Retrenchment - not so clear cut after all

WE are living in uncertain times where jobs are no longer expected to last a lifetime. These days, it's the white collar workers - or the professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) - who sweat about jobs, compared to blue-collar workers. Not only are PMEs most at risk of losing their jobs, it also takes them longer to re-enter the market.

One incident fresh on our minds this year was the Surbana Jurong furore, where the company sacked 54 employees, citing poor performance in an e-mail circulated to staff.

As …