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Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Health
- Independent Singapore
Businesses should address burnout as an organisational problem, expert says
SINGAPORE: Work-life balance has overtaken salary as jobseekers' top motivator for job satisfaction, according to Randstad's 2025 international survey — and for good reason. In October, Singapore was ranked third among the most burnt-out cities in the world , but what's striking is burnout is not an individual problem and has more to do with organisational culture, standards and expectations, said Dr Athenais Sivaloganathan, Health Advisor for Health & Wellbeing at International SOS. She noted that to prevent burnout in the workplace, businesses must go beyond ad-hoc wellness initiatives and recognise the warning signs of burnout, reverse the damage brought by burnout through managing distress and offering support, and build resilience by helping employees take care of their wellbeing. The Wellness at Work report by Employment Hero last year reported that 61% of Singaporean workers are experiencing burnout , a mere 1% improvement from the 62% recorded in 2022, citing a cutthroat work environment and stigma surrounding mental health issues. In a separate survey, 56% of Singaporean employees said their mental health and wellbeing are not well supported by their employers , with Singapore ranking lowest in Southeast Asia in employee mental health care. What occupational burnout looks like Dr Sivaloganathan said, 'In many cases, burnout is related to one's occupation.' She noted that it is different from the day-to-day short-term stress employees might occasionally feel, but instead it is chronic and a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling overwhelmed. 'It results from excessive and prolonged emotional, physical and mental stress,' she added. Dr Sivaloganathan noted that while burnout is more common among employees who feel unsupported or unfairly treated, managers report similar levels of burnout due to blurred boundaries between professional and personal life, especially in hybrid work environments, affecting home, work and social life. Burnout is also not limited to junior staff but felt by leadership teams and middle management, which often face stressors such as decision fatigue, responsibility overload, and pressure to model resilience. 'It is crucial for a workplace to recognise occupational burnout,' she said. How burnout affects employees and teams Signs of burnout in the workplace can include poor working relationships, high levels of absenteeism, staff turnover, work accidents including minor accidents, low productivity levels, poor quality production and high numbers of requests for early retirement. Meanwhile, for individuals, common indicators include feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, decreased engagement, reduced productivity, increased mental distance from one's occupation and can include physical symptoms such as headaches, increased blood pressure, musculoskeletal problems, poor sleep or gastrointestinal issues. Irritability, detachment, cynicism, negativism and feelings of helplessness are also prevalent. Notably, severe stages of burnout may even lead to depression or misuse of alcohol and drugs. Ways businesses can better support burnt-out employees Dr Sivaloganathan advised companies to start with assessing work environment and work design, including reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, clarifying job roles, and ensuring realistic workloads. It can be through: Regular check-ins between managers and team members to identify stressors early and adjust workloads where needed. Recognising employees' contributions to boost their engagement and motivation at work. Normalising flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance. Leaders leading by example — practising self-care, implementing stress management strategies, and showing that mental health is a priority. Providing training for leaders and managers to identify burnout and equip them with the tools to initiate supportive conversations. According to Dr Sivaloganathan, 'International best practice suggests that mental health should be integrated into the organisation's overall risk and business continuity frameworks and therefore will be embedded into the company culture.' /TISG Read also: 'People need to know we're not underperformers' – Meta employees with 'at or above expectations' ratings surprised by termination
Washington Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
U.S. sends worldwide travel warning after bombing Iran nuclear sites
The State Department is warning Americans around the globe that they could face travel difficulties and hostility due to the conflict between Israel and Iran. In a security alert issued Sunday afternoon, less than a day after U.S. bombers struck nuclear sites in Iran, the department urged 'worldwide caution.' The advisory did not mention the strikes from the United States. 'The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,' the alert says. 'There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.' Americans should read travel advisories and security alerts about the places they're visiting at the department's country-specific information pages, authorities say. Tim Meehan, a director of security assistance at risk management firm International SOS, said the alert doesn't speak to a specific threat. He said such messages are not unheard of; the State Department put out a similar one after the Hamas attack in Israel in October 2023. 'It's simply an assessment of a heightened risk, especially now that the U.S. has gotten involved in the conflict,' he said. 'It's really aiming to have Americans appreciate the increased danger overseas and the need for their own personal situational awareness.' Anti-war demonstrations took place over the weekend in places including Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Athens, Tokyo and Paris, Reuters reported. But Meehan said security experts have not seen targeted responses to U.S. citizens abroad. Air travel in the Middle East has been in flux since the Israel-Iran conflict began more than a week ago, with multiple flights canceled or diverted. Qatar temporarily shut its airspace on Monday after Iran retaliated after the strikes by launching an attack on a U.S. base in the country. Dubai, a busy global hub in the United Arab Emirates, also put a 'temporary precautionary pause' in place that was lifted by Monday afternoon. Air India said Monday afternoon that it had ceased operations to the Middle East as well as to Europe and North America's East Coast until further notice. Flights were being diverted, returned to the airports where they took off or routed away from closed airspace. Finnair has canceled all flights to Doha, Qatar, through June 30. Reuters reported that the Middle East had gained importance for flights between Europe and Asia in recent years as the Russia-Ukraine war has closed off airspace. The recent fighting has forced airlines to route north or south. Meehan said that while many flights to Asian or European destinations won't be affected, trips that connect in closed airspace will need to change. He said passengers may need to prepare for delays, different routes, cancellations or longer travel times. Those disruptions 'could change daily or week to week,' Meehan said. Meehan said his company advises American travelers to keep a low profile, watch out for potential demonstrations and avoid hanging out around U.S. military or diplomatic installations. He said visitors should keep updated on happenings by following local news, signing up for the State Department's 'smart traveler' alert system or using an app like the one offered by International SOS. 'You have to take the time now, I think, to be mindful of threats and pay attention to what you're going to do even if a week ago this wouldn't have applied,' he said. 'While we don't have any specific information that U.S. citizens or tourists are being targeted, it really is incumbent upon your own safety to assume that might be the case.' Diplomacy and etiquette experts told The Washington Post earlier this year that tourists can try to dodge anti-American sentiment by staying away from marches or large gatherings and avoiding political debates. A better approach, they said, is politely changing the subject or bowing out of a conversation before it turns into a clash. Americans can also try to be exemplary guests by learning phrases in the language of the country they're visiting, dressing neutrally, respecting local traditions and avoiding loud antics. Andrea Sachs contributed to this report.
Khaleej Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Israel-Iran conflict: Companies evacuate hundreds of employees from region
With the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, an increasing number of organisations are rushing to evacuate their staff from the region, according to security risk services company International SOS, which is actively supporting organisations across the region with real-time intelligence, risk assessments, and response planning. 'Since June 13 when the conflict began, we have evacuated over 200 people from different locations,' said Gulnaz Ukassova, the regional Security Director for Information & Analysis at International SOS. 'There are people who are already moving, not just from those two countries, but also from neighboring countries — and others that are in the process of planning. We help them with not just evacuating from the country, but also securing transport and support with all of the logistical arrangements afterwards.' The conflict between Iran and Israel escalated dramatically on Sunday when the United States bombed 3 Iranian nuclear sites. Another expert added that while international companies are evacuating employees from several countries in the region, they are not doing so from the UAE. However, flexibility is being offered. 'We are not aware of companies in the UAE relocating their employees,' said Tom Griffin, Managing Partner of Middle East & Africa of evacuation company, Control Risks. 'Instead, they are focusing on clear and frequent communication, a lesson well learned during the pandemic, to reassure their staff that they are monitoring the situation and taking steps to ensure their safety. Many are offering flexible work-from-home options to minimise disruption while keeping operations running smoothly.' Challenge of misinformation According to Tom, technology has dramatically changed the way evacuations are done; however, they could also pose a challenge. 'Today, we can tap into multiple trusted sources in real time, allowing us to make informed decisions faster than ever before,' he said. 'This speed is a game-changer; it enables us to respond to emerging threats with agility. However, it also introduces the new challenge of information overload, as well as dis- and misinformation.' He added that rumours, speculation, and misinformation can slow or even prevent decisions from being made. Gulnaz said that in the 'era of misinformation', clients depend on them to give accurate information. 'We promise to provide our clients with verified intelligence and actionable advice,' she said. 'So we tell them the situation and give advice and recommendations on what they can do.' Constant monitoring Both companies said that they constantly monitor the situation on the ground. 'We have an established global methodology for evacuation ratings and will define triggers specific to the situation on the ground, that prompt upgrades and downgrades of the ratings,' said Tom. 'Ratings are usually reviewed on a daily basis, but decisions to change them are weighed very seriously because of their implications on both people and business as well as associated costs." With the situation in the Middle East continuing to be fluid, Gulnaz said that they had sounded early warnings to their clients. 'On June 3, we published an in-depth analytical report where we looked at scenarios of how US-Iran talks might proceed,' she said. 'We indicated in that report that the likelihood of Israeli operation against Iran is very high. So based on that, we started advising clients early on.' Factors to be considered According to her, International SOS operates 28 global assistance centres, including one in Dubai, to ensure swift evacuation from anywhere in the world. She said that key triggers that prompt companies to evacuate their staff include direct threats to life, such as violence, civil unrest, or regional conflict spillover and operational barriers like curfews, internet shutdowns, and electricity outages. Tom added that other factors that were considered include whether land, sea or air borders were open or closed. 'We also have to look at the population of the workforce, whether they are expat or local and duty of care expectations,' he said. 'The nature and criticalness of services provided on the ground and business continuity considerations is another important factor. For example, a sales office is easier to close and reopen than a critical infrastructure asset. The risk of local movement to evacuate versus sheltering-in-place and available insurance and implications for triggering insurance claims are other important factors.'
Metro
22-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Why Iran closing this 103-mile stretch of ocean could be catastrophic
As fighting between Israel and Iran is boiling over with the US now involved, the most strategic oil chokepoint in the world – the Strait of Hormuz – is in the spotlight. Concerns have been raised about just how disruptive the war could be for the steady flow of Gulf oil shipments to Europe, the US and Asia. All eyes are on the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's parliament voted to approve the closure today. The decision still needs to be rubber-stamped by the country's Supreme National Security Council. Adam Lakhani, security director at International SOS, warned that shutting it could cause a bigger market turmoil than the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Covid-19. He told Metro that the price of oil could jump from the current $71.77 to as much as $120 per barrel in a 'worst-case scenario'. 'Iran has a very well-established naval base in the city of Bandar Abbas and it has a strong naval capability,' Lakhani explained. 'So whether they decide to pull that lever… is something we are concerned about and are watching very closely.' About a fifth of the world's oil is transited through the shipping lane, which splits Iran on one side and Oman and the UAE on the other, and links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Tankers collecting from various ports on the Persian Gulf must go through Hormuz. The strait – between 35 to 60 miles wide – has been at the heart of regional tensions for decades, but the threat from Iran to shut it has only escalated the fears. Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander Sardar Esmail Kowsari told local media that closing Hormuz 'is under consideration, and Iran will make the best decision with determination.' He said: 'Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response.' As a major chokepoint, the operation of Hormuz is critical to global energy security. The inability of any oil to transit – even temporarily – can create substantial supply delays and raise shipping costs, increasing world energy prices. Although most chokepoints can be bypassed by using other routes, which often add significantly to transit time, some have no alternatives. Lakhani stressed that Kowsari's threat 'should be taken seriously', judging by the US repositioning of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier along with several support tankers to bolster the military in the region. Iran's threat to shut Homruz comes as a vessel crashed into two ships sailing nearby, 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE. The Emirati national guard said it evacuated 24 people from an oil tanker after the collision. The crude oil tanker, ADALYNN, was bound for Egypt's Suez Canal when the crash in the Gulf of Oman happened. More Trending British maritime security firm Ambrey has said the cause of the incident is 'not security-related'. Naval sources cited by Reuters warned that electronic interference with commercial ship navigation systems has surged in recent days around the strait and the wider Gulf, which is having an impact on vessels. Maritime ship experts say shipowners are increasingly wary of using the waterway, with some ships having tightened security and others canceling routes there. The Strait of Hormuz vote today comes after the US administration announced that is warplanes had dropped 'bunker buster' bombs on three key nuclear sites. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Is Donald Trump gambling his popularity and presidency with strikes on Iran? MORE: London to Dubai BA flight turns back 90 minutes from landing after Iran strikes MORE: UK prepares flights to help British nationals escape Israel after US bombs Iran
Metro
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Revealed: Bunker buster bomb that is the reason why Israel wants US to join war
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Israel unleashed operation 'Rising Lion', dropping missile after missile on Iranian nuclear sites – despite not possessing the warhead up to the task to destroy them. America's 30,000-pound precision-guided bomb is the only one that could penetrate the web of underground bunkers where Iran is carrying out its nuclear programme. The GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) – known as bunker buster – is capable of penetrating 200 feet deep inside a target and then exploding. Experts consider it to be the best shot at getting through Iran's hardened tunnels. Adam Lakhani, security director at International SOS, told Metro that the depth of some of Iran's nuclear facilities is 'beyond the current capability and reach of Israeli missiles'. He said: 'We are expecting to witness a sustained attack over the coming days and weeks. 'At the moment, the only nation that possesses the weapons, which can actually effectively reach uh the depths of these bunkers remains the US.' With no clear path to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructures, questions are now being asked about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu' intent. Was the politician banking more on dragging Donald Trump into the war than to neutralize Iranian capabilities? Or did Israel actually miscalculate the depth of the underground tunnels, following false intelligence? In less than a week, the Israeli army has taken out several Iranian military commanders and damaged numerous surface installations. Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Iran programme at the conservative Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), said: 'The regime's missile stockpiles, launchers, military bases, production facilities, nuclear scientists, military command and control has taken a very severe beating. 'But there are still questions as to how efficacious of a strike Israel had against the beating hearts of Iran's nuclear programme.' The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported no damage at Fordo, a uranium enrichment plant south of Tehran. Unlike the Natanz and Isfahan sites in central Iran, it is buried underground, beyond the reach of Israeli bombs. 'All eyes will be on Fordo, which is buried under about 300 feet of rock in central Iran,' Taleblu said. More Trending Currently, all eyes have turned to Whiteman Air Force Base, where the only aircraft capable of deploying the bunker buster – the US B-2 Bomber, are based. With their long-range capabilities, they are able to fly all the way from the US to the Middle East for bombing runs. Masao Dahlgren, a fellow working on missile defence for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stressed that multiple bombs will likely be needed to pierce Fordo's walls. He added: 'They're not going to just be one and done.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Iran's leader warns US that strikes will 'result in irreparable damage for them' MORE: Is it safe to travel to Egypt? Latest Foreign Office tourist advice as Israel and Iran trade attacks MORE: Trump urges for 'everyone to leave Tehran' after broadcaster bombed live on air
