SG worker furious after company cut S$300 from her allowance just 4 months into new job

A disgruntled Singaporean employee expressed her outrage on the r/askSingapore subreddit after her company unexpectedly deducted S$300 from her monthly allowance just four months into her new job. The worker, who had started with the firm four months ago, discovered that from next year, the allowance would no longer be a fixed sum but a variable one, with the S$300 missing.

She was taken aback when her manager emailed her stating that she had already agreed to the change, with the top management duly notified. However, she maintained that she had neither consented nor signed off on the amendment. Her Human Resources (HR) representative further pressed her to sign off the allowance addendum by today, causing her to worry about potential termination if she refused.

The comments section of the post was flooded with criticism, with many netizens arguing that such a modification to her allowance effectively constituted a new employment contract. One user stated that "Any changes to your salary/allowance are effectively a new contract. You will need to accept it; if not, you will effectively resign.

Your manager cannot accept [on your behalf]." Others urged her to immediately commence a job search, citing the high turnover rate of the company and the absence of a healthy work-life balance (WLB). They contended that such actions signaled a cost-cutting move and a lack of concern for new recruits. However, a few others suggested that she should stay put and continue looking for other opportunities, especially considering the current tight job market.

They argued that holding onto her current position, while actively seeking another, might be a better option if she had sufficient savings to last a year.