What do you think of the management in Marina Bay Sands?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
January 27, 2011 2:44am CST
The national newspaper of Singapore, The Straits Times, carried a report about a memo by the casino management of Marina Bay Sands (part of the Las Vegas Sands) in Singapore.
The gist of the memo is:
1. Dealers will be penalized if they dare to call in sick, and get medical certificate for the Chinese New Year period.
They will receive two demerits points, which will affect their bonus and promotion.
2. One particular dealer interviewed by the reporter was scheduled to work eight consecutive days during the peak period.
After the newspaper report and intervention by the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore, the casino scrapped the policy.
Now the rule is slightly different, dealers who work during the peak period would get merit points.
That means those who fall sick and have valid medical certificate from doctors will not get merit points, even though there is no demerit point.
If the newspaper did not report the issue, and the Ministry of Manpower did not step in, I wonder if the management in Marina Bay Sands will reverse the inhumane policy.
What do you think of the management style in Marina Bay Sands? Do you think you want to work for a multinational company which can produces such inhumane HR policy in the first place?
4 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
28 Jan 11
I am more impressed by the fact that a newspaper story and intervention from a government agency caused them to change the policy. It usually takes a lot more than that to see changes in the states.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
28 Jan 11
Hi Canellita, I think the government is very wise in that the casino license is on renewable basis.
It is not a permanent license.
If they ignore the intervention from the government, they will have more at stake. Over here in Singapore, we expect things to get done well and fast.
I think it is very rare for a company to ignore intervention from the government. If Marina Bay Sands refuses to change the policy, the matter will likely go to Parliament.
Even though the change in policy comes within a day of newspaper report, the damage to the reputation is done.
Now everyone knows how bad the management is.
The other casino is better, offering incentives to encourage the dealers to work during the peak period.
It is a good contrast in management style.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
29 Jan 11
Hi Canellita, over here the Employment Acts protect those earning less than S$2,000 (non-manual workers) or S$4,500 (manual workers).
They can only work a total of 44 normal hours a week.
The law did not state whether the 44 hours to spread across five or six working days. It is up to the employers to exercise discretion over the work week.
That is how Marina Bay Sands makes use of the loophole to schedule the dealers to work eight continuous days before a single off day.
As long as they allow the dealers to rest three days in two weeks, they are not in any violation of the labor law.
Beyond the normal working hours, a person can work up to 72 hours of overtime per month. These 72 hours are paid overtime.
However, some employers give a higher basic salary so that the workers do not fall under employment acts.
In this case, the working hours can be rather long, without benefits of overtime payment too.
The policy of Marina Bay Sands is the talk of the town.
Even though there are only two casinos in the city, people are very concerned about the welfare of the dealers.
We are a small country after all.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
29 Jan 11
Here the state has limited casinos so there is only one in the city downtown and a few smaller ones in neighboring parishes. The city and state rely on the tax money from the casinos so there isn't much worry about license renewal. People here are generally only supposed to work so many hours per week before employers have to pay overtime so I doubt any businesses would force all their employees to work without days off during busy times.
The police work extra during Mardi Gras, but it isn't enough. Help still has to be brought in from outside the department. Most people here work as many hours as they can get because they think they need the money. Some do, but for most it is a question of lifestyle and learning to live within one's means.
@GloomCookieLex (6073)
• United States
27 Jan 11
Well, I live in Las Vegas and that is pretty much how things are here. It seems to me they're just carrying over their Vegas policies to the foreign property without really thinking. I don't really see it as inhumane since that's normal around here. Though I agree the old policy was unfair, I don't see anything wrong with the revised policy.
@GloomCookieLex (6073)
• United States
27 Jan 11
Like I said, I live in Las Vegas, all of that is very normal to me. Not getting a special bonus is better than getting fired outright.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
28 Jan 11
Hi GloomCookie, the dealers here cannot accept tips directly.
They have to submit the tips into the pool, so that all dealers working that day got the same amount.
Over here, tipping is not a culture at all.
We do not tip the waitress, the porter, or anyone else.
I think due to the fact that casinos are new in Singapore, and there was a massive recruitment drive initially, the recruitment campaign glories the job too much.
@UmiNoor (4521)
• Malaysia
27 Jan 11
That is really inhumane for the mgt of Marina Bay Sands. If a person is not well and has an MC from the doctor, how can he/she still be forced to work? What if that person has a contagious disease? He/She will infect everyone where he/she works.
Fortunately, the Straits Times reported the news and the government stepped in. This shows how short-sighted the management is. I wouldn't want to work for such a management.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
27 Jan 11
Hi UmiNoor, I think it is not a matter of government intervention.
It is more a matter of the way the management in Marina Bay Sands treat the employees.
If they treat the employees well, they will not even want to come out with this stupid policy.
I think they will think of new ways to penalize employees who are unfortunate enough to get sick during the peak period.
Out of two casinos in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands get the bad spotlight, while Resort World Sentosa is doing things right.
I think it all boils down to the intention of the managers.
At least Resort World Sentosa thinks of rewarding employees during the peak period, whereas Marina Bay Sands think of penalizing the employees.
I doubt the dealers will feel happy. After all, without the intervention of the Ministry, the management might not change its stand.
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
27 Jan 11
Given the fact there is a second option, if I were an employee there, i will jump ship, so to speak.
There should be more focus on family-first culture. I think it is still up to the employee to exercise their rights to take leave or not. Maybe MC is a bit too obvious although it may be true.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
27 Jan 11
Hi Tiffnkeat, those dealers are not allowed to take leave during that period. It is a blockout period.
If they want to apply annual leaves, they have to apply about six months ahead. If the quota is filled, they cannot take leave for that particular month anymore.
According to Straits Times report, that dealer, and probably other dealers as well, is scheduled to work for eight consecutive days.
it is hard to imagine working such a long stretch without a single day off, and in smoking environment.
It is sad to see that such a profitable company resorts to threats to make people work.
Fortunately the government is smart enough to have two casinos, so that the dealers have a choice.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
29 Jan 11
Lazy Tiffnkeat, don't make excuse for not writing ah.
You can write a book review or a reflection of what you have read.
You can even summarize the key point, and give credit to the author. Writing is one of the best ways to learn.
When you summarize the main points after reading a chapter (without referring to the book), you can remember the main points better.
Search for one ebook known as Write like a Maniac. It should be a free download. That is the most inspiring books about writing.
