Hello.
US President Joe Biden has signed into law a Bill that could result in social media app TikTok being banned from the United States, unless it divests from its parent company Bytedance. What exactly would banning the app entail? Would this mean the end of TikTok in the US?
The uncertainty over a possible TikTok ban in the lucrative US market could extend to multiple years, says NTU associate dean Mark Cenite. If the threat of a US ban makes users explore alternatives, TikTok’s popularity may not recover, he adds.
In Singapore, flexibility in the workplace has been in the spotlight since new guidelines were announced last week requiring employers to put in place a process for workers to make such requests.
There are questions about how the new guidelines might impact the job market and salaries. But what is known is that remote work boosts happiness and reduces the likelihood of employees quitting, says SUSS’ Ada Wong.
Of course, transitioning to a more flexible work model isn’t always easy. There is a perception that this will be extra challenging for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). But SME bosses who prefer the status quo and see such arrangements as a burden – rather than a potential lever to attract, engage and retain talent – may find themselves missing out, say SUSS’ Sherwin Chia and Charissa Tan.
We hope you enjoy our selection of commentaries this week.
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Alison Jenner
Supervising Editor, Commentary
