SINGAPORE’S BEST EMPLOYERS 2020

Identifying the
best employers
New survey by ST and Statista looks at what it takes
to win the race for talent — and keep employees happy

BY RACHEL TAN
ABOUT THE SURVEY

F
rom fair wages, career advancement
opportunities, good relationships with
colleagues and superiors to aesthetical-
ly pleasing workspaces, these are some factors
commonly cited in employee satisfaction surveys.
A recent online survey found that while pay
and benefits remain key drivers of employee
satisfaction, workers these days are placing
increasingly more importance on training and
upskilling opportunities.
In August and September last year, The
Straits Times and global research firm Statista
polled over 8,000 employees based in Singa-
pore to evaluate their own employer and other
employers they know of. The scores were then
used to tabulate a ranking of Singapore’s 150
Best Employers 2020. The companies are from
25 industry sectors.
Over the years, Statista has had a strong track
record in the field of measuring employer qual-
ity, having conducted similar surveys in countries
such as the United States, Germany, France and
Switzerland. The Singapore’s Best Employers
2020 survey is the first of its kind in Singapore
— and Asia.
Dr Thomas Clark, partner at Statista, stresses
the uniquely broad approach of this survey.
“Our intention was to conduct a comprehensive
study where every company with more than 200
employees based in Singapore is considered,” he
says in a phone interview.
Mr Niklas Tamm, lead analyst of Statista’s
Best Employers survey projects globally, and his
team also observe that regardless of industry,
individual advancement opportunities in terms Respondents must be working
of higher wages, self-development and training for a company with more than
are valued more by employees compared with 200 employees in Singapore
five years ago. Teamwork and a flatter hierar- Respondents rate on a scale of
chical organisational structure also contribute 0 to 10, with 10 being the best,
more to an employee’s happiness than before. their willingness to recommend
These trends are evident in Singapore, too. their employer to a friend or
Among the companies that have made it to family member
the inaugural 2020 list, IT consulting and Respondents are also asked to
services company Optimum Solutions, med- name, if any, other employers
icines company Novartis and tech company in the same industry that they
CrimsonLogic place a strong emphasis on pro- would or would not recommend
viding training opportunities for their workers. to their acquaintances
(Read their stories on pages C9 and C10.) A score is generated based
It is a feat, says Dr Clark, to make it to the on the responses
top 150 list, bearing in mind that almost 2,000 Highly-recommended employers
companies were considered. are grouped according to 25
“Every company in the ranking is a fantastic industry sectors
employer, regardless of its position,” he explains.
“Thanks to the comprehensive approach, these Key findings
employers can now compare themselves with Men, on average, are happier with
others in the league of the best. We hope to con- their current job than women;
duct this survey annually so companies will see employees in the age group of 40 to
if they can progress in terms of their employer 49 are the happiest; and those who
quality, or if there will be some fallbacks.” have been with the same company for
Indeed, with Covid-19 pandemic disrup- a longer time are generally happier.
tions now affecting workplaces the world
over, including Singapore, Dr Clark and Mr Statista shares that these trends are in line
Tamm hope that the ranking this year would with the results observed in the rest of the world,
and that these findings could be used to help
encourage companies that made it to the list to employers focus on overlooked areas to increase
do their utmost to keep their score amid these employee satisfaction.
challenging times.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

RANK EMPLOYER BRAND SCORE INDUSTRY RANK EMPLOYER BRAND SCORE INDUSTRY RANK EMPLOYER BRAND SCORE INDUSTRY
1 UNIQLO 9.08 Clothing, Shoes, Sports Equipment 53 Grab 7.53 Transportation and Logistics 103 Great Eastern 7.04 Insurance
2 Adidas Singapore 8.89 Clothing, Shoes, Sports Equipment 54 Daimler South East Asia 7.53 Automotive (Automotive and Suppliers) 104 Shell 7.04 Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and
3 Google 8.85 IT, Internet, Software & Services 55 Ministry of Finance (MOF) 7.51 Government Services Chemicals
4 Amazon 8.8 Retail and Wholesale 56 Shiseido Singapore 7.51 Retail and Wholesale 105 National Healthcare Group 7.04 Healthcare & Social
5 BP 8.47 Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and 57 BHCC Construction 7.5 Construction 106 Ministry of Communication and 7.03 Government Services
Chemicals Information (MCI)
58 TDCX (formerly Teledirect) 7.5 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real
6 Healthway Medical Group 8.42 Healthcare & Social Estate) 107 Shanghai Tunnel Engineering 7.03 Construction
Co (Singapore)
7 Singapore American School 8.41 Education 59 General Electric 7.49 Engineering, Manufacturing
108 Agilent Technologies Singapore 7.03 Drugs & Biotechnology
8 AT&T 8.29 Telecommunications Services, Cable 60 Samsung 7.48 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
Supplier Engineering, Technology Hardware & 109 Kopitiam 7.02 Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco
9 Applied Materials 8.24 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Equipment 110 MindChamps PreSchool 7.02 Education
Engineering, Technology Hardware & 61 Sabre Asia Pacific 7.48 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical 111 Lonza 7.01 Drugs & Biotechnology
Equipment Engineering, Technology Hardware & 112 JGC Construction 7.01 Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and
10 Bangkok Bank Singapore 8.22 Banking and Financial Services Equipment Chemicals
11 Chevron 8.18 Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and 62 ISS Group 7.45 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real 113 Far East Organization 6.99 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real
Chemicals Estate) Estate)
12 Microsoft 8.17 IT, Internet, Software & Services 63 Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) 7.44 Restaurants 114 Sumitomo Mitsui Banking 6.98 Banking and Financial Services
13 Citibank 8.13 Banking and Financial Services 64 Challenger Technologies 7.43 Retail and Wholesale Corporation (SMBC)
14 Apple 8.13 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical 65 Foo Kon Tan 7.43 Professional Services 115 APL (CMA CGM Group) 6.97 Transportation and Logistics
Engineering, Technology Hardware & 66 Performance Motors 7.42 Automotive (Automotive and Suppliers) 116 National University Health 6.96 Healthcare & Social
Equipment 67 AIA Singapore 7.41 Insurance System (NUHS)
15 Adeka (Singapore) 8.11 Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco 68 Optimum Solutions (Singapore) 7.41 IT, Internet, Software & Services 117 UOL Group 6.96 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real
16 Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) 8.1 Drugs & Biotechnology Estate)
69 Ministry of Manpower (MOM) 7.4 Government Services
17 CrimsonLogic 8.1 IT, Internet, Software & Services 118 Mitsui High-tec Singapore 6.94 Engineering, Manufacturing
70 Maxi-Cash Financial Services 7.4 Banking and Financial Services
18 Starbucks Coffee Singapore 8.06 Restaurants 119 Sea 6.94 IT, Internet, Software & Services
71 Siemens 7.39 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
19 Marina Bay Sands 8.05 Travel & Leisure Engineering, Technology Hardware & 120 RHB Bank 6.94 Banking and Financial Services
20 ACCOR Hotels 8.03 Travel & Leisure Equipment 121 Sembcorp Industries 6.93 Utilities
21 Bank of America Merrill Lynch 8.01 Banking and Financial Services 72 Jardine Engineering 7.39 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real 122 Dulwich College (Singapore) 6.92 Education
Estate) 123 GAC 6.92 Transportation and Logistics
22 United World College of South 7.93 Education
East Asia 73 Singapore Airlines 7.38 Transportation and Logistics 124 Nestlé 6.91 Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco
23 Kuehne + Nagel 7.92 Transportation and Logistics 74 Johnson & Johnson 7.38 Health Care Equipment & Services 125 Ang Mo Kio - Thye Hua Kwan 6.9 Healthcare & Social
24 CapitaLand 7.87 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real 75 Singapore Exchange 7.38 Banking and Financial Services Hospital
Estate) 76 Autism Resource Centre 7.37 Healthcare & Social 126 Jabil Circuit (Singapore) 6.89 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
25 JP MorganChase 7.86 Banking and Financial Services Singapore Engineering, Technology Hardware &
77 Singapore Health Services 7.36 Healthcare & Social Equipment
26 Cisco 7.85 IT, Internet, Software & Services
(SingHealth) 127 Ernst & Young 6.88 Professional Services
27 Automobile Association of 7.83 Insurance
Singapore 78 Infineon Singapore 7.35 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical 128 Ministry of National 6.88 Government Services
Engineering, Technology Hardware & Development
28 Atos Information Technology 7.83 IT, Internet, Software & Services
Equipment 129 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) 6.88 Professional Services
29 M1 7.82 Telecommunications Services, Cable
79 Deloitte 7.35 Professional Services 130 Raffles Medical Group 6.87 Healthcare & Social
Supplier
80 American Express 7.34 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real 131 PropNex 6.87 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real
30 Westpac Singapore 7.75 Banking and Financial Services Estate)
Estate)
31 H&M Hennes & Mauritz 7.73 Clothing, Shoes, Sports Equipment 132 Rockwell Automation Southeast 6.86 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
81 Rolls-Royce 7.33 Automotive (Automotive and Suppliers)
32 Facebook 7.71 IT, Internet, Software & Services Asia Engineering, Technology Hardware &
82 DBS Bank 7.33 Banking and Financial Services
33 Illumina Singapore 7.7 Health Care Equipment & Services Equipment
83 Bosch Group 7.31 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
34 British-American Tobacco 7.7 Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco 133 Takashimaya Singapore 6.85 Retail and Wholesale
Engineering, Technology Hardware &
35 ExxonMobil 7.69 Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and Equipment 134 Novartis 6.83 Drugs & Biotechnology
Chemicals 84 Robinsons 7.29 Retail and Wholesale 135 Dell 6.83 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
36 Hewlett-Packard (HP) 7.68 IT, Internet, Software & Services Engineering, Technology Hardware &
85 Advanced Semiconductor 7.29 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
Equipment
37 Sunray Woodcraft Construction 7.67 Construction Engineering (ASE) Engineering, Technology Hardware &
Equipment 136 Linde 6.8 Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and
38 Boustead Singapore 7.65 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Chemicals
Estate) 86 City Developments 7.28 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real
137 Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts 6.8 Education
Estate)
39 Government of Singapore 7.64 Banking and Financial Services 138 Parkway Hospitals Singapore 6.8 Healthcare & Social
Investment Corporation (GIC) 87 DSO National Laboratories 7.27 Health Care Equipment & Services
139 CIMB Bank 6.8 Banking and Financial Services
40 Kingsmen Creatives 7.64 Media & Advertising 88 Visa 7.27 Banking and Financial Services
140 Changi Airport Group 6.78 Transportation and Logistics
41 Federal Express Pacific (FedEx) 7.62 Transportation and Logistics 89 DXC Technology 7.26 IT, Internet, Software & Services
141 Ministry of Trade and Industry 6.78 Government Services
42 Continental Automotive 7.62 IT, Internet, Software & Services 90 SAP 7.24 IT, Internet, Software & Services
142 Dyson 6.77 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
43 Prosegur Singapore 7.61 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real 91 ERA Realty (APAC Realty) 7.23 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Engineering, Technology Hardware &
Estate) Estate) Equipment
44 Fish & Co. Restaurants 7.6 Restaurants 92 Dimension Data 7.23 IT, Internet, Software & Services 143 Systems on Silicon 6.77 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
45 Procter & Gamble 7.6 Packaged Goods 93 Goldbell Corporation (GBC) 7.2 Transportation and Logistics Manufacturing Engineering, Technology Hardware &
94 SATS 7.18 Transportation and Logistics Company (SSMC) Equipment
46 Advanced Micro Devices 7.6 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
95 GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 7.16 Drugs & Biotechnology 144 Straits Construction Singapore 6.77 Construction
(AMD) Engineering, Technology Hardware &
Equipment 96 NEC Asia Pacific 7.16 IT, Internet, Software & Services 145 Accenture 6.75 Professional Services
47 CBRE 7.59 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real 146 Venture Corporation 6.74 Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical
97 Amgen 7.12 Health Care Equipment & Services
Estate) Engineering, Technology Hardware &
98 Crystal Jade 7.11 Restaurants Equipment
48 DHL 7.57 Transportation and Logistics 99 Agency for Science, Technology 7.1 Education 147 Mapletree 6.72 Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real
49 Marriott 7.55 Travel & Leisure and Research (A*STAR) Estate)
50 HSBC 7.53 Banking and Financial Services 100 Asia Pacific Breweries (Heineken 7.1 Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco 148 Bank of Singapore 6.72 Banking and Financial Services
51 AXA 7.53 Insurance Asia Pacific) 149 Standard Chartered Bank 6.71 Banking and Financial Services
52 Monetary Authority of 7.53 Government Services 101 Gammon Construction 7.05 Construction (Singapore)
Singapore (MAS) 102 McDonald’s 7.05 Restaurants 150 United Overseas Bank (UOB) 6.68 Banking and Financial Services
SINGAPORE’S BEST EMPLOYERS 2020
People first
to achieve
customer
delight
IT consulting and services company Optimum Solutions
shares best practices from its talent management playbook
I
T consulting and services company
Optimum Solutions believes people
are its most valuable assets.
With much of its business driven by cli-
ent-facing IT consultants and analysts, it
understands the importance of employee
engagement and growth at the workplace.
This is the guiding principle that has
contributed to Optimum’s transforma-
tion from a start-up 23 years ago to one
of the largest IT services companies in
Singapore today.
“We place great emphasis on inclu-
sion, engagement and providing growth
opportunities, to create a people-centric
culture where our employees have a great
time being part of the Optimum family.
With happy and productive employees
comes greater client satisfaction, which
has been a defining contributor to
Optimum’s success,” says chief executive
officer Balwant Jain.
The home-grown IT powerhouse is
now a partner to more than 50 Fortune
500 companies spanning industries such
as banking and financial services, technol-
ogy, insurance, manufacturing and public
service. Optimum provides a whole
gamut of innovative technology solutions
such as digital transformation, artificial
intelligence and machine learning,
predictive analytics, cloud and mobility
services, robotic process automation as
well as IT applications and infrastructure
management.
Optimum operates out of eight offices
across Singapore, Hong Kong, China,
Malaysia, Philippines, India and the
United States with over 2,800 employees,
the majority of whom are transformation
programme managers, project managers,
business analysts, digital experts and
software engineers.
Best practice 1: Promoting
a culture of openness
Keeping such a big team united and every-
one motivated is not easy, but Optimum
has figured it out. To managing director
K. Saravanan, the culture of growth
begins at the time of recruitment and is
coupled with open communication and a
strong peer-support system.
“We are always available for every single
employee and make sure that support is
around the corner should they need it.
There are multiple touchpoints for each
employee, and also a buddy and mentor
system for new joiners,” says human
resource senior vice president ER Sreejith.
Adds senior vice president Rajat
Sharma: “Our people also know that the
management has an open-door policy.
They’re always welcome to come into our
offices to have a chat with any of us.”
Optimum conducts employee satisfac-
tion surveys and roundtable discussions at
regular intervals. “A proactive HR depart-
ment is an integral pillar of our company,
to execute a vision where every employee
feels a part of the Optimum family. Lis-
tening to and engaging with employees is
key to Optimum’s people-centric culture,”
says assistant vice president of talent man-
agement Cindy Ng.
Best practice 2: Encouraging
personal growth
Assistant vice president Kristine Pan
explains that Optimum invests heavily in
employee training and develop­ment. This
is especially important as technology is
constantly evolving.
Employees are given ample opportu-
nities to learn and grow their knowledge
through in-house and external learning
programmes. Optimum regularly identi-
fies and invites industry experts to share
new ideas and methodologies with its
employees. To support continuous learn-
ing, employees are encouraged to upgrade
their skills through company-sponsored
industry certifications and courses from
online learning platforms.
Optimum has been investing signifi-
cantly to grow the local talent pool in
the IT services industry. As part of the
Company-Led Training Programme
(CLT) under the aegis of Infocomm Media
Development Authority, Optimum con-
ducts a six-month full-time programme
to equip fresh graduates with technical
skills needed in the IT sector. Since 2018,
Optimum has hired and trained over
110 university and polytechnic graduates
through this programme.
“Maintaining a robust talent pool is
essential in our business. By making learn-
ing opportunities accessible to everyone,
and incentivising them to focus on growth,
we are not only helping them, but also
keeping our company ahead of the curve,”
B ro u g ht to yo u by
We place great
emphasis on
inclusion,
engagement and
providing growth
opportunities,
to create a
people-centric
culture where our
employees have a
great time.
MR BALWANT JAIN, CEO
Left: As a people-centric employer,
Optimum Solutions often organises
fun activities to bring employees
together. On Valentine’s Day this
year, employees were encouraged
to give roses to their colleagues as
part of the festivities.
Above: (From left) COO Vinod Martin, CEO Balwant Jain and MDs K. Saravanan
and Sumit Malik. PHOTOS: OPTIMUM SOLUTIONS
says managing director Sumit Malik.
As the company continues to grow, a
structured approach to leadership devel-
opment has been put in place, involving
significant investment by senior leaders
through mentoring high-potential talent,
to build a highly empowered, engaged and
energised workforce.
2,800
Best practice 3: Excellence
is rewarded
While the developmental opportunities
provided by Optimum contribute to
the personal growth of employees, the
company closes the loop by affirming
hard work with suitable recognition
and career growth opportunities. The
various platforms for recognition include
across six countries
enhanced roles, bonuses and pay raises,
commendation in company e-newsletters
and perfor­mance awards.
Optimum continues to provide a best-
23
in-class experience at work and extended
workplaces for employees by rapidly
enhancing capability to support them with
efficient, effective and innovative work
processes, digital ecosystems, infrastruc-
ture and services.
Its efforts to create a strong culture of
appreciation and openness at the work-
place have clearly paid off. More than
three in 10 employees have been with the
years
company for over a decade. Besides having
a laudable employee retention rate, the
company is listed as one of Singapore’s
of excellence
Best Employers this year in an inaugural
study compiled by The Straits Times and
global research firm Statista. This is best
encapsulated by project manager Jimmy
50
Lin. “The past six years at Optimum
have been a fulfilling journey. I trust the
organisation to do what is right by me
Partner to more than
whether it’s in terms of career growth,
personal development or a healthy work-
life balance. Above all, I enjoy the sense of
camaraderie I share with my colleagues.” 
Says chief operating officer Vinod
Martin: “Being ranked as one of Singa-
pore’s Best Employers is something we
greatly value. It is an honour, and we take it
as a responsibility to continuously improve
ourselves to remain an employer of choice
and a great place to work.”
Visit www.theoptimum.net to learn
Fortune 500 companies
how you can be a part of this exciting and
rewarding journey at Optimum Solutions.
SINGAPORE’S BEST EMPLOYERS 2020
Ensuring staff
feel secure in
uncertain times
Home-grown tech company CrimsonLogic
cares for its employees like family
I
n unpredictable times like the cur-
rent Covid-19 pandemic, having an
employer that looks out for its staff is
vital. CrimsonLogic, and its subsidiary
Global eTrade Services (GeTS) believe in
taking care of their people in good times
and in bad.
Ranked one of Singapore’s Best
Employers this year in an inaugural study
compiled by The Straits Times and global
research firm Statista, the company says
it has relied on its pillars of learn, lead,
GetFit, reward, give, fun, engage, aspire,
and inspire, dubbed ONE@CRIMSON,
as a guiding principle to create the best
possible working environment for its
staff. The same set of values underpins
the company’s efforts to go the extra mile
where possible for its employees during
tough times.
Agile and flexible
In early January, when there was still much
confusion over the coronavirus situation,
chief executive officer Saw Ken Wye took
swift actions to protect staff while keeping
operations running smoothly.
Soon after news of the Covid-19
outbreak in Wuhan broke, the company
quickly implemented its business conti-
nuity plans such as emergency rehearsals
in the event of an infection at the work-
place and split-site operations. By the
end of January, the preparations had put
the company and its employees in good
stead to handle a pandemic situation
more confidently.
As a tech company, CrimsonLogic also
…the company has
made learning open,
accessible... It’s up
to you to be curious
and learn things
that will expand
your horizon.
MR HAZMI HISYAM, head of legal
Sandoz Asia cluster
Scan this QR code to find out
more about Novartis Singapore
and its medical developments.
understands the importance of constant
connectivity and maintaining a degree
of flexibility in its daily operations. At
the Singapore headquarters, a majority
of staff are equipped with laptops, and
policies are already in place to cater
to alternative work arrangements even
before a pandemic hits.
The company needs close to 20 per
cent of its workforce to provide support
to key essential operations and services
to customers, such as data centre opera-
tions. These cannot be done from home.
However, the flexibility of its daily opera-
tions enabled the company to move eight
in 10 of its 500 employees in Singapore
off-site within a week.
Globally, the 32-year-old company
has offices in 19 countries and over 900
employees. It provides products and
services in trade facilitation, eJudiciary
and eGovernment solutions.
In a Facebook video to staff in March,
Mr Saw said: “As a company, your
well-being is paramount. We need to
make sure you, your family and your
loved ones are safe, and feel safe.” The
company was also prompt in the pro-
curement of essential supplies like masks,
hand sanitisers and thermometers; these
were packed into care packs that were
distributed to staff worldwide.
Mr Saw also has an open-door policy
for feedback — he frequently reaches out
to staff personally to ensure their needs
are met. New facilities and upgrades
were added around the offices as a result
of staff feedback. A team of people care
Clockwise from top left: Novartis Singapore covers several
areas of innovation including pharmaceutical developments;
the global medicines company is focused on improving and
extending people’s lives through its research and medical
innovations; Sandoz, the company’s generics and biosimilar
medicines division, promotes access to high quality, affordable
J
ust as how it continuously strives to im-
prove and extend people’s lives through
medical innovations and break-
throughs, Swiss-based global medicines
company Novartis is constant­ly finding new
ways to create a nurturing workplace envi-
ronment that engages, in­spires and empow-
ers its employees. Its progressive working
culture in Singapore has been recognised in
the inaugural Singapore’s Best Employers
ranking this year. The survey was conduct-
ed jointly by The Straits Times and global
research firm Statista.
Novartis Singapore has more than
1,000 associates working across divisions
covering innovative medicines, generic and
biosimilar medicines, the operation of two
manufacturing plants, and its Asia-Pacific
regional headquarters. It is a leader in
clinical trials, finding better ways to treat or
prevent diseases in the city-state.
Three Novartis Singapore associates give
us a glimpse of their workplace culture.
managers reporting directly to him helps
to create a family-like working environ-
ment and a culture of openness.
More training opportunities
CrimsonLogic operates on the premise
that it is a big family and everyone has
an opportunity to grow, personally and
professionally. Employees are given the
chance to constantly upgrade themselves.
During this uncertain time, the company
doubled its e-learning budget so that
employees have more opportunities to
upskill themselves with online courses on
LinkedIn, Udemy and Coursera.
Assistant product manager Ho Jun
Cheng was a product manager with
an e-commerce marketplace before
he joined the tech company’s subsid-
iary, GeTS. At GeTS, he was given the
opportunity to venture into the areas of
logistics, trade compliance and fintech.
“I’m excited to undertake new projects
and to further develop new technologies
and products for the trade industry.”
CrimsonLogic is also a firm believer in
gender equality. In a predominantly male
industry, Ms Akshatha S., a lead software
engineer based in Bengaluru, India,
appreciates what the company has done
to help her advance her dream career in
computer science.
“It is heartening to see our female
colleagues growing both personally and
professionally in CrimsonLogic,” she
says. “We are not just developing our
careers, but grooming future IT leaders
of tomorrow.”
medicines for patients. PHOTOS: NOVARTIS SINGAPORE
MS JASPREET KAUR
associate product manager,
Dermatology and Rheumatology
Franchise
Inspired by a purpose
In three years, Ms Jaspreet Kaur, 25, has
seen her career blossom from being an intern
to a full-time associate product manager,
formulating marketing plans for ongoing and
future product launches in the pharmaceuti-
cal portfolio to help healthcare professionals
deliver the right therapy to the patients.
Regular meetings and catch-up sessions
are a fixture in her work routines. Everyone
is encouraged and inspired to share and build
on ideas, contributing to a culture of open-
ness and trust. “We think of what else we can
do for patients. We are moving away from
just marketing the product — we explore
innovative solutions that will add value to
patients’ lives and help doctors better cater
to their patients’ needs. Putting patients at
the centre of our plans drives us to do our
best,” she says.
Novartis Singapore’s purpose-driven
culture extends to the associates’ personal
passions. Ms Kaur recounts how a group of
associates’ passion for sustainable living led
to the implementation of sustainable office
initiatives and the company’s support for a
two-day sustainability event to raise aware-
ness, which she took part in.
B ro u g ht to yo u by
As a company,
your well-being
is paramount. We
need to make sure
you, your family
and your loved
ones are safe,
and feel safe.
MR SAW KEN WYE, CEO
Clockwise from top: The CrimsonLogic family at a staff conference held in 2019; CrimsonLogic’s
subsidiary, GeTS, celebrating International Women’s Day and showing appreciation towards its
female staff; the ONE@CRIMSON ecosystem for people care; CrimsonLogic staff receiving vitamin C
supplements as part of their Resilience Care package to tackle Covid-19. PHOTOS: CRIMSONLOGIC
B ro u g ht to yo u by
Novartis
Singapore,
an employer
of choice
The global medicines company reimagines workplace
culture to unleash employees’ full potential
MR HAZMI HISYAM MS SHERYL TAY
head of legal, health, safety and
Sandoz Asia cluster environment team lead
Curiosity is encouraged “Unbossed” culture
Novartis associates around the world are Ms Sheryl Tay, 39, stepped up to a man-
encouraged to devote 100 hours every year agerial position when she joined Novartis
to learning. Novartis provides all associates Singapore three years ago as a health, safety
company-sponsored access to online training and environment team lead. Together with
programmes. her team, they super­vise over 500 workers
“The fact that the company has made at the manufacturing plants in Tuas.
learning open, accessible and purchased Ms Tay says Novartis Singapore helped
licenses for us to use to learn areas of busi- ease her transition from an executive
ness, or even topics that are of interest to us, to a managerial role by sending her to
such as history, artificial intelligence or data leadership programmes. The programmes
changed her perspective on implementing
science, shows Novartis’ commitment to
investing in its employees. It’s up to you to workplace safety procedures, teaching
be curious and learn things that will expand her to go beyond the books. She has since
your horizon,” says Mr Hazmi Hisyam, 31, led monthly cultural safety programmes
head of legal for the Sandoz Asia cluster. that involve associates taking part in fun,
For two years, Mr Hazmi has been work- immersive activities to enforce life-saving
ing with colleagues in other countries to rules and safety culture onsite.
ensure that programmes giving more people For her, creating an “unbossed” lead-
access to healthcare in different areas are ership culture means having open conver-
successfully implemented and are compliant sations with her team members and being
with the laws and regulations of the land. approachable instead of feared. Since
Mr Hazmi himself has taken up a course she works with a diverse team, inclusion
that covers the foundations of financial is highly important to her too. She says
accounting so that he can better understand diversity and inclusion activities like Racial
the commercial side of the business. He says Harmony Day and benefits such as equal
feeding this curiosity helps him understand parental leave and family care leave are
the company and its purpose holistically. much appreciated.