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1-DAY WORKSHOP

Introduction

The Employment Act has been amendmended substantially and will come into effect on 1^st April 2014. It will have significant impact on both employers and employees, especially those classified as Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs).

While the Act provides the basic terms and conditions of employment, it also spells out the rights and obligations of employers and employees. More importantly, it imposes labour discipline on employees and provides avenues for employers to deny them statutory benefits in the event of a breach of discipline. On the other hand, employers have the statutory obligations to offer employees benefits in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Therefore, it is important that in both the unionized and non-unionised environment, HR practitioners, supervisors, line-managers and executives who have dealings with subordinates should have a good understanding and appreciation of the Employment Act so as to minimize disputes regarding employment issues with their staff and their union.

Objectives

To give participants a good understanding of the various provisions of the Employment Act and its applications in day-to-day dealings at the workplace. The program covers the latest amendments to the Employment Act effective 1st April 2014.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to answer common questions such as:

• How do the amendments to the Act affect the employment of PMEs?
• What are the changes in the Act that affect the payment of overtime to employees?
• Can an employer offer an employee a higher starting pay in lieu of overtime?
• What can an employee do if an employer fails to pay his or her salary on time?
• What can an employer do if an employee fails to turn up for work for more than two days?
• Can an employer dismiss an employee who is frequently on sick leave?
• Can an employee use his annual leave to off-set his notice period?
• Is the Annual Wage Supplement (AWS) compulsory under the Employment Act?
• Can an employer refuse to grant annual leave to an employee who is still under probation?
• Is an employer obliged to grant maternity leave to a female employee for her third child?
• Can I ask my staff to work on split shift or 12-hour shift without additional compensation?

Who should attend?

Line-managers, supervisors, executives and HR practitioners or any person interested in learning more about the Employment Act and contractual terms.

Course Outline

Topics covered include:

• 1) Historical background of Employment Act

  • Scope of the Act: who are covered
  • Why were managerial, executive and confidential staff not covered under the Employment Act in the past and how do the latest amendments alter their positions?

• 2) Salary and Other Statutory Payment

  • Calculation and formula
  • Authorized & Unauthorized Deduction

• 3) Terms and Conditions of Employment

  • Shift work, working hours & limits
  • Rest Day Work
  • Working on Public Holidays

• 4) Statutory Leave

  • Annual Leave
  • Sick Leave
  • Hospitalisation
  • Public Holidays
  • Denial of Leave for Disciplinary Reasons

• 5) Protection of Children and Young Persons

  • Can a child work?
  • What is the age limit?
  • Where can they work?

• 6) Protection of Female Employees

  • Maternity Leave Entitlement
  • Eligibility
  • Why limited to 2 children?

• 7) Handling Grievances and Staff Discipline

  • Grievance Procedure and Grievance Handling
  • Progressive Discipline
  • Performance Improvement Plan
  • Hot Stove Rules
  • Enforcement of Discipline

• 8) Termination and Dismissal

  • Termination of Contract
  • Termination without Notice
  • Dismissal for Misconduct
  • Inquiry Procedures
  • Right of Employees to Appeal
  • Consequences of Wrongful Dismissal
  • Case-studies

• 9) Other Statutory Provisions

  • Change of Employers
  • Claims limit
  • Enforcement by Ministry of Manpower

At the end of the Workshop, there will be a question-and-answer session to provide participants with an opportunity to raise issues and problems relating to their experience and practices.

A questionnaire at the end of each segment will gauge if participants understand the subject and have acquired the knowledge to apply it at their workplace.

Methodology

Lecture, discussion and question-and-answer sessions.

Facilitator

Chia Boon Cher, IR Guru
HRguru Pte Ltd

A specialist in employment relations and human resource management, Chia Boon Cher spent more than 16 years at Singapore’s Ministry of Labour (now the Ministry of Manpower) before joining the private sector in 1990.