5 ways to quietly complain about work

Behind the shiny skyscrapers and fast cars, Singapore is still a traditional Asian country at heart - and nothing gives this away more than our inability to communicate well.

While it's a generalisation to say local employees are more likely to keep quiet about an issue, rather than call out their boss over a grievance, it doesn’t hurt to look at how open the culture of communication really is in your office.

Recent incidents have highlighted the issue of complaints. First, there was that illegal strike which really was about a small group of workers wrongly expressing their dissatisfaction, and more recently, the boss who took to hitting his staff rather than having an adult conversation.

Perhaps staff are too shy to speak up, or maybe HR isn't giving them an open door to walk through with their problems. Here are five ways you can quietly complain about work.

Hint, hint, hint

Not happy when your boss asks you to work through the weekend? Sigh loudly. Upset your report needs a rewrite? Slam the phone down. Angry the pantry has run out of coffee again? Kick the bin over. Lost that promotion to the new team member? Set off the fire alarm.

Yes, these methods may end up with security escorting you out, but at least everyone knows you were fed up about something.