SINGAPORE: A Singaporean employee was shocked when he discovered that his boss, whom he described as someone “who was foolish and clueless at their job,” only got hired because he was “closely related to the CEO”.
In a post on the r/askSingapore forum, the employee said that his boss did not understand “basic knowledge of the industry and often asked questions that made him look foolish.”
This prompted the employee to wonder which factor really is more prevalent in Singapore’s society: nepotism or meritocracy.
“In Singapore, there is often a fine line between meritocracy and nepotism. Meritocracy is often regarded as the cornerstone of Singapore’s society; however, there are talks about how personal connections and networking can play a more significant role in our careers. Do ya’ll think that nepotism is becoming more prevalent in our work culture?” he asked.
“I’m just curious about how much of career progression in Singapore comes down to merit, and how much is driven by personal connections. Is nepotism more widespread than we think?” he added.
“Connections beat competence.”
In the discussion, most Singaporean Redditors agreed that nepotism has become increasingly prevalent in the workplace, overshadowing meritocracy in many aspects of career advancement.
One said, “After spending some 11 years in public service and listening to my friends in the private sector, I no longer believe in meritocracy, either in the workplace or in the public sector.
“I had a personal experience where I nearly completed the project, then watched it handed over to someone else selected for promotion so that person could claim credit.”
Another commented, “Nepotism, and it’s getting worse. If you look at the board of directors of companies, it makes one wonder if they are chosen due to their expertise or merely because they have connections. When it comes to hiring, connections (are) everything.”
A third simply remarked, “Connections beat competence.”
A fourth pointed out that while meritocracy is still present, it often plays second fiddle to networking and favouritism. They said, “Your own talent and hard work can only get you so far. After a certain (period), it’s who you know or who knows you that opens the doors. You’re going to struggle against a less competent person who is either the child of the CEO or can call on them as a family friend to open doors.”
Still, a few individuals pushed back against the idea that nepotism dominates Singapore’s work culture, arguing that meritocracy still holds weight. They believed that while connections may provide an advantage, hard work and skill can still lead to success.
One shared, “I have known enough people who worked hard, from rags to pretty rich (not ultra rich). There’s some sort of merit there. It depends on your field, industry, and where you’re working. It also depends on what level of success you’re talking about.”
In other news, one Singaporean man who finally achieved FIRE—financial independence, retire early—at the age of 48 took to social media to ask netizens how to make the most of his free time.
In a post on r/singaporefi, the man shared that he had finally decided to resign from his job, as the work environment had become “too toxic,” and his investments could now generate over S$250,000 per year. “The passive income is enough to cover my family’s expenses and allow me to continue reinvesting,” he said.