People of TAL

Jeremy

Assistant Director, Human Resources

TAL

The role of a Human Resource (HR) person is centred around people. We are a vital link between employees and management. We need to listen and understand both parties' needs and wants. 

I have always loved interacting with people. Sharing stories, and hearing different perspectives. Put me in a room with strangers, and I can talk to anyone about anything!

At TAL, our people are our greatest assets and the key driving force of the organisation. It is important to take care of our employees, and in turn, they will do their best for our customers.

Our management is truly caring and TAL's policies are people centric. These include providing flexible work arrangements, time off for staff to attend to personal matters, organising staff welfare and have corporate social responsibility activities. These initiatives give our employees the flexibility to manage both their work and personal needs, making them happier, more motivated and engaged. 

For our employees to grow in TAL, they are given opportunities to be trained in different areas of TAL's work through internal rotation to build their capabilities. They are also considered first before any job vacancies are open for external applications. My belief is that we should train people well enough so they can leave, but treat them well enough so they don't want to.

In my work, it's not always smooth sailing. While HR functions are similar in most organisations, policies differ due to organisational needs and strategic objectives. This makes our work dynamic, and we need to be agile and plan our processes accordingly. Sometimes, it can also be challenging to come up with solutions that satisfy the needs of different employees and yet meet the organisation's requirements. Fortunately, I have the support of colleagues who were senior HR practitioners in big organisations, and they provide me with valuable advice. 

I find my work in TAL to be very meaningful, as my colleagues and I are contributing to improving workplaces in Singapore. Every little effort we make helps make someone's life better.