In light of the ongoing pandemic, changing financial landscape and evolving job market, are the young adults in Singapore able to withstand financial challenges that come their way? How financially literate and resilient are they?
These are key questions the Citi Foundation-SMU Financial Literacy Programme for Young Adults aims to understand in its inaugural survey conducted between March and April 2021.
Employers have strong grounds to do so but should avoid differentiating for wrong reasons like presenteeism, Singapore Management University’s Jared Nai says.
When the Government again relaxes rules and allow more to return to the office in Singapore, we probably will not see huge swings in work arrangements.
At least not immediately, when many big business names around the world are allowing employees to continue working from home (WFH) on some days, likely prompting others to follow suit.
Universities play a key role in building resilience, said SMU President, Prof Lily Kong. Research done by universities can make a difference in strengthening societies and communities. The academic sector contributes through the graduates whom universities nurture, who go on to add value by creating solutions and ideas that address adversities faced by societies.
Money is said to make the world go round. But does it also help green the globe?
The global economy is increasingly reliant on natural resources, yet the rate of consumption continues to exceed the speed of regeneration. This unsustainable behaviour is driven by several factors, including population growth, technological advancement, and rising living standards. As a result, there is a growing need to encourage a shift in sustainable behaviour in individuals and businesses.
Shareholders and citizens are increasingly holding to account companies and organisations that claim to practice corporate social responsibility (CSR) yet may deliver little more than lip service.
Traffic lights that connect with cars and sensors to manage congestion; smart waste management systems that minimise overflowing bins and automatically suggest collection timings; laser particle sensors that detect air quality—such technology-enabled tools are employed by smart cities worldwide to optimise efficiency and convenience for their citizens. But beyond improving the quality of life, smart city technology can also help save lives—especially during a pandemic.
Back in 2016, Professor of Sociology Paulin Tay Straughan examined the barriers and facilitators to part-time work for married women with childcare responsibilities (mothers) and older adults entering retirement (retirees). Her thesis then was that “it is imperative in ageing societies with declining fertility rates that flexibility be mainstreamed to encourage optimum labour force participation” (Straughan, 2016).
