<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>March 30, 2009
SOAPBOX
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Pay cut: Three ways to enjoy it
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Robin Chan
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I ENTERED my first job with great vigour, only to find out just 210 days later I would be getting my first pay cut.
It was nowhere near as exciting as my first kiss, my first day in college, or the first time I got chicken pox at my fifth birthday party.
Having covered the recession as though my job depends on it - it actually does - I have decided to react to my pay cut countercyclically - by enjoying it.
=> Only running dogs are capable of it?
After all, we can do with one fewer person wallowing in self-pity.
Here are some creative ways I've developed to get the most out of my leaner, meaner pay.
Tip one: top up your pay cut with your friends' salary.
Get the sympathy of your still-wealthy, pay cut-less friends. You could describe to them in dramatic detail how after you learn about your wage cut, you seriously contemplated throwing yourself into the path of an oncoming bus, so that they'll feel lucky to still have you around.
Depending on whether they are male or female, they may react in various ways such as buying you a drink, or giving you a hug. This is a true story.
If you're lucky and have many big-hearted female friends, they may do both, repeatedly. This is not a true story, but it should be.
Tip two: reduce your productivity in line with your wage cut.
With a 2 per cent cut, I will now write my stories 2 per cent shorter. This may mean my news reports are a paragraph shorter, or my headlines are missing some words. I might even occasionally forget to end my senten
I am also thinking of being punctually late for work 2 per cent more of the time than I usually am. The technicalities of this I am still figuring out.
There are other ways to reduce productivity like checking Facebook or Gmail more often, or thinking totally random thoughts, such as this, more of the time.
And finally, tip three: spend like the pay cut never happened.
There is nothing better than denial.
Since my wage cut, I have bought a new computer, attended two concerts and booked an extremely unnecessary holiday to Europe.
But while I began to feel a little guilty about my excesses, to my relief, it seems like most of Singapore has been doing the same thing.
Clubs are as crowded as ever at the weekends, concerts are sold out with groupies, IT shows are flooded with techies and fashion stores are lined with shoppers.
=> Subliminal message that Sporns are rich and hence OK for Familee to hike rentals, etc.?
Lest I incur the wrath of my bosses, let me add that I am providing these tips with my tongue firmly lodged in my cheek.
But hey, if we're going into a long recession, we might as well have some fun with it.
To paraphrase the late John F. Kennedy, ask not what your pay cut can do for you - ask what you can do with your pay cut. [email protected]
By Robin Chan
SOAPBOX
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Pay cut: Three ways to enjoy it
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Robin Chan
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I ENTERED my first job with great vigour, only to find out just 210 days later I would be getting my first pay cut.
It was nowhere near as exciting as my first kiss, my first day in college, or the first time I got chicken pox at my fifth birthday party.
Having covered the recession as though my job depends on it - it actually does - I have decided to react to my pay cut countercyclically - by enjoying it.
=> Only running dogs are capable of it?
After all, we can do with one fewer person wallowing in self-pity.
Here are some creative ways I've developed to get the most out of my leaner, meaner pay.
Tip one: top up your pay cut with your friends' salary.
Get the sympathy of your still-wealthy, pay cut-less friends. You could describe to them in dramatic detail how after you learn about your wage cut, you seriously contemplated throwing yourself into the path of an oncoming bus, so that they'll feel lucky to still have you around.
Depending on whether they are male or female, they may react in various ways such as buying you a drink, or giving you a hug. This is a true story.
If you're lucky and have many big-hearted female friends, they may do both, repeatedly. This is not a true story, but it should be.
Tip two: reduce your productivity in line with your wage cut.
With a 2 per cent cut, I will now write my stories 2 per cent shorter. This may mean my news reports are a paragraph shorter, or my headlines are missing some words. I might even occasionally forget to end my senten
I am also thinking of being punctually late for work 2 per cent more of the time than I usually am. The technicalities of this I am still figuring out.
There are other ways to reduce productivity like checking Facebook or Gmail more often, or thinking totally random thoughts, such as this, more of the time.
And finally, tip three: spend like the pay cut never happened.
There is nothing better than denial.
Since my wage cut, I have bought a new computer, attended two concerts and booked an extremely unnecessary holiday to Europe.
But while I began to feel a little guilty about my excesses, to my relief, it seems like most of Singapore has been doing the same thing.
Clubs are as crowded as ever at the weekends, concerts are sold out with groupies, IT shows are flooded with techies and fashion stores are lined with shoppers.
=> Subliminal message that Sporns are rich and hence OK for Familee to hike rentals, etc.?
Lest I incur the wrath of my bosses, let me add that I am providing these tips with my tongue firmly lodged in my cheek.
But hey, if we're going into a long recession, we might as well have some fun with it.
To paraphrase the late John F. Kennedy, ask not what your pay cut can do for you - ask what you can do with your pay cut. [email protected]
By Robin Chan
