUS-Business-School-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Career-Advisors-from-NUS-Business-School-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The Career Advisors from NUS Business School are (front row, left to right) Ms Julynn Liang and Ms Theresa Ong; and (back row, left to right) Mr Kenneth Lam, Mr Eddie Phua and Mr Clarence Ong.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e21f8b0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e21f8b0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8d5d202\" data-id=\"8d5d202\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-426a6a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"426a6a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><\/blockquote>\n\n<p>The Ministry of Manpower reported that Singapore employees worked an average of 44.8 paid hours a week (equivalent to nearly nine hours a day for a five-day workweek) in 2018, down slightly from 46.3 paid hours a week in 2008. However, these statistics exclude unpaid overtime and so there may be systematic under-estimation of working hours. Looking specifically at the millennial cohort, a 2016 survey by global recruitment agency ManpowerGroup found that millennials in Singapore worked 48 hours a week \u2014 trailing only behind their peers in India at 52 hours, and on par with China and Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Naturally, this struggle over work is affecting the well-being of Singaporeans. According to a recent survey by health service company Cigna, 92 per cent of Singaporean respondents were stressed from work \u2014 higher than the global average of 84 per cent, and making Singaporeans among the most stressed at work globally. Of this group, 13 per cent considered their stress unmanageable, causing sleep deprivation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>NUS Business School\u2019s Undergraduate Career Advisory Team suggests that Singapore\u2019s\u00a0<em>kiasu<\/em>\u00a0(fear of losing out) culture may be partially at fault: \u201cDue to our education system and upbringing, the majority of the workforce aims to stay globally competitive with lucrative salary packages and simultaneously achieve a healthy work-life balance. However, more often than not, with the advent of evolving technology, employees are working even longer hours outside of the stipulated office hours via emails and mobile app messages.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f618a67 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f618a67\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-053df35\" data-id=\"053df35\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0baeaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a0baeaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daniel-Chia.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8066\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daniel-Chia.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daniel-Chia-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Daniel-Chia-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b83ae03\" data-id=\"b83ae03\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3608b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3608b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: cccccc;font-family: Roboto slab Light;font-size: medium\">WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION TIP #5<\/span><br \/>Have courage. Believe that you are not being judged based on the number of hours you put in at work, or on the societal labels others may pin on you. Be upfront about whether you find more fulfilment through work or outside of work.\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>Mr Daniel Chia, Head of Human Resources, Samsung Asia<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2667e25 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2667e25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e17bdcc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e17bdcc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28a5f91\" data-id=\"28a5f91\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a49318d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a49318d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><strong><\/strong><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>DID YOY KNOW?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h5><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/nus.edu.sg\/alumnet\/images\/librariesprovider2\/issue-118-jul---sep-2019\/focus\/stress.tmb-thumb200.png?sfvrsn=91211c57_1\" alt=\"stress\" width=\"200\" height=\"175\" \/>South Korea and Japan have begun taking legal steps to prevent \u2018death from overwork\u2019. Last year, South Korea cut its maximum weekly work hours from\u00a068 to 52,\u00a0while Japan has formally capped overtime work at <\/strong><strong>100 hours a month.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c3fae36 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c3fae36\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-629caf7\" data-id=\"629caf7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-daa746f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"daa746f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><\/blockquote>\n\n<p>Mr Daniel Chia (Science \u201903), Head of Human Resources at Samsung Asia, agrees with them. \u201cUnfortunately, Singaporeans still have a penchant for labelling people by their material wealth or possessions, which is driving a competitive \u2018race to the top\u2019. I don\u2019t think this will change anytime soon,\u201d he admits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Within Samsung, Mr Chia, 42, discloses that there is a formal telecommuting policy in place, yet the staff take-up rate is low. \u201cMost employees dare not work from home, probably because they are worried of being perceived as skiving by their bosses.\u201d Thus, he says, work-life integration requires a \u201ctwo-pronged\u201d approach. \u201cAn organisation can have the right infrastructure to promote work-life integration \u2014 for example, offering FWAs and recreational facilities such as a gym or foosball table \u2014 but it is up to the individual to utilise it, as well as the people manager to embrace it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n<p>The best way for undergraduates to prepare themselves for the rigours of the workplace, and be exposed to the work-life harmony typically offered in a particular industry, is by taking internships. \u201cAs an intern, the student could infer and decide if the work climate complements the lifestyle which they are comfortable with. This could be done by observing seniors who have been working in the company for the past one or two years,\u201d say NUS Business School\u2019s career advisors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>CFG also provides career advisory services for students in various NUS faculties. Mrs Camilla Tam, a Faculty of Science Career Advisor at CFG, notes that students often bring up the topic of work-life balance during career coaching sessions. \u201cWe try to educate the students that employers want people who are willing to work hard to learn and develop fast, so it\u2019s important to have an open conversation on expectations early on,\u201d says Mrs Tam. \u201cUndoubtedly fresh graduates will face a steep learning curve when embarking on their first jobs, so they need to be prepared for an element of occasional overtime at the start to build up their proficiency [even if it is not explicitly stated in the job scope].\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-926111c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"926111c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8c0bb5b\" data-id=\"8c0bb5b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cde57fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cde57fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Jasbir-Singh.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8076\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Jasbir-Singh.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Jasbir-Singh-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/Mr-Jasbir-Singh-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-daeae33\" data-id=\"daeae33\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c621e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c621e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: cccccc;font-family: Roboto slab Light;font-size: medium\">WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION TIP #6<\/span><br \/>Try reframing the issue. Instead of viewing work-life balance and professional success as an \u2018either-or\u2019 dilemma, approach it with a \u2018both-and\u2019 mindset.<\/h4>\n<p>Mr Jasbir Singh, Head of Learning and Development, NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba19869 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ba19869\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-012452c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"012452c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-eb7dbe8\" data-id=\"eb7dbe8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb567ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb567ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><\/blockquote>\n\n<p>Mr Jasbir Singh, Head of Learning and Development at CFG, reiterates: \u201cIn the spirit of conscious growth and learning, I think the first year or two after graduation can be the time to allow the balance to tilt heavily in favour of work. But maybe not in perpetuity. The key word here is conscious \u2014 deciding that you choose to work longer hours than you are paid for so that you can learn as much as possible, build credibility and grow your professional network.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Patience and resilience are therefore required for those just starting out in their careers. On some level, then, even though FWAs and other provisions for work-life harmony are now widely available in the workplace, the best recourse for fresh graduates may be to adopt the mindset that such provisions should be earned rather than expected. Proving one\u2019s worth in the workplace is the first step towards accelerating a fledgling career and, ultimately, achieving work-life integration.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4658da1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4658da1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bdf6fe8\" data-id=\"bdf6fe8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea71442 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea71442\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><strong><\/strong><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"crop\" src=\"https:\/\/nus.edu.sg\/alumnet\/images\/librariesprovider2\/issue-118-jul---sep-2019\/focus\/crop.png?sfvrsn=5bba6c8c_2\" alt=\"crop\" \/><\/strong><\/figure>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>CULTIVATING FUTURE-READY GRADUATES\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>To equip NUS students with essential soft skills that are applicable across all life domains, including work, CFG has launched two new initiatives during the Academic Year 2018\/19. The first is the Career Accelerator workshop series, where CFG trainers and reputed industry professionals conduct \u2018Lunch and Learn\u2019 workshops to teach important soft skills like empathy, resilience, productivity and relationship-building in the context of the workplace environment.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The second initiative is Roots &amp; Wings 2.0, an updated, more interactive version of the Roots &amp; Wings programme introduced in 2016. Delivered in partnership with the Department of Psychology, Roots &amp; Wings 2.0 comprises a series of bite-sized modules, each focusing on a specific soft skill (such as resilience, self-awareness and collaboration) to enhance personal and interpersonal effectiveness. Each module carries one modular credit and runs across three face-to-face experiential workshops of three hours each.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In today\u2019s tech-enabled economy, the nature of work is changing \u2014 and with it, the perennial debate about work-life balance. It is far from clear-cut for NUS graduates, as The AlumNUS finds out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8105,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4131"}],"version-history":[{"count":107,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8104,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4131\/revisions\/8104"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}