Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Welcome to The Family
Working for a family company is a first in my entire working life so far. Meet my boss, his wife, his sister-in-law, his 2 children, his parents-in-laws...
As I suspected, working for a family business is more personal than working for a single boss or a corporation.
Very personal, in fact.
The annual christmas party was held last friday. It was decided among the staff that each of us would contribute 20€ for The Family's pressies. Everyone agreed except 4 other colleagues (who shall be referred as The Fantastic 4 herein). They think 20€ is too expensive. That caused a big hooha among some colleagues. They reckoned 20€ each for The Family once a year was not too much to ask for.
My exact sentiments as well. However, everyone is free to do whatever they want with their moolah. This is a free world afterall.
During the xmas party, food was bountiful with free-flowing drinks and gales of laughter. Everyone had a merry time. Presents were later given out. Each of us received a watch. The watches are nothing to shout about but it's the thought that counts.
Back to work on Monday. The Boss' sister-in-law who is also his right-hand woman, came around to hand out another round of presents. This time it's some gold-plated keychains with colourful embedded crystals. Very fugly...
In addition, we were invited yet again to another dinner. AND to a weekend trip in Europa-park which is a themepark with fully paid accomodation.
And guess who are not invited? The Fantastic 4 who did not contribute to the xmas pressie for The Family. It was an intentional act to show The Fantastic 4 the consequences when they refused to join The Dark Side of the Force.
More drama was to come. The next day The Boss went to speak to one of The Fantastic 4 and told her his disappointment in her refusal to share in the presents. She explained her reasons. Reasons accepted and The Boss invited her to the dinner that evening.
Before we left for the dinner, The Boss and The Sis-in-law called for a meeting with the rest of The Fantastic 3. No prize for guessing what the meeting agenda was. Apparently, one of them burst into tears during the meeting.
The meeting ended and The Fantastic 3 also appeared at the dinner.
I was flabbergasted. Still am.
All the drama just because your staff did not contribute to your xmas pressies???!!! What does it say about the attitude and mentality of The Family? Petty, small-minded, intolerant? Kicking up a big fuss over such trivial matters can only cast them in a bad light in the eyes of the employees.
But NO. On the contrary, certain employees feel The Fantastic 4 deserved the special attention from The Family because The Family has always been generous to their employees.
True. As of yesterday, we have already been invited to a grand total of 3 xmas meals by The Family. The most extravangant one was an italian 4-course meal. Totally delicious but absolutely excessive. Not to mention other small gifts we were given, like chocolates and wines which they received from other companies.
While the man had to pay for his own meal during his company's xmas party, much less xmas presents.
The Family is indeed generous. But generosity will not earn them respect and loyalty if the quality of their leadership is questionable.
For example, we are not allowed to turn down whatever events/functions we are invited to by The Family. Regardless if it's our best friend's or grandma's birthday, we are expected to call off whatever appointments we have just so to attend The Family's very important functions. Or else, you will be regarded as an outcast.
I can't help but wonder if The Boss' tendency of ruling with an iron fist has got anything to do with his romanian communist background or his being a control freak capricorn.
As I suspected, working for a family business is more personal than working for a single boss or a corporation.
Very personal, in fact.
The annual christmas party was held last friday. It was decided among the staff that each of us would contribute 20€ for The Family's pressies. Everyone agreed except 4 other colleagues (who shall be referred as The Fantastic 4 herein). They think 20€ is too expensive. That caused a big hooha among some colleagues. They reckoned 20€ each for The Family once a year was not too much to ask for.
My exact sentiments as well. However, everyone is free to do whatever they want with their moolah. This is a free world afterall.
During the xmas party, food was bountiful with free-flowing drinks and gales of laughter. Everyone had a merry time. Presents were later given out. Each of us received a watch. The watches are nothing to shout about but it's the thought that counts.
Back to work on Monday. The Boss' sister-in-law who is also his right-hand woman, came around to hand out another round of presents. This time it's some gold-plated keychains with colourful embedded crystals. Very fugly...
In addition, we were invited yet again to another dinner. AND to a weekend trip in Europa-park which is a themepark with fully paid accomodation.
And guess who are not invited? The Fantastic 4 who did not contribute to the xmas pressie for The Family. It was an intentional act to show The Fantastic 4 the consequences when they refused to join The Dark Side of the Force.
More drama was to come. The next day The Boss went to speak to one of The Fantastic 4 and told her his disappointment in her refusal to share in the presents. She explained her reasons. Reasons accepted and The Boss invited her to the dinner that evening.
Before we left for the dinner, The Boss and The Sis-in-law called for a meeting with the rest of The Fantastic 3. No prize for guessing what the meeting agenda was. Apparently, one of them burst into tears during the meeting.
The meeting ended and The Fantastic 3 also appeared at the dinner.
I was flabbergasted. Still am.
All the drama just because your staff did not contribute to your xmas pressies???!!! What does it say about the attitude and mentality of The Family? Petty, small-minded, intolerant? Kicking up a big fuss over such trivial matters can only cast them in a bad light in the eyes of the employees.
But NO. On the contrary, certain employees feel The Fantastic 4 deserved the special attention from The Family because The Family has always been generous to their employees.
True. As of yesterday, we have already been invited to a grand total of 3 xmas meals by The Family. The most extravangant one was an italian 4-course meal. Totally delicious but absolutely excessive. Not to mention other small gifts we were given, like chocolates and wines which they received from other companies.
While the man had to pay for his own meal during his company's xmas party, much less xmas presents.
The Family is indeed generous. But generosity will not earn them respect and loyalty if the quality of their leadership is questionable.
For example, we are not allowed to turn down whatever events/functions we are invited to by The Family. Regardless if it's our best friend's or grandma's birthday, we are expected to call off whatever appointments we have just so to attend The Family's very important functions. Or else, you will be regarded as an outcast.
I can't help but wonder if The Boss' tendency of ruling with an iron fist has got anything to do with his romanian communist background or his being a control freak capricorn.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The drugs don't work
I woke up to a gloomy weather with falling snow flakes. Besides the chilly temperature, the winter also brings along with it a bad bout of the flu and cold virus. Which is very common in this time of the season. Almost everyone in the office are somewhat infected with the cold. I am of course not spared by it either.
I have been fighting the flu virus for the last couple of weeks now. The cold comes and goes. I would get better early of the week after a well-needed rest during the weekend. By the end of the week, the symptoms of the cold would become full-blown again.
My exhausted body was too weak to ward off the persistant virus and finally gave in on Monday.
Why didn't I visit the doctor? Some might ask.
The idea of fighting a cold here in Germany or Europe is very different as that in Singapore. When we fall ill back home, we hurry to the doc to be treated with prescribed medications. Usually antibiotics would be given. After the course of antibiotics, we recover quickly in a matter of days.
The docs here believe in letting our bodies fight the virus instead of with the help of medications. Plenty of rest helps and a flu will have to run its course anyway. Therefore, it is not uncommon to have one full week of MC for a cold or flu without any prescribed medications to take home.
A Singaporean friend was once very ill and begged for antibiotics from her doc. Her request was however turned down. She wouldn't even have to beg if she were in Singapore. Antibiotics are given rather freely in the lion city, with hardly any questions asked.
So, did our frequent consumption of the drug resulted in our lower body resistance than our ang moh counterparts?
Of course, there are good aspects of the drug. For example, it is used to treat many bacteria infections such as sinus infections, kidney infections, bladder infections, etc.
But antibiotics often act without regard for the type of bacteria they are designed to attack. Which means they do not know the difference between the good bacteria and the bad. This can cause an intense lowering of the natural flora in the human body. The result of which may lead to everything from diarrhea to yeast infections.
There is also the risk of creating antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. When antibiotics are not taken completely, this can lead to stronger strains of the bacteria. And when docs prescribe antibiotics for viral infections, such as the common cold and the flu, they are also adding to this danger.
But interestingly, antibiotics are only effective against bacteria but not against colds or the flu, which are caused by viruses.
I am no doctor but I think it would be good if the men in white coats could take some minutes off their precious time to explain their logic in prescribing antibiotics against, e.g. that infected throat.
Sure, who doesn't want a speedy recovery from whatever one is suffering at the moment? But if taking anitbiotics causes more bad side effects rather than the desired ones, then I guess I would rather stay in bed for a few more days for a slow but sure recovery.
Unfortunately, in fast-paced Singapore, we do not have the luxury of getting a full week MC just for flu or cold. Even so, should we make do with the drugs in exchange for a weaker immune system?
I have been fighting the flu virus for the last couple of weeks now. The cold comes and goes. I would get better early of the week after a well-needed rest during the weekend. By the end of the week, the symptoms of the cold would become full-blown again.
My exhausted body was too weak to ward off the persistant virus and finally gave in on Monday.
Why didn't I visit the doctor? Some might ask.
The idea of fighting a cold here in Germany or Europe is very different as that in Singapore. When we fall ill back home, we hurry to the doc to be treated with prescribed medications. Usually antibiotics would be given. After the course of antibiotics, we recover quickly in a matter of days.
The docs here believe in letting our bodies fight the virus instead of with the help of medications. Plenty of rest helps and a flu will have to run its course anyway. Therefore, it is not uncommon to have one full week of MC for a cold or flu without any prescribed medications to take home.
A Singaporean friend was once very ill and begged for antibiotics from her doc. Her request was however turned down. She wouldn't even have to beg if she were in Singapore. Antibiotics are given rather freely in the lion city, with hardly any questions asked.
So, did our frequent consumption of the drug resulted in our lower body resistance than our ang moh counterparts?
Of course, there are good aspects of the drug. For example, it is used to treat many bacteria infections such as sinus infections, kidney infections, bladder infections, etc.
But antibiotics often act without regard for the type of bacteria they are designed to attack. Which means they do not know the difference between the good bacteria and the bad. This can cause an intense lowering of the natural flora in the human body. The result of which may lead to everything from diarrhea to yeast infections.
There is also the risk of creating antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. When antibiotics are not taken completely, this can lead to stronger strains of the bacteria. And when docs prescribe antibiotics for viral infections, such as the common cold and the flu, they are also adding to this danger.
But interestingly, antibiotics are only effective against bacteria but not against colds or the flu, which are caused by viruses.
I am no doctor but I think it would be good if the men in white coats could take some minutes off their precious time to explain their logic in prescribing antibiotics against, e.g. that infected throat.
Sure, who doesn't want a speedy recovery from whatever one is suffering at the moment? But if taking anitbiotics causes more bad side effects rather than the desired ones, then I guess I would rather stay in bed for a few more days for a slow but sure recovery.
Unfortunately, in fast-paced Singapore, we do not have the luxury of getting a full week MC just for flu or cold. Even so, should we make do with the drugs in exchange for a weaker immune system?
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