By Farhan Shah

It’s that time of the year again.

Newly-minted working professionals fret about how much they have to give and whether they will miss out on anything while those who are more experienced complain about the amount of paper work that they might have to potentially face. That’s right; it’s tax-filing season.

Besides being one of the legal obligations that all working professionals who earn above S$22,000 annually have to fulfil, taxes are also used for a variety of state and country expenses. Unfortunately, evading taxes is a crime in Singapore and is punishable in a court of law.

By Jacelyn Lim

In just a couple of days, numerous people will peer around corners and look behind their backs every few minutes to make sure that no one is attempting to play a prank on them. No matter your age or gender, April Fools’ Day is always celebrated with enthusiasm as friends try to outwit and out-prank each other with the most elaborate ideas unimaginable.

The office environment is no different. Tricking unsuspecting colleagues will incite a few laughs and gives everyone involved a topic to talk about during lunch or after-work drinks. At the same time, everyone will have a smile on their faces; happy workers translate to higher productivity after all.

Although April Fools’ Day falls on a Sunday this year, you can always shift the customary day to Monday instead!

By Jonathan Tay

With the ease of connecting to the internet and the abundance of social networking sites available these days, it comes as little surprise that most employers are concerned about what their employees are really up to in cyberspace. The following findings from JobsCentral’s online survey may perhaps provide some insights into the often elusive internet habits of the Singapore employees.

INFOGRAPHIC: Click here to view

By Winifred Tan

[Information and photos courtesy of National Museum of Singapore and National Heritage Board]

The last living vestiges of yesteryear, traditional peddlers are now slowly but surely disappearing from our streets as we continue the relentless march towards commercialism and modernity.

Despite the humble and informal nature of their work, it is important for us to remember that these peddlers bear testimony to the entrepreneurial spirit of our city-state and are part of a rich cultural heritage spanning back to the early years of the twentieth century.

Need a quick fix for your shoes? A newly-minted set of keys? A refreshing ice-cream sandwich to beat the summer heat? The variety of goods and services offered (all at modest prices) is nothing short of extraordinary.

Let us take a trip down memory lane in tribute to these nameless entrepreneurs who lived, worked on, and transformed our urban spaces through their colourful clutter and dedicated workmanship.

Barber,
Rise to popularity:
After the 1911 Hsinhai Revolution, many of the Chinese immigrants in Singapore hacked off their “pigtails” and started patronising street barbers.

Goods/services:
Hair cutting, shaving, ear cleaning, nose-hair trimming, eyes and tongue cleaning, and scalp, face and shoulder massages.

By Mabel Tan

Do you feel like there is literally never enough hours in a day to accomplish the tasks you set out to do?

You are not alone. As a part-time degree student holding a 9 to 5 job, I have to admit that my daily life can get pressurising, even stressful, especially when the deadlines simultaneously mount up at work and school.

Because I don’t get the luxury of having less to do - only less time to do - I have adopted the following time-wealth optimisation techniques to tame this ever-present frenemy of ours.

You're fresh out of school and the world is your oyster. While you get all excited about stepping into the corporate world, remember that with great power comes great responsibility. It’s clichéd but true – so what you should probably gear yourself with, besides a great résumé, is knowledge about your rights and responsibilities as an employee in Singapore. Here are the common questions you may find yourself asking, and the answers to them:

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The joy of a private office—it's something 89% of senior managers in the U.S. have celebrated. Soon after, though, there's the realization that the space feels cut off from the action. At times, the four walls can feel like barriers to keeping in touch with colleagues.

To that end, four design firms were challenged to configure a 15-foot by 15-foot space for a hypothetical midlevel executive. The office should look good, of course, but the firms were asked to envision a space that could inspire ideas and increase productivity.

Each firm came up with imaginative spaces—understandable when given a blank slate and unlimited budget. Yet the vastly different "perfect office" designs offer common themes.

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Q: I'm not very happy in my current job, and it doesn't seem like there is much opportunity for movement or advancement at the company where I work. What should consider when evaluating if this is the right time to make a move?

-- Boston

A: Don't start packing up your desk just yet – at least not before you've fully evaluated your current situation.

You'll want to determine if the problem is really with the job and the company or whether there's something else at play such as your energy level or dissatisfaction with other areas of your life.

Dressing for work in light of Singapore's hot and humid climate can be tough. Thirty-two degree weather and a suit jacket don’t exactly mix, but neither do guys in shorts and corporate boardrooms. Not to mention the fact that, at any given point, it’s at least six degrees cooler in the average office building than it is outside.

But it is possible to create a work wardrobe that’s comfortable yet professional, and cool yet collected. Here’s how.