What it takes to be a good boss in bad times

AS quickly as the last square of bak kwa has vanished in one's mouth, so has reality set in after an extended holiday season.

Even during the festivities, there was a heaviness in the mood that had nothing to do with overeating. You know times are bad when the topic of jobs and wages takes precedence over one's marital status during Chinese New Year visiting.

One uncle said that he is just waiting to get retrenched as his company shifts its entire manufacturing base offshore; one has been on a job search for the past few months; another asked me if SPH is letting go of any more staff. Cheery subjects. The phrase "no job is safe" never really hits home until either you or people you know are affected by it.