http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_350721.html
Work for less pay
By Jessica Cheam
About 84 per cent of Singaporeans said the work they perform gives them a sense of pride, while 78 per cent said it contributes to their self-confidence. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
AS OUR money woes increase with the worsening recession, a recent survey surprisingly found that half of Singaporean workers will sacrifice pay for meaningful work - even in these tough times.
Those in the baby-boomer generation - aged 48 to 65 - were more likely to make the sacrifice than the younger Generation Y crowd, aged 18 to 29.
The 'value of work' survey, a first by human resources firm Kelly Services, aimed to measure and reflect the value of work in building pride and self-confidence, said Mr Dhirendra Shantilal, the firm's senior vice-president for Asia-Pacific.
The online poll in December involved almost 100,000 respondents from 34 countries, including 3,600 from Singapore.
It found that while 60 per cent of Singapore's baby-boomers said they were willing to take less pay if they felt their work was meaningful, only 47 per cent of Gen Y-ers felt the same.
The Gen X group, those aged 30 to 47, measured at 55 per cent. The global average was 50.6 per cent.
Mr Shantilal said Singapore's baby-boomers were more inclined to take up meaningful work because they were 'generally financially stable' and were the main beneficiaries of Singapore's long periods of economic boom from the 1970s.
'But they have also weathered the storms of the nation's recession in the mid-1980s. Having gone through both stable and challenging times, they have adopted a more balanced and pragmatic view of life,' he added.
Some of the values of baby-boomers include respect, empowerment, challenge and growth. Mr Shantilal said: 'Therefore, they will go for meaningful, emotionally satisfying work, including volunteering their services.'
That Gen Y workers in Singapore are less likely to sacrifice pay is not a big surprise, as the goal-oriented drive of Singaporeans places emphasis on financial stability and independence, he said.
Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times.
Survey findings
60per cent of Singapore's baby-boomer generation were more willing to sacrifice pay for meaningful work than the Generation X (55 per cent) and Generation Y (47 per cent) groups.
The global average was 50.6per cent.
84 per cent of Singaporeans say the work they perform gives them a sense of pride.
78 per cent of Singaporeans say it contributes to their self-confidence.
BABY-BOOMERS: BALANCED VIEW OF LIFE
'Having gone through both stable and challenging times, they have adopted a more balanced and pragmatic view of life... Therefore, they will go for meaningful, emotionally satisfying work, including volunteering their services.'
Mr Dhirendra Shantilal, Kelly Services' senior vice-president for Asia-Pacific
GEN Y: DOING IT FOR THE MONEY
'I work just for the money, as nothing can substitute it. I find meaning outside of work.'
Banker Pang Kai Ying, 26
GETTING AHEAD WHILE YOUNG
'When you are young, you really want go out there and blitz your career, before settling down to a simpler life later.'
Customer relationship manager Teresa Tay, 28
Work for less pay
By Jessica Cheam
About 84 per cent of Singaporeans said the work they perform gives them a sense of pride, while 78 per cent said it contributes to their self-confidence. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
AS OUR money woes increase with the worsening recession, a recent survey surprisingly found that half of Singaporean workers will sacrifice pay for meaningful work - even in these tough times.
Those in the baby-boomer generation - aged 48 to 65 - were more likely to make the sacrifice than the younger Generation Y crowd, aged 18 to 29.
The 'value of work' survey, a first by human resources firm Kelly Services, aimed to measure and reflect the value of work in building pride and self-confidence, said Mr Dhirendra Shantilal, the firm's senior vice-president for Asia-Pacific.
The online poll in December involved almost 100,000 respondents from 34 countries, including 3,600 from Singapore.
It found that while 60 per cent of Singapore's baby-boomers said they were willing to take less pay if they felt their work was meaningful, only 47 per cent of Gen Y-ers felt the same.
The Gen X group, those aged 30 to 47, measured at 55 per cent. The global average was 50.6 per cent.
Mr Shantilal said Singapore's baby-boomers were more inclined to take up meaningful work because they were 'generally financially stable' and were the main beneficiaries of Singapore's long periods of economic boom from the 1970s.
'But they have also weathered the storms of the nation's recession in the mid-1980s. Having gone through both stable and challenging times, they have adopted a more balanced and pragmatic view of life,' he added.
Some of the values of baby-boomers include respect, empowerment, challenge and growth. Mr Shantilal said: 'Therefore, they will go for meaningful, emotionally satisfying work, including volunteering their services.'
That Gen Y workers in Singapore are less likely to sacrifice pay is not a big surprise, as the goal-oriented drive of Singaporeans places emphasis on financial stability and independence, he said.
Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times.
Survey findings
60per cent of Singapore's baby-boomer generation were more willing to sacrifice pay for meaningful work than the Generation X (55 per cent) and Generation Y (47 per cent) groups.
The global average was 50.6per cent.
84 per cent of Singaporeans say the work they perform gives them a sense of pride.
78 per cent of Singaporeans say it contributes to their self-confidence.
BABY-BOOMERS: BALANCED VIEW OF LIFE
'Having gone through both stable and challenging times, they have adopted a more balanced and pragmatic view of life... Therefore, they will go for meaningful, emotionally satisfying work, including volunteering their services.'
Mr Dhirendra Shantilal, Kelly Services' senior vice-president for Asia-Pacific
GEN Y: DOING IT FOR THE MONEY
'I work just for the money, as nothing can substitute it. I find meaning outside of work.'
Banker Pang Kai Ying, 26
GETTING AHEAD WHILE YOUNG
'When you are young, you really want go out there and blitz your career, before settling down to a simpler life later.'
Customer relationship manager Teresa Tay, 28
