Office to Rent

[ukdesigner]

Hi all,

I'm now in the throws of expanding my business and have to now look for an office. No more working from home Does anyone know of a good website for commercial properties?

I've done the usual google search and there's so many naff websites out there and off course all the usual serviced offices that I am spending hours and hours churning through websites only to find that they are duff.

I don't need a huge unit, something in the region of 200sq ft but most seem to be either tiny or huge and way out of my budget.

Also, does anyone know the procedures for renting an office in so much as an agent fee etc etc? Does it work on the same basis as condo rentals, in so much as anything under 2500pm I pay an agent fee?

Any help or a direction to a website for help would be gratefully received.


Just to add something else in there for sms or strong eagle (can't remember who's got the recruitment company). It's pretty straightforward I presume in employing a local? I know this sounds stupid but do I pay a fee to the websites like Jobsdb etc etc? I'm just trying to factor in all my costs and need to make sure I've fully covered everything. Also.... do you make CPF contributions every month to the government or do you do it quarterly? In the UK you pay every 3 months so just need to make sure I know what I'm doing. I've downloaded the stuff from MoM and the CPF website for reading when I manage to actually grab an hour to myself but hopefully you guys can give me the quick answer.

Is there anything else I need to factor into my monthly costs for an employee that I might not know? I presume MoM is there for advice for a Ang Moh and will gladly help me out when in times of need? I hope anyway!

Thanks in advance.

[teck21]

Hi UK designer,

I actually have an office space which I seek to rent out.

It is, um about 10 times the size of what you require but can very easily converted into a home office if necessary. Depending on your budget, maybe we can work something out. It's simply that this office has been sitting idle for years and years and is being used by the surveying firm which rents the next unit form me next door to store their plans, drawings and what not.

Or you/I could partition it and sublet. I'm flexible with most possibilities, just want to extract some income from the property.

Location is not what you'd call grade A though. It's near the Lavender food court along Jalan Besar, and is a bit of a hive for, um vice activity, so depending on your business, might not be suitable.

It is a fantastic under 10min walk to Lavender MRT station though, and close to places to eat cheaply.

No commission of any kinf payable either. Let me know if you think you'd like to know more.

Thanks.

[Strong Eagle]

My accountant rents cheap space. Needless to say it is neither class A nor in the CBD. She could probably give you some pointers. If you want her info PM me.

Cheers

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hiring a local is easy. You can place a classified ad in the daily birdcage liner for around $24 bucks for 3 lines up to the sky's the limit. The major job boards like Jobsdb or Jobstreet, etc. you will pay for the ad but I've not got a clue as to the single position rates. You would have to call them for quotes. I used to book semi-annual packages for around $12-15K/6 months but that was with a recruitment company who used them heavily (that company still uses them today).

CPF needs to be paid monthly via GIRO to the CPF board on the 14th of the month following the close of the payroll for the previous month. You will also need to pay into the Skills Development Fund (SDF). This is paid at the same time as the CPF is paid (on the same form). You would also need to consider if you are going to provide any sort of benefits for your employee, e.g., Hospital/Surgical policy as you would also need to factor in that cost. If you are planning on giving an AWS bonus at the end of the year you need to budget for that costs and the costs of the employers CPF on it as well.

If you have downloaded the Employment Act and the CPF Employer's Handbook, you are in pretty good shape. The Employer's Handbook will also let you know what is CPF attractable and what isn't. There isn't any tax withholding for income taxes so you don't have a problem there like you do in other countries using the PAYG method of tax withholding. There is also a CPF Calculator on the CPF website which makes it very simple to calculate the total CPF, the employer & employee portions. It also even tells you how & how much of the amounts will be disbursed to the employee's CPF account.

As long as you have under 10 personnel, you will not be required to electronically file their tax information at the end of the year (so far that is). This can actually be done online as well so it's not a bad deal. I had two companies that were required to but I got permission from IRAS to set up all 5 companies on it this past January.

Anything else just give us a shout!

sms

[ukdesigner]

I've just visited the website for MOM with regards the contract of employment and had a read through.

The one on their website shows 14 days sick leave!! What the hell. That is not a legal requirement is it because that's mental!!!

Had a look at everything else and seems relatively straightforward. Have any of you added in clauses for equipment, social networking sites etc etc?

I'm not an ogre but when someone's working I expect them to work and not be chatting on the phone or facebook to their friends when there's work to be done. I'm just trying to get ahead and be prepared and might have to get it looked at by a lawyer but mostly these things are common sense right?

[bagofbones]

Hi I have space to tenant out in IMM, around 150 sq ft, we just moved in and need to do up the partition. Do PM me if you are interested. No agent fees. Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

I've just visited the website for MOM with regards the contract of employment and had a read through.

The one on their website shows 14 days sick leave!! What the hell. That is not a legal requirement is it because that's mental!!!

Had a look at everything else and seems relatively straightforward. Have any of you added in clauses for equipment, social networking sites etc etc?

I'm not an ogre but when someone's working I expect them to work and not be chatting on the phone or facebook to their friends when there's work to be done. I'm just trying to get ahead and be prepared and might have to get it looked at by a lawyer but mostly these things are common sense right?

I am afraid it is. As of 1.1.09 it is compulsory to give all employee a minimum of 14 days of paid sick/medical leave (MC) per year. In order for them to be able to claim it they must produce an MC cert from the doctor (By law a certified government doctor from a government hospital or polyclinic - although you are also allowed to use a company doctor or other private clinics if you, as the employer wants to (but that is not compulsory). Additionally, an employee is able to take up to 60 days a year paid Hospitalization Leave, but in no case can the aggregate of both exceed 60 "workdays" per year. And yes, it is compulsory regardless of how much or little they make. The Employment Act only covers those who earn less than 2000/mo. There they also are required to have a minimum of 7 days of annual leave. If they earn over that, it's negotiable. Here in Singapore a worker, on the average, gets a minimum of 10 days annual leave while a manager usually get between 14 & 21 days/year. There are also 10 gazetted public holidays per year (Paid public holidays) 11 if it's an election year. These all need to be factored in.

Good luck keeping somebody for very long here if you ban social networking sites. You think productivity suffers with it, what till you cannot keep employees and see how much it suffers! An employee here will leave their job for another job at the same money if it's 5 minutes closer to home or to orchard road. They will also leave for $50 more salary as well. Hell, they often leave just for "change of environment" and it sounds like your environment is not going to be very popular at all.

Good luck.....

Edited to add: I reckon I wouldn't last too long there. Look at the time I spend on here!

[Strong Eagle]

I'm not an ogre but when someone's working I expect them to work and not be chatting on the phone or facebook to their friends when there's work to be done. I'm just trying to get ahead and be prepared and might have to get it looked at by a lawyer but mostly these things are common sense right?

I have never said what my employees can or cannot do with respect to facebook, the phone, the internet, or anything like that. I have set productivity standards. Frankly, someone who doesn't produce won't start producing just because you take away facebook, and someone who does produce won't be affected by facebook... except maybe getting pissed off at the clown boss for cutting off facebook.

[jpatokal]

I am afraid it is. As of 1.1.09 it is compulsory to give all employee a minimum of 14 days of paid sick/medical leave (MC) per year.

Got link? MOM's page...

http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal ... Leave.html

...says: "An employee covered by the Employment Act is entitled to paid sick leave..."

And as we know the Employment Act does not cover anybody in an "manager, executive or professional" position.

http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal ... overs.html

[sundaymorningstaple]

Unfortunately, I'm left with



For taking the following at face value when it didn't sound right and not bothering to verify it at MOM:

http://www.sghrm.com/2009/01/changes-of ... -1-09.html

Would seem the sites poor writing has hoist me by my own petard so I checked here

http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal ... t_act.html

and it leaves me

My apologies. It sounded strange to me as well but with GIRO going in this morning for mid-month payrolls, I just let it go and figured I missed it back in January!

[ukdesigner]

Thanks guys.

Gives me lots to read up on and check!

I have never said what my employees can or cannot do with respect to facebook, the phone, the internet, or anything like that. I have set productivity standards. Frankly, someone who doesn't produce won't start producing just because you take away facebook, and someone who does produce won't be affected by facebook... except maybe getting pissed off at the clown boss for cutting off facebook.

It's not so much stopping them but I wanna make sure that when they're at work they work. I don't mind when things are quiet to check their facebook account etc etc but when it's busy I expect them to work. That's not too unreasonable is it?

[Strong Eagle]

Thanks guys.

Gives me lots to read up on and check!

I have never said what my employees can or cannot do with respect to facebook, the phone, the internet, or anything like that. I have set productivity standards. Frankly, someone who doesn't produce won't start producing just because you take away facebook, and someone who does produce won't be affected by facebook... except maybe getting pissed off at the clown boss for cutting off facebook.

It's not so much stopping them but I wanna make sure that when they're at work they work. I don't mind when things are quiet to check their facebook account etc etc but when it's busy I expect them to work. That's not too unreasonable is it?

Not at all... I just prefer to hire employees that are self policing and to provide incentives to work instead of play, as opposed to using the stick approach.

[sierra2469alpha]

UKDesigner - that's a part that is usually handled by an employment contract which usually states fair use of ICT systems for personal use. That's up to each employer. If you need ones that I have done for Clients, let me know - happy to give you a draft one you can work with.

Remember also the necessary understanding of the way people work here - a social and moral understanding of their position will always be helpful in every country

Bear in mind also, that some people use Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., to expand their professional networks. However, a blatant ban won't help anyone (as I understand SE is saying also)...just be a good manager and be nice. Invert the pyramid and take local culture into account.

Cheers, Mr. P

[ukdesigner]

it's very standard practice in the Uk to block hotmail, MSN, facebook etc etc and whilst I've never gone down that route I see so many of my local friends here are constantly updating their accounts, uploading photos etc etc which I wish to try and avoid.

I do always encourage staff to enjoy work and I consider myself to exceptionally reasonable when it comes to time off, downtime and personal calls but I find that alot of people will answer their phone even in meetings which I find incredibly rude and unproductive.

I offer incentives for staff to grow with the company like better roles, profit sharing and the like so hopefully that'll encourage them to think about work rather than organising their lunch plans but then again that's a really tall order!

[ukdesigner]

Mr P,

a copy of that would be really really helpful. I'll PM you my email address.

Much appreciated.