Working mother Madam Teo Geok Leng believes it is possible to excel at work while fulfilling family commitments.
Since she joined Absolute Kinetics Consultancy Private Limited eight years ago, Madam Teo, 57, has been on a Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) scheme.
Back then, she had to care for a five-year-old child as well as her elderly parents so she found it ideal when her employer suggested that she take on a work-from-home arrangement.
As a Management Systems Consultant, she spends about three times a week at clients’ offices and only reports to her office less than ten times a year for important meetings and company functions.
“I submit my reports to my boss from home. My job largely revolves around telecommuting,” she added.
In 2013, Madam Teo successfully completed close to 30 projects, managing about two projects a month on the average.
Her employer, Absolute Kinetics Consultancy was one of the 10 FWA-enabled companies highlighted at the Labour Movement’s first Flexible Work Arrangement Exhibition and Conference 2014 held at NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) on 14 March.
The event, organised by the NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS), was graced by Guest-of-Honour NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Cham Hui Fong and WDS Director Sylvia Choo.
Some 200 participants gathered at the event themed ‘See Why, Know How, Try Now’.
The FWA Exhibition and Conference is organised as part of the U Flex Movement, which was launched at the Labour Movement’s International Women’s Day celebrations on 8 March 2014.
In her speech, ASG Cham shared that the Ministry of Manpower will launch a set of Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangements later this year. “These guidelines should be drafted in the right spirit; FWA does not just involve the mindset change of senior management but also of line managers, operations managers and employees as well," said ASG Cham.
Original article written by Naseema Banu Maideen, and can be found in NTUC This Week (16 March 2014)
