Five best places to work in Singapore in 2018
By Dionne Thompson
Tech companies seem to be ahead of the curve of when it comes creating ideal work environments. Most of the forerunners go well beyond a pay-cheque to offer paid time off to volunteer, mindfulness sessions, and even compassionate leave when your pet dies. Let’s take a look at some of the companies that made the list for the best places to work in Singapore, and see what they offer.
1. Salesforce.com: The American cloud-based company, which bills itself as the world’s top customer relationship management platform, believes in the power of ohana, Hawaiian for “family”. Trust, equality and philanthropy are key values. Employees enjoy seven days off a year to volunteer, a US$2,000 employee referral bonus, and even confidential counselling sessions for employees and their families. Globally, it topped Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2018 and the Great Place to Work list this year.
2. Intuit: The American software company, which provides solutions for small businesses, aims to treat employees thoughtfully, with empathy and generosity, earning it the top spot on Great Place to Work’s list for small organisations. Company benefits include pet bereavement leave, meditation sessions and personal coaching for mental well-being. The California-based company also made No. 13 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2018.
3. DHL Express: No stranger to the charts, DHL has Top Employer Global certification from the Top Employers Institute and made both Singapore’s Best Workplaces list and the Best Employers in Singapore list by Aon Hewitt. What sets it apart is its comprehensive staff training at all levels and group-wide certified training programmes so staff can work across countries. “Work hard, play hard” defines its culture.
4. DBS: Named Best of the Best Employer in Singapore by Aon Hewitt, the bank has a diverse workplace, a comprehensive training programme, and encourages mobility within the organisation, with as little as two months’ notice. Outstandingly, women make up more than half of its workforce and occupy more than a third of the its senior management positions, earning DBS a spot on the 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. It was also named Regional Best Employer for Asia Pacific by Aon Hewitt.
5. Royal Plaza on Scotts: The only hotel on Singapore’s Best Workplaces list, Royal Plaza on Scotts has 330 employees of which nearly half are 50 years or older. The hotel offers flexible work arrangements, such as a 22-hour work week, , bagging it the number 2 spot among medium and large organisations. It also pairs up older employees with younger ones so that they can teach and learn from one another in an inclusive environment.
