It’s that time of the year again, when we think up quotations to get us into the right mood for stepping across the threshold into the new year.

“Enjoy the present, Treasure the past and Embrace the future!” - this line sort of sums up what type of attitude we should adopt as we usher in 2002.

First of all, know that it is a privilege to be able to wake up to a new day on 1 Jan 2002. It’s something all of us take for granted, but let us not forget, some of us may not get to cross over the old year to greet the new year.

To those who, for some reason or other, can’t be around in the new year, I say Good Luck to you wherever destiny may take you. For the rest of us who should have no reason not to be around in the new year, I say - Happy New Year!

Only make sure that today you do not make careless mistakes, such as getting yourself drunk and then driving yourself or your loved ones home, which runs smack in the path of your smooth crossover to the new year.

Some of you may find my warning downright sickening, sort of dampening everyone’s spirits on the eve of an important festive occasion. But, I say this - we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to be around. So, don’t short-change your life over a momentary folly for the sake of fun during New Year’s Eve!

By all means, have fun but safely. So, if you drink, don’t drive and if you are driving, don’t drink - take a cab home!

Happy New Year!

It’s Christmas eve today! We are not into good times this Year of the Snake so today may not be a day-off for many firms here.

In fact, some companies which previously closed their offices on Christmas eve, today open them for half-a-day much to the chagrin of their employees.

But, employees should take it in their stride as now is not a good time to make their hackles rise over a small matter.

Just take a look at some 435 United Overseas Bank employees who were retrenched before the week was out. The bank was asked to delay retrenchment till after the Chinese New Year next February, but a few days after its merger with Overseas Union Bank was approved on 18 Dec 2001, it went ahead with the retrenchment exercise. And it is said that more staff cuts are in the making for next year at the bank.

The retrenchment exercise was unavoidable. It is better that the bank carries out the exercise now in bad times rather than carry the burden of a bloated enterprise in this Internet age. This way, the bank has a better chance of competing at a time when market forces compel the Government to loosen its hold on the banking sector to allow more foreign banks to share the pie with local banks.

Also, the bank had waited till it had settled the retrenchment benefits with both unions, the SBOA and SBEU, before axing its staff. I don’t think UOB staff who were retrenched should complain. That they are axed now rather than two months down the road gives them more chances to secure employment elsewhere as companies traditionally anticipate staff resignations at the end of the year after bonuses are collected and therefore will recruit staff.

Moreover, staff made redundant do not have to fight with polytechnic and university students who are graduating later in the new year and thus providing more competition for available new jobs.

It’s not the best of times now but isn’t it better to move off and start the new year afresh? Remember - no one owes us a living, not the Government, and certainly not our employer. Those in their forties will find it more difficult to adjust but adjust they must as the New Economy age frowns on life-long job security. Employees should not think of being with a single employer for the whole of their career.

Rather, employees should adopt the stance of an entrepreneur and be resilient and marketable. That means arming themselves with New Economy skills, such as computer literacy; making sure their terms are equitable before signing up with new employers; looking at fixed-term employment contracts of three or five years; and moving ahead with the tide, not against it - the New Economy will see more job openings in the services sector, such as tourism, hospitality and events management, and, yes, finance (as we continue to draw in safe funds from neighbouring countries).

So, don’t spend time waiting for the new year to come before doing anything - UOB certainly didn’t. Act now, as UOB has acted, to secure your own future - be resilient and marketable.

Have a Merry Christmas!

We are already more than a month into the end-year school holidays. In three weeks’ time, the new school year will start and students will return to school life once again - it’s a cycle that is being taken for granted by many students.

But, some students may not get to return to school after this holiday season. In fact, some not only drop out of the school cycle, but also out of life itself. Sad, isn’t it?

Last Friday, a 14-year-old boy went about his holiday routine - having fun - but I am sure it never crossed his mind that he would not wake up to see another day on this good earth. Harry CHAU, from 2A1 at Montfort Secondary School, died after attempting a bicycle stunt in a practice session at the Asia Xtour event held at Ngee Ann City’s Civic Plaza.

When school reopens at Montfort next January, I know that many of his classmates, as well as schoolmates, will miss having him around. So will I, when I return to relief teaching at Montfort in the new year.

It saddens me every time I hear of a young person struck down in his prime - never getting to taste going to university, doing national service, becoming a spouse and a parent, and growing old. It brings to mind some saying in a book - The Gift of Age - I reviewed recently. In it, local celebrity David Kraal said, “To all you young ones who have no time for the old, I say, ‘Don’t pity us, the grandfathers and grandmothers of this world. In fact, I pity you - because you have to wait so long to taste the fullness and the extreme happiness that comes with being a grandparent.’

Well, Harry CHAU will never get the chance to grow old and to taste that fullness and extreme happiness that comes with being a grandparent - something the gift of age bestows.

I have always made it a point to tell my students, just before a holiday period, to have fun, but make sure they come back after the holidays - in other words, do safe things during the holidays. And my students, whether they be in Sec 1, 2, 3 or 4, will flash me that impish grin. I guess when I return to school next year, these young chaps will reflect silently the next time I dish out such advice.

My condolences go out to Harry’s family. It is said that when young people die, their souls are reincarnated very quickly. If that is true, then Harry is on his way to a new life. Good Luck Harry!