This article is a contribution piece by NTUC U PME. Any extracts should be attributed to the author. 29 August 2023.
Susan Ng (not her real name) was a regional senior data analyst at a technology company.
She had been working there for 11 years and had been a top performer in the company.
In August 2022, she went on maternity leave and was expected to return to work in January 2023.
Services ‘No Longer Required’
On her first day at work in January 2023, she got called to her manager’s office. The HR manager was also present. They informed Susan that her services were no longer required and issued her a termination letter, giving her a one-month salary in lieu of notice. They told her to pack her stuff and leave the premises within an hour.
Susan was shocked and broke into tears. She pleaded with her bosses not to terminate her, but was ignored.
The joy of being a new mother faded instantly. Susan was escorted to her desk by security officers and her manager. She packed her stuff and left the office building still in tears, shaken, and confused.
She went home and told her husband and family what had happened. Suddenly, her husband reminded her that she was a union member and that she should consult the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
Susan and her husband made an appointment with NTUC U PME to review her case.
The consultant from U PME informed Susan that he would take up the case after studying the facts of the case in detail.
Several meetings happened between the consultant and the company’s senior management team.
Restitution
After a few weeks of deliberation and negotiations, the company decided to pay Susan a severance package of one month for every year of service, amounting to almost $80,000.
Susan has since found a new job, and she and her family are very grateful to U PME.
Susan said that without NTUC’s help, life would have been difficult, and, most likely, she would have gone into depression.
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