Corporate Slaves

This April, I’ve been stuck with my current company for 9-years! This is my 4th job.


I’ve worked in the tourism industry. No free travel but I enjoyed their staff’s benefits. Working on Saturday is like spending time in a cinema without paying! There’s a 2-hours movie time during working hours and if you have nothing to do, you can watch movies they picked for the day. We get discounted lunch voucher for a 3 dishes meal + 1 soup + fruits. And a Leon Lai look-a-like boss. Now beat that!


My toughest job was working as an insurance agent for 3 years. Worked 7 days a week, 2 hours meeting every morning, 3 times a week night meeting until 11.00 pm. Full suit even on Sunday. No basic salary, earned commissions to pay for the compulsory seminar fees, phone bills, clerk salary (shared among all agents), gifts for potential/existing clients, lunches/dinners for clients (I usually don’t eat with them to save $). I live near the Zoo and have to the bus (no LRT at that time and cannot afford taxi) to places like Subang, Kajang to do sales presentations and there’s no guarantee how many times I need to return to close the sale. Compulsory to do cold calls if no appointments. Back home by 10.00 pm every night and the next day have to reach office by 8.00 am! I barely earn enough to survive but I learned how to handle different kind of people and I finally realize that I’m actually the buyer not the seller!


Working as sales admin in a Swiss watch company. The only benefit is that staff can purchase any watches at 40% discount. I learned from this place that when the boss don't like you, no matter how hard working you are they would purposely find fault in your job, no chance for promotion, no hope on the bonus. And by the time you will be so pissed that you want to resign immediately!

I’ve worked with 5 different bosses under 2 departments in my current job. So what have I learned from all these working experiences?


You feel excited joining an organization on the 1st year, can survive the 2nd year, trying to stay alert the 3rd year, still floating in the 4th year, barely can breath in the 5th year and practically ‘dead’ by next year! Find the right career path. If you like what you do, then congratulations ... you have landed on the right job but if not, perhaps it's time to think about other options. The world is changing every minute and if we keep stagnant, we will be left behind.


No matter how unreasonable or even if your boss is hell-sent (most of the time), never fight back! Do not show your anger in front of him/her unless you are quitting the next day! Tai chi is the way to deal with them. Off your mobile when you are taking a 10 minutes break at the mamak stall so that you don't have to swallow the whole roti canai in 3 seconds when your boss call! Never return any missed calls from the office if you are on leave because it's about time they learn who actually do work in the company.


Everybody hates Monday so don’t take it to heart if your next cubicle colleague snaps at you when you ask him/her “what’s for lunch?” at 9.00 am! We have not even digested the American breakfast set and someone already asking, “what’s for lunch?” Burp!


There are dumb-heads who thinks they are Albert Einstein reincarnated! They can’t perform on the simplest task and expect to be spoon-fed all the time! They think they can get away with their angelic looks or fast-talking techniques or humorless jokes! Don't be fool by them, give it to them once and next time they will learn not to mess with us again!


A lot of people will think very highly of themselves just because the wall in their house is covered with academic certificates! But they don’t realize that their brain is hanging on the wall as well or forgot to bring back from the country they graduated from! These people cannot accept any form of criticism so don’t waste your effort! Not worth it! Save your breath to warm the tummy better!


Occasionally we can lend a helping hand to a colleague who is in trouble but we absolutely must refrain ourselves from taking over their job! Do what you are paid for because end of the day, you don’t want to start work at 5.00 pm and leave the office at 10.00 pm feeling like shit.


Gossips are unavoidable as long as they are human in the office. We cannot control what people said but need to learn to automatically shut off our ears, plug on the iTunes and pretend to be ‘deaf’ when the time comes.


There are ‘ghost’ in the office who likes to manipulate us to say or do something that will get us in deep trouble. This ‘ghost’ will stand by the side, cross their arms when the shit hits the fan! The best way to avoid being a victim to these ‘ghost’ is to pretend to be dumb!


There is a certain kind of people with one purpose in life. To make other people miserable because 24-hours is just too much for them. They will get on your nerves most of the time even if you are quietly sitting at your little corner minding your own business! To deal with these people you need to remember this word – NASTY! They will back off once you feed them with cili padi and don’t forget to add some Mexican chilies and peppers as well.


Beware of people who looks innocent and always put on a smile. They are like 'young woman with hidden knife' (siew lui chong tou) ... will stab you at the back when you least expected it! Those who looks like a 'bomb about the explode' is your most trusted friend around all the 'piggy in disguise to eat the tiger' (pan g sek lou fu)


Show some respect to the lower ranking staff. Adopt the Golden rule - "treat others as you would like to be treated". Treat them to a simple lunch once a while or offer them some cookies to show your appreciation. The next time you want them to do something, you can rest assured that it will be done immediately! This is a practical world, mate!


Everybody has their own choice of life so don’t force your colleague to do what you think it’s the best for them because since when you have become the parents?


Some colleagues are not meant to be your friend even if you spend 8-hours with them in the office. But some can be your friend for life … provided we keep in touch and appreciate the friendship.


Will I leave my current job? Of course! When the opportunity comes and the money is good. I don’t think I would want to remain in this company for another 9 years! Oh btw, next year I’ll be getting RM1,000 as the long service reward.