SINGAPORE: One Singaporean worker is already considering leaving his job less than a month after starting, after realising the role came with exhausting shifts and “virtually unreachable” KPIs.

On Saturday (May 23), he shared on the r/askSingapore forum that his role involves rotating shifts that constantly change from week to week. Some days allegedly follow regular office hours, while others stretch late into the night, ending around 11 pm or even midnight. There are also overnight shifts that continue until the next morning.

By the end of his first week, he admitted he already felt “pretty overwhelmed.”

“My weekends are non-existent and unpredictable, and I only know which day of my weekend is mine, or not at all, on the week itself,” he wrote. “It’s sort of customer-facing… The only upside is it’s a small place, and it’s relatively near home.”

Seeing how hard his supervisor works also added to his concerns.

“I see how my current supervisor is working, and I’m like: … HOW IS SHE NOT RESTING? ARGH. She works seven days a week and comes back on her off days.”

Apart from the demanding schedule, he also complained about the workload and the expectations placed on employees.

“My KPIs are almost virtually unreachable with the resources that are provided, barely three-digit figures, and half the portion of my work does not contribute to my KPI,” he said. “Which means the work I’m doing is not gonna contribute to my performance.”

He also expressed frustration over the company’s training arrangements, revealing that some sessions were conducted as “overnight camps.”

“Who the hell puts trainings as an OVERNIGHT CAMP? Anyways, as much as I would say give it a try, let’s adapt, etc, my biggest turn-off is the inflexibility of the role in terms of schedule.”

“Like, I cannot apply for leave way way wayyyy in advance, so I can’t really plan holidays or vacations. Even minus overseas vacays, I cannot adapt to not knowing which day of the weekend is mine, meaning I can’t make plans or dates till the last minute. It’s the kind of role that kills your social interactions with your friends.”

Wanting a way out, the worker revealed that he has already started exploring other opportunities and is currently progressing through interviews elsewhere.

At the same time, he admitted feeling conflicted, as leaving a stable job so early could reflect poorly on his résumé and potentially affect future career opportunities.

“What do you guys think? Is it wise to quit within the 1st month?” he asked others.

“Prioritise yourself first. This is not living, man.”

In the comments section, many Singaporean Redditors reassured him that leaving during probation was not something he should feel guilty about.

One commenter pointed out that probation periods are designed for both employers and employees to assess whether a role is the right fit.

“I mean, probation is for both you and the company, so I think it’s totally fine to realise it’s not a good fit early on vs waiting till you need to observe full notice period,” the commenter wrote. “Just communicate clearly what led to your decision to move on.”

Another Redditor said personal well-being should always come before work.

“I value my me time more than career and work. I don’t really care if it’s one month; if it’s so bad, I will just quit,” the commenter shared. “I always remember this quote, ‘Don’t burn your own candles to keep others warm.’ Prioritise yourself first. This is not living, man.”

A third said, “Scheduling sounds really bad. No workplace should block employees from planning and taking leave in advance. Just leave. Unless what you are doing is a stepping stone for your aspirational career.”

A fourth added, “If you have savings and are okay to have job uncertainty for a while, then go ahead and quit. Just omit it from your resume.”

In other news, a new domestic helper has raised concerns after finding out that the family she was hired to work for included more people than what was originally stated in her contract.

In an anonymous post in the “SINGAPORE TRANSFER (No Fees/SD), DIRECT HIRE & NEW HELPER” Facebook group, the helper shared, “In my contract, it states that I am only supposed to care for Sir, Ma’am, and two kids. However, when I arrived at my employer’s house, two aunties were also living here.”

Read more: ‘Is this normal and okay?’: New maid shocked to find extra family members living in employer’s home

This article (SG worker wants to quit just weeks into job over exhausting shifts and ‘unreachable KPIs’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A seemingly harmless phrase often heard during job interviews is coming under scrutiny online, after a Singaporean worker claimed it is one of the biggest warning signs a company can give prospective employees.

“We’re like a family here.”

While some employers use the phrase to project warmth, teamwork, and camaraderie, critics say it can sometimes signal blurred boundaries, unrealistic expectations, and a workplace culture that demands personal sacrifice without matching rewards.

Posting on Reddit’s r/asksg forum, the Singaporean said he has grown deeply suspicious of companies that proudly describe themselves as “family.”

“Every time a company says, ‘We’re not just colleagues, we’re family,’ it immediately triggers me,” he wrote.

According to him, “family” in corporate language often comes with some very specific expectations.

He said, “‘Family usually means: stay back a bit longer, be flexible, help out this one time, cover your colleague, and wear multiple hats. But when bonuses, promotions, increments, or layoffs happen, suddenly we’re not family anymore.”

The man also said he actually trusts companies more when they are straightforward about the relationship.

“Maybe I’ve become too jaded from corporate life, but I genuinely trust companies more when they’re honest and just say: ‘We pay you. You do the work.’”

At the end of his post, he asked other forum members: “Am I the only one who gets nervous whenever an interviewer says ‘we’re like a family here’?”

“I want boundaries at work.”

The post quickly struck a chord with many online users, who agreed that companies heavily promoting “family culture” are a red flag.

One user shared that they once rejected a well-paying job offer purely because the employer repeatedly described the company as a family.

They added, “It’s a major red flag for me. I’d gladly let someone else join their family. There’s just too many unspoken obligations and boundary crossings that I would not be paid enough for.”

Another commenter shared, “‘We are a family!’When my request for transfer to another department was put up, no exit interview, no farewell lunch, no ‘Why do you want to leave?’ Mind you, I slogged my guts out to save that dying product and made it living again. I took on the job of another 1-1.5 headcount.”

“That’s why I decided to leave, and this ‘family’ decided to treat me as a stranger till this day. But it seems like everyone in the family wants to leave, except for the managers. I wonder why. When you hear this phrase, RUN! They never treat you like family. They use that to manipulate you to work.”

A third user commented, “‘We’re a family’ sends me running in the opposite direction. Nope, nope, nope. I am also wary of colleagues who always go, ‘hello friends.’”

A fourth added, “Run away at the first instance. I want boundaries at work. I want to be paid for the work done. I want to be rewarded when the company does well.”/TISG

Read also: SG student feels deflated after father questions decision to study at NUS instead of Oxbridge

This article (‘We’re a family here’: Singaporeans say it’s one of the biggest workplace red flags) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: One burnt-out employee says they are beginning to question whether their job is worth the constant stress after returning from the weekend to an inbox overflowing with “urgent” requests from colleagues.

The employee, who shared their frustrations on Reddit, said they had already stayed back in the office until 9 pm the previous Friday, trying to clear a massive backlog, only to log in again after the weekend and find yet another pile of work waiting for them.

“When I opened my email, it got flooded with urgent task after task,” the employee wrote, adding, “It just feels exhausting again since I opened my email today. I have been in this job for about 8 months, and I dread going to work every day.” 

“The workload is insane, the company culture is toxic, and there’s 0 flexibility given to me. There is no WFH, colleagues are all yes-men, and [I have] a toxic manager.”

The employee said they have been trying to push through for quite some time, repeatedly convincing themselves that “work is just work” and that things would eventually improve.

However, the situation appears to have worsened as work increasingly spills into weekends, with colleagues sending tasks during off days and clients calling outside working hours.

Now feeling completely burnt out, they turned to others online for advice and asked the question that had clearly been weighing on them for some time

“I just find myself mentally and physically drained. Should I just quit?” they wrote.

“If you want to quit, find a job first. The market is volatile.”

The post quickly drew responses from other Singaporeans, many of whom shared similar experiences working in high-pressure environments.

One Redditor, who said they had once been in the same situation, urged the employee to begin searching for a new role immediately.

“Start your job hunt now. Disregard any and all negatives; mental health is often under-appreciated. No point in daily torturing yourself, especially if you’re below your 40s; there’s still a long runway ahead. I’m in my 50s and honestly don’t care, just working towards my final 1/3 of working life… You will do better once you take the 1st step.”

Another commenter suggested a different approach and advised the employee to simply “quiet quit.”

“Just quiet quit. Weekends are for resting. These people know no boundaries in disturbing your off days. If they try to pinpoint your mistakes, make sure to keep all receipts to cover your ass. Don’t think it’s right to squeeze people dry like that.”

A third commenter shared that they had also resigned from a similarly toxic situation.

“I was in a similar situation as you, and I chose to leave on impulse while I was interviewing. It was really a leap of faith; I cried multiple times because I was anxious, and I really guilt-tripped myself because I had big-ticket items coming up (BTO, wedding). I think ultimately it depends on whether you have big-ticket items coming up and if you’re okay with losing that ‘leverage.’”

A fourth added, “Always use this as a guideline nowadays—if you want to quit, find a job first. The market is volatile.”

In other news, a Singaporean who graduated from a “well-known” university in the United Kingdom revealed online that despite sending out more than 100 job applications since December 2025, she is still unable to secure a full-time role.

In a post shared on a local forum on Friday (May 22), the graduate said she returned to Singapore believing her qualifications and experience would give her a decent shot at landing work.

Read more: UK graduate says she has sent over 100 job applications but still cannot land marketing role in Singapore

This article (‘There’s 0 flexibility’: Singapore worker opens up about burnout and workplace stress) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Is Singapore’s brutal work culture quietly killing people’s desire to date, settle down, and start families?

One man certainly thinks so.

In a recent Reddit post, the man opened up about how his toxic workplace has completely drained him, to the point where romance now feels less like an exciting possibility and more like an extra unpaid shift he simply cannot afford to take on.

Posting on an online forum, he shared that he works around “11 to 12 hours” every single day. “Every night I go back exhausted, wake up exhausted,” he wrote, adding that he has slowly lost interest in his “hobbies, personal goals, and even self-improvement.” 

He also admitted that he no longer feels “hopeful about the future.”

To make matters worse, he said his boss has made the environment even more unbearable by constantly targeting the single employees in the office. 

“My passive-aggressive boss loves gaslighting me and taking out his marriage and kid frustration on me because I am single and unwed. Colleagues without kids also get the same treatment.”

The man then joked that he might as well just continue living with his parents and “be a leech forever,” suggesting he has more or less given up on the traditional milestones people are expected to pursue.

“The prospect of owning a 2-room BTO and then downgrading to a S$2-3k/month job that stops once you leave becomes more appealing every day,” he wrote. “No need to worry about a job, no need to worry about not being good enough for your partner.”

“Start applying for jobs.”

In the comments section, several Singaporeans said they could relate to his experience, with several admitting that work had consumed so much of their lives that relationships, friendships, and even their mental health ended up taking a backseat.

One individual shared, “I gave up on dating, friends, hobbies and family at the first few years of my career. Everyday work, OT, too tired to do anything, then just go home and rest. Got depressed.”

The commenter added that because work became the centre of their entire life, every office conflict and performance review started affecting them deeply.

“Some days, I just cry because my performance at work was heavily judged randomly. Just want to tell you that work is not everything; we are all replaceable at work…Remember to try to live for yourself instead of working so hard to build the company’s future.”

Another commenter said that after going through a painful breakup, they buried themselves in work and overtime for years, only to unexpectedly end up marrying someone from the office.

“Your work environment sounds rough, and perhaps it’s time to start looking to switch jobs,” they added.

Others, however, argued that being busy does not automatically mean relationships are impossible.

One said, “I work up to 16 hours daily at times, but I still can have a relationship. It’s all about the energy you give her. If you can handle her and don’t show you’re tired, she will love you and wait to see you even if it is just for an hour.” 

“If you work 6 hours a day but don’t have time to see her, then it is a problem. If your job is the problem, then it’s time to look into changing jobs.”

Another advised, “Hugs, I say negative energy companies are not worth it. Start applying for jobs and then leave and find some balance. We are social beings who need to feel love/care/belonging from beings.”

“If your environment of being drains you, you need to learn to protect yourself from emotional burdens so that the negativity doesn’t eat you, but it’s better to find a place where there’s positive energy.”

In other news, a frustrated man took to Reddit to share that his mum constantly demanded money from him the moment he became an adult and started working full-time.

In a post titled “Life is too tiring” on the r/asksg subreddit, he said his mum kept “hounding” him to give her money and even asked him to “pay her back for all the food” she bought for him when he was growing up.

Read more: ‘I had to pay her back for food’: Son says mum constantly demanded money after he became an adult

This article (Man says Singapore’s work culture pushed him to stop dating: ‘Everyday I work 11-12 hours a day’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean worker has shared that he quit his job despite having no backup plan, saying he simply “refused to suffer anymore” after months of misery at work.

In a post shared on a local forum on Wednesday (May 20), the man said he had been feeling “very unhappy, even sad” for the past few months, as he constantly stayed up late finishing work until his “health and relationships” started to fall apart.

According to him, he pushed through the exhaustion because he believed the sacrifices would eventually lead to a promotion. 

However, instead of rewarding his efforts, the management allegedly “constantly berated” him.

“The new boss who came in has no reprieve, but the team seems ok with the new rhythm. I absolutely know this is the DUMBEST decision I can make, but I choose myself, and I cannot see myself suffering another 6 months if I need to consider rotation.”

Although he acknowledged that resigning without another role secured was risky, the worker said he had managed to build up around two years’ worth of savings from bonuses over the years, giving him some financial breathing room for now.

Still, he stressed that he could not afford to remain unemployed indefinitely due to his financial responsibilities.

“[My] financial commitments are: housing loan about S$1.2K/month with CPF, to also pay parents’ allowance & insurance costs + special occasion meals, which I have buffered—but I cannot stop working in case of any mishaps because they’re old. DINK. 7 YOE.”

He ended the post by asking others who had taken similar risks in their careers for advice, writing, “Anyone with any advice who has gone against the grain and still made it through, and possibly what sectors/roles may be suitable, will be helpful. My skill sets are rather generic. This includes writing, managing stakeholders, and delivering projects, and realising I am maybe not so good at managing bosses.”

“I hope you find something better.” 

His post quickly resonated with many Reddit users, particularly workers who said they had also struggled with burnout, toxic management, and deteriorating mental health.

One commenter wrote, “Hey, hi-5! Same here. I’ll tell you what, I think this was 100% the right decision. Mental health comes 1st.”

Another said, “Second this! This is the right decision and not dumb at all. The job market and economy might be bad, but nothing can compare to your well-being and mental health in the long run.”

A third shared, “I resigned without a job lined up a few years ago, also on health grounds. You don’t need validation from anyone regarding this decision. You made an assessment and pulled the trigger for your own good.”

Several other Reddit users also chimed in with words of comfort, encouragement, and practical advice as the post author prepares for the next chapter of his life.

One individual told him, “Well, I hope you find something better. Leaving an old place paves new opportunities for you. Don’t listen to any negativity; you made the right decision. Finding a job is two ways, right? Not just you, desperately looking for a job. Likewise, there’s a company/team looking for you, too. You just have to grind a little in this job market and find smart, not just brute force.”

Another advised, “Spend some time with parents and spouse while you’re job hunting. Money matters, but don’t forget to use this break to build memories too.”

In other news, a domestic helper recently took to social media to share her heartbreak after deciding to leave the family she had worked for over the past four years because her employers allegedly refused to increase her S$650 salary despite repeated promises.

In an anonymous post in the SINGAPORE TRANSFER (No Fees/SD), DIRECT HIRE & NEW HELPER Facebook group, the helper said she had become deeply attached to the family after caring for their three children and managing nearly every aspect of the household since joining them.

Read more: Maid leaves after employers refused to raise her S$650 salary: ‘Leaving them is painful, but I have to think about my child’s future’

This article (SG worker walks away without another job, says toxic work culture pushed him to the brink) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.