If you’ve been to The American Club at Claymore Hill in the past few years, you may have noticed something different.
Since applying for funding under the Inclusive Growth Programme, the club was able to purchase new banquet tables, which can easily be set up and dismantled by staff – which, according to The American Club Assistant General Manager Patricia Au, has helped banquet staff save time.
In fact, this is but one of many measures adopted by the club to benefit their staff.
“At the age of 62, we will have retirement counselling and if the staff is medically fit and has suitable qualifications and work experience and there is mutual agreement, then the staff can remain in service for the next five years till the re-employment age of 67. This is on a year-to-year contract,” explained Ms Au.
The club also provides flexible working opportunities for mature workers and covers all re-employed staff with term life, personal accident, hospitalisation, surgical and clinical insurance till the age of 70.
When TAFEP launched the non-discrimination at the workplace initiative, the club invited them to promote it at a staff event.
“It was a good opportunity for our employees to make a personal commitment to upholding fair and non-discriminatory practices at the workplace,” said Ms Au.
Today, some four per cent of the club’s 300-odd staff are 62 years old and above.
Meet this 62-year-old Lifeguard
Mr Abdul Latip Bin Borhan, 62, has been working at The American Club for 24 years. He is one of its longest serving staff.
Valued for his lifeguard and first aid skills, Mr Abdul once saved a seven-year-old boy at the club’s swimming pool in 2010.
“The child was a good swimmer and he was in the pool for a long time from the morning. At one point, he went underwater to touch the ground. Suddenly we noticed that he had not come up.
“My fellow lifeguards saw him lying on the ground. They jumped in and brought him up. I ran to the spot to render help to resuscitate the child as the pulse rate was low. The child started vomiting.
Subsequently, he recovered and started crying. At that time, we had all our first aid equipment ready,” said Mr Abdul, who is glad that the child’s life was saved.