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Novotech’s Flexible Work Policy is Finalist in Best Workplace Flexibility Program “Excellence Award 2022”

indie
3 minutes

SYDNEY, Jul 25, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific biotech specialist CRO with expanded services in the US, has been recognised for its innovative approach to workplace flexibility. Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller said: "Our flexible workplace design, information technology infrastructure, and flexible resourcing of projects are consistently delivering successful outcomes for our team members, clients, and all stakeholders. We are extremely pleased our workplace flexibility efforts are recognised by the Best Workplace Flexibility Program which has selected Novotech as an Excellence Awardee in 2022."Novotech Chief People Officer Angela Edwardson said that "over the last 12 months, Novotech has re-imagined what flexible working looks like for teams, clients, and the business. This renewed way of working incorporates flexible, remote, and in-office working options and aims to create a dynamic business environment and trusted culture. Team members can determine and apply the most effective way to work, unlocking the maximum value of their talent to benefit all stakeholders."Some of the new flexible working policies include:- FlexLocation: Work fro...

ACN Newswire
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We need to talk about cybersecurity in hybrid IT

indie
2 minutes

MANILA, Jul 15, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - It is imperative to take the required measures and have the appropriate protections in any hybrid work environment due to the rise in the usage of personal devices for work, network access through insecure connections, and targeted phishing efforts. The danger of a breach will grow with the adoption of a hybrid working model, even with appropriate cybersecurity safeguards for remote workers in place.Mr. Chito Jacinto, Vice President of ISOG and Board Member of ISACA Manila, gave some of his insights on growing cybersecurity in a hybrid environment. In our interview, he used the banking industry as an example of how organisational structures and accountability must adapt in order to scale up cybersecurity. As the most highly regulated business in the world, rising regulatory fragmentation can be seen not just from banking regulators but also from overall governmental authorities, making these institutions more exposed to cyber attacks. Mr. Jacinto advised that instead of a fragmented approach by concerned or operational units, a unified organisational or bank-wide strategy in response to cybersecurity-related requirements is ...

SeaPRwire

Vehicular accidents top cause of workplace deaths in first half of 2021

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Vehicular accidents were the top cause of workplace deaths in the first half of this year, according to mid-year statistics on workplace safety and health released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (Oct 8). Twenty-three workers died on the job between January and June, six of them in accidents involving vehicles. Four who died were delivery or dispatch riders, of whom three were killed due to other negligent road users. A work group comprising the Workplace Safety and Health Council, the National Delivery Champions Association and companies such as Grab and SingPost has been formed to discuss how to reduce these deaths, MOM said. Emerging technology solutions such as collision alert systems and rider behaviour monitoring systems will also be put on a trial at logistics and food delivery firms, the ministry added. A two-month enforcement operation on vehicular safety will also be conducted from this month, targeting sectors where workplace traffic hazards are common, such as the transportation and storage sector, construction and manufacturing. The construction sector and the transportation and storage sector each accounted for seven deaths in the first half of...

SeaPRwire

Mediation a ‘first, necessary’ step to tackle workplace discrimination, even with new laws on horizon: Koh Poh Koon

aseanpr
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - About two-thirds of reported cases of workplace discrimination are not substantiated, and the majority of these are misunderstandings that are subsequently clarified and not pursued further by either party. Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon revealed this in Parliament on Tuesday (Sept 14) as he noted that the Government would continue to emphasise mediation as a first and necessary step, even as it moves to enshrine fair employment guidelines in law. Dr Koh's reply to MPs came after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced at the National Day Rally that guidelines under the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep) would form the basis for anti-discrimination laws, with a tribunal set up to tackle workplace discrimination across gender, age, race, religion and disability. "If there is a complaint, Tafep uses these guidelines to evaluate and advise the parties," said Dr Koh. "Where Tafep finds gaps in the employer's HR (human resources) practices, Tafep would counsel the employer. Most employers accept and make amends." Very rarely does the employer dispute the assessment and refuse to correct its actions, he added. The me...

SeaPRwire

Will a hybrid workplace mean inequality between remote and office workers?

elean
1 minute

SINGAPORE - Hybrid workplaces are becoming the norm amid Covid-19 and this trend is likely to continue after the pandemic. But this could lead to a different type of inequality emerging in the workplace - one between remote and office workers. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

SeaPRwire

Aware calls for enhanced laws on workplace discrimination, harassment in Singapore

aseanpr
5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Gender advocacy group Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) has called for laws on workplace discrimination and harassment to be enhanced and for watchdogs to get more powers to deal with the challenges faced by women. It also called for a national code of conduct across institutes of higher learning and a clear protocol of support and resources for victims of sexual harassment. On Thursday (July 8), the group released a series of policy wish lists stemming from discussions with 191 residents here about the changes they most want Singapore policymakers here to enact. The pool of residents, including single parents, migrant spouses, teachers, students, parents and individuals who have faced workplace discrimination, took part in 29 community discussions held by Aware between March and May this year. Among the policy changes some of them recommended were national legislation on workplace harassment and updating the websites of workplace watchdogs Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep) and Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management to clarify actions they can take in cases of bullying. The initiative - dubbed Reimagining Eq...

SeaPRwire

Rise in workplace injuries from slips, trips and falls a concern and needs to be addressed: Zaqy Mohamad

aseanpr
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Workplace injuries caused by slips, trips and falls in the food and beverage (F&B) industry have risen by an average of 12 per cent a year in the four years before the pandemic, and have been the main driver of injuries in the sector, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad on Thursday (June 17). Overall, work injuries in the sector have also been rising at an average rate of 9 per cent a year from 2016 to 2019, tapering down slightly last year, as many workplaces were forced to shut due to Covid-19. Last year, there were 985 work injuries in the F&B sector. In 2019, there were 1,167 injuries in the sector, and 932 in 2018. These trends are becoming a concern and need to be addressed, Mr Zaqy said at a virtual forum for the F&B sector organised by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council. He said: "Good workplace safety and health makes good business sense... No one wants to work in an accident-prone industry... "For owners, a safe workplace and a healthy workforce means higher productivity, less time lost due to sick leave, better staff retention, and even lower costs from avoiding work injury insurance premium hikes due to injury claims. "For empl...

SeaPRwire
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Almost 900 workplaces inspected in April, about 10 fined for breaching Covid-19 rules: MOM

aseanpr
2 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Saturday (April 24) said it has inspected close to 900 workplaces and fined about 10 companies since the start of April for breaching Covid-19 safe management measures (SMM). In a Facebook post, MOM said when Covid-19 community cases occur, it conducts checks on the relevant workplaces to ensure measures are in place to prevent further transmission. MOM said it inspected the workplace of a recent community case and found several lapses. These included the lack of demarcation for safe distancing, failure to appoint a safe management officer and failure to ensure regular temperature checks and proper control of access for employees and visitors. MOM said it would be ordering the workplace to close because of these lapses. The ministry added it would continue to step up enforcement efforts to ensure proper implementation of prevailing SMM at workplaces. MOM noted that although there has been some relaxation of these requirements since April 5, it is important that employers continue to provide a safe working environment. The easing of measures included allowing up to 75 per cent of employees to be at the workplace at any one time, up from ...

SeaPRwire

Higher demand for childcare, maids and gadgets in S’pore as more people return to workplace

aseanpr
1 minute

SINGAPORE - When Ms Pamela Wah, 26, heard that she could return to the workplace from last Monday, she immediately ordered a portable breast pump costing $92. The accounts manager at a tech company, who has a seven-month-old child, has to return to the office for five days a week. She said the wired pump she uses at home would be inconvenient to use in the office or at a client's place. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

SeaPRwire
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Fatal Tuas fire: MOM to appoint inquiry committee to study what led to explosion that killed 3

aseanpr
2 minutes

SINGAPORE - An inquiry committee will be appointed by Manpower Minister Josephine Teo following the fatal fire and explosion at Stars Engrg on Wednesday (Feb 24). Three workers died and another five are still in critical condition, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Saturday. MOM said the committee is expected to carry out a thorough study into the factors that led to the fire and blast. It will also make recommendations including policy, regulatory or workplace safety and health measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. The committee will be led by a district judge with two technical assessors, and its proceedings will be held in open court. More details will be announced next week. The last time an inquiry was convened for a workplace accident was in 2004 to investigate the Nicoll Highway collapse that killed four people. Ten people were taken to hospital for burn injuries. PHOTO: SCDF / FACEBOOK In a Facebook post on Saturday morning, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad called Wednesday's accident one of the most serious workplace incidents in Singapore in recent years. He said Singapore had made significant improvements to workplace safety and ...

SeaPRwire
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MOM to carry out 300 more checks in high-risk workplaces after 7 deaths from accidents in Feb

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Following a spate of workplace accidents this month which saw seven people killed, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is adding 300 inspections in high-risk industries. In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Feb 24), MOM said the inspections will continue until mid-March, adding that there will be "a greater focus on tackling the common infringements found of work-at-heights risk and safe use of machinery" in the construction, manufacturing and marine sectors. The announcement came on the same day as an explosion at an industrial site in Tuas, which saw 10 workers taken to hospital for burn injuries. Of the seven deaths from workplace accidents this month, three fell from height, three were caught between objects and one was involved in a work-related traffic accident. MOM had, between mid-December last year and this month, launched Operation Robin with 400 inspections at various sites. The team uncovered 486 contraventions and issued seven stop-work orders (SWO). In one of these inspections, MOM issued a SWO to Kian Hua Hardware where contraventions, including ignition keys being left in forklifts and unsafe electrical installations, were uncovered. Another SWO was issued to was...

SeaPRwire
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Almost 140 firms told to stop on-site operations after serious breaches of Covid-19 measures, 280 fined

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Close to 140 firms were told to cease on-site operations after serious breaches of Covid-19 workplace safe management measures introduced in March last year. Another 280 firms were fined for failing to adhere to the measures, after an inspection of more than 36,000 workplaces since last March, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a Facebook post on Saturday (Feb 6). In response to queries from The Straits Times, an MOM spokesman said: "The most common violation seen was companies having a high percentage of employees reporting to the workplace for extended periods despite them being able to perform their work from home." Some companies had also failed to implement safe distancing measures at workstations and meeting rooms, such as not spacing chairs 1m apart. All companies fined by MOM were first-time offenders, said the spokesman. With Chinese New Year around the corner, companies are reminded not to organise social gatherings such as lohei or Chinese New Year meals. "Last month, Singapore saw the formation of two Covid-19 clusters at workplaces. The continued emergence of community cases and potentially more transmissible strains make the risk of workplace transmiss...

ACN Newswire
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Women Icons Network, Myanmar Coalition sign pact to enhance social conversations around workplace gender equality

indie
3 minutes

SINGAPORE, Nov 27, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Singapore headquartered, Women Icons Network (WIN), a platform that captures the value of gender-balanced workplaces by engaging women, corporates and D&I professionals, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Myanmar Business Coalition for Gender Equality (BCGE). Under the terms of the MoU signed on November 5, 2020, WIN and BCGE will work towards increasing commitment and social conversations around gender equality at the workplace. BCGE is a non-profit association that encourages businesses to initiate gender equality practices in the workplace. The association and its member firms have made considerable progress towards creating gender-equal places of work. WIN is a technologically powered, globally scalable online platform that amplifies the voices of women at the workplace and also enables them to share their experiences. "We are excited to welcome Women Icons Network (WIN) as our latest partner. The collaboration will not only help us highlight the tremendous work done by our member firms but also roll-out mentorship programs that address the gaps essential to building an inclusive leadership," said Ms Kyawt Kay ...