For the past two years, I’ve had the chance to dive into a completely different kind of job. After leaving fashion retail, I started a new chapter in human resources. I didn’t really know what I was getting into (not that I had much of a choice), but I jumped in headfirst. Looking back, it was, and probably always will be a thankless job. I first heard the term "thankless job" from my new deputy boss. He was friendly and kind, which was a nice change from his predecessor. I enjoyed working with him and often sought his advice during our quarterly reviews. During one of these meetings, I shared my frustration with several systems in our office.

To give you some context, let me start from the beginning. When I joined this organization after basic clerical training, I was assigned to the HR department, even though I had a background in photography. I wanted to try something different, so I didn’t ask for a transfer and started learning from my senior colleagues. I helped wherever I could and gradually understood the processes in this new environment.

Our responsibilities involved organizing events, preparing awards, coordinating employee training, updating the daily electronic bulletin board, creating electronic interview forms for bosses, and handling financial roles such as procuring daily essentials, budget planning, and managing office funds. After a few months, I started specializing in preparing awards and organizing events as my senior colleagues completed their tenures.

Saying that I drew the short end of the straw would discredit the complexity and efforts of my other colleagues. My job might sound simple on paper, but it was far from straightforward. The repetitive nature of gathering information and producing awards in-house led to negative thoughts over time. The technical side required immense accuracy and precision, which was tough for someone like me who isn’t very detail-oriented. Churning out large quantities in a short timeframe was stressful and mentally draining. Keeping up with the increasing number of awards and getting approval from my new boss was challenging. Despite my efforts, my relationship with him suffered due to a few major incidents.

He wasn’t the easiest person to work with, but he did care about our health, safety, and families outside of work. Given his role as head of HR and the high-stress environment created by his boss, he was often blunt and intense in his communication. The high standards he required made the job even more demanding. This often resulted in several sleepless nights for me and many after-hours phone calls with him.

It didn’t help that, like many Asian parents, he didn’t give words of affirmation for a job well done. This lack of recognition is common in the Singapore workforce, or at least in this organization. If our bosses had acknowledged our efforts, we wouldn’t feel like we were constantly playing catch-up with the ever-increasing demands of our tasks. This affected me mentally.

The more awards I produced, the more I questioned why I wasn’t being recognized for my hard work. I never received any incentive or appreciation. While I made several mistakes during my tenure, it doesn’t negate the immense effort and sacrifice I put in during the busiest periods. After almost two years, where was my own award?

The same goes for the events I had organized. When things went well, I received minimal compliments, but when things went wrong, my head was on the chopping block. That was the opening line of my conversation with my new deputy boss. I’ve contributed so much, yet I don’t feel recognized at all. That was my main issue with the entire system. I did get promoted twice (both delayed) and received an allowance, but that was the bare minimum. I’ve seen other clerks do much less to get where I am now. Do you see why I’m frustrated?

My deputy boss comforted me and assured me that my feelings were valid. He also feels the same way sometimes and shared that this issue isn’t unique to our organization. He previously worked in the private sector and said it’s just as bad there. He said we need to support each other to get through this.

It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? We’re in a job where we’re supposed to take care of others – their welfare, mental well-being, promotions, awards, staffing – but we don’t even practice what we preach within our own department. I highly doubt the HR departments in other organizations are like this, but I’m not going to find out firsthand. I’ve decided to avoid HR unless absolutely necessary. It’s crucial to every organization, but it’s just not for me. I’ve had enough bad experiences to know I don’t want to relive this nightmare again.