MBS: Meritocracy or Demritocracy?
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Dealers at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino will have to pay the price if they fall ill during the Chinese New Year (CNY) period.
In a report by The Straits Times, anyone who fails to turn up for work at the casino during this time — regardless of whether they have a valid sick leave (MC) — will receive two demerit points. Staff who do not take leave during this period will receive four merit points.
This comes as the casino braces itself for a flood of patrons during CNY, which has its first day on Thursday next week.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is not too pleased with this move, telling ST that employers “should not require employees to compromise their right to take legitimate medical leave, or be penalised if they do so”.
It added that employees can seek its help or advice if they feel that they have been unfairly treated for taking an MC by sending an email message to [email protected].
Negative reaction
Dealers are obviously upset about the MBS’ decision.
Dealer Edwin Lee, who is in his late 30s, said, “What if someone is genuinely sick during that time? It doesn’t seem like such a fair thing to do.”
Croupiers were informed of the rule in a memo last Friday. The casino said that the rule was enforced to ensure they were adequately staffed during the CNY peak period from February 2 to February 10.
Madam Halimah Yacob, deputy secretary-general of the National Trade Union Congress, believes that a sick worker should not be forced to work.
“If, despite being sick and having a valid MC, a worker still decides to go to work, who is going to be responsible if something happens to him?” she told ST.
While the move by MBS may seem harsh, industry and human resource experts say they understand why the casino made such a drastic move to ensure dealers show up.
Mr Tony Compton, who has been in the gambling industry for over 20 years, said this is the first time he has heard of such an action.
“This is MBS’ first CNY, and they will be very very busy. It’s up to the company to do what they have to, to ensure that it is well-staffed during that period,” said the Boston Business School lecturer in casino management.
Ms Jacqueline Thoo, a lecturer in human resource management at Singapore Polytechnic, felt the move was too harsh. However, she admitted that “medical leave taken during that time would affect operations very significantly”.
ST discovered that 250 out of 1,500 MBS dealers took medical leave on New Year’s Eve last month.
Rewards suggested
“The situation may have pushed the company to resort to such measures. However there should be more consideration for employees who may get sick during that period,” said Ms Thoo.
Perhaps giving staff an additional day off or paying them more for working during CNY might help, suggested Ms Thoo.
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), for example, is paying its staff more than the usual overtime pay and public holiday rates to work over the CNY period.
An MBS spokesman was tight-lipped when asked about the reason behind the casino’s demerit points system. He only revealed that it allows them to identify and reward worthy employees based on their performance and attendance.
Although this ruling is designed to target the less-hardworking bunch of dealers, it has not gone down well with those who have put in their blood and sweat to the job.
“I was quite okay about working during the CNY period, but after seeing the memo, I feel like taking MC to challenge them,” said a 33-year-old dealer, who is scheduled to work on eight straight days from Feb 2.
He also worked on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
- Yahoo!Singapore
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Seems like MBS is challenging the Singapore system of meritocracy.
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this is dictatorship & oppression into one
anyway, MBS has already retracted its move to penalty those on MC
which leaves oppression
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They backed down le? today's paper
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think they go a bit too far...
although jump down from MBS has better view than Foxconn factory hor.
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it depends on whether u wanna be a small fish in a big pond or big fish in a small cosy pond.....
the usual workers' plight in today's "state controlled" so-called "private" enterprises.......
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i think jump down must choose near the casino entrance and the MRT exit to the casino then get more attention
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Singapore usually look like a ghost town during CNY.
Maybe like some Chinese restaurants, the casinos could close for two days.
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they could closed for a full 16 days like some.