World class company?

Of late, there are some hiccups in my office. A few staff resigned arising from the relocation exercise as our office in Seremban is being closed down and thus all staff members are relocated to Banting or Lukut. The relocation is unavoidable due to merger exercise. We can only blame our bad luck as our company is not in a leading position to dictate any things. The staff members are mostly from Seremban. Some have been working for more than 20 over 30 years in this colonial styled office and too bad that they have to suffer all the hassle of relocation towards the tail end of their career. As though they are not being appreciated after lifelong contributions to a company, some of them naturally will be upset when they were chucked here or there against their wills.

As I said, our company is not in a leading position, neither do our bosses have any say in this relocation exercise. Although the merged company insists that nobody will be neglected after merger but they put in such a way that you either take it or leave it when it comes to relocation exercise. There is no alternative given. For executive, it is not too bad as they are paid housing allowance after being relocated to Banting. But for staff, there is nothing for them except for relocation allowance for six months. Most of the staff are lady with their families in Seremban. They surely will face a lot of obstacle if they were to travel daily to Banting which will take about 1 and a half hour. Those with school going children are expected to face more problems, going to work before sun rises and reaching home after sun set.

Sometime I wonder what it takes to be a world class company. Is size does really matter? You can have 100,000 over employees but are they really working wholeheartedly for the company. World class facilities can be built with money. World class employees need to be built upon mutual employer-employee relationship that takes time and concerted efforts to come about. In Singapore, the government and private sectors alike are encouraging extension of services to retired employee. No other reason, they are simply in the opinion that an experienced employee is more efficient and trustworthy. Some of the companies here, as I know, having the mentality of “one go ten will come” or “Why worrying of people leaving, we have the money, we can always engage someone else”. World class company, without correct mentality, it will be talks only.