A Day in Tiong Seng as a HR Assistant Manager

At Tiong Seng, the heart of every project is its people. Ensuring that our employees are well-supported, informed, and empowered requires a dedicated team of HR professionals who bridge operational needs with human connection. Si Min, our HR Assistant Manager, who has been with us for over four and a half years, is one of those people. 

A Day in HR

Si Min’s role focuses on HR systems, policy updates, and providing backup support to the payroll team. Beyond administration, she serves as a vital resource for both employees and managers, offering guidance on entitlements, workplace concerns, and employee management strategies. In essence, her role bridges operational efficiency with the human side of HR, ensuring that both people and processes are well supported.

A typical day begins with clearing employee enquiries, as site operations start early and questions come in quickly. From onboarding new hires to offboarding departing staff, her work ensures smooth personnel processes. Quiet moments are often spent reviewing policies, cleaning up data in the system, and checking compliance requirements such as work pass renewals to make sure operations continue without interruptions. Every activity, whether reactive or proactive, is aimed at keeping the HR ecosystem running efficiently and supporting the company’s broader operations.

Driving Change with HRIQ

Among her many contributions, Si Min is particularly proud of the implementation of HRIQ, Tiong Seng’s HR system. Before HRIQ, attendance tracking and other HR records were largely paper-based, which was both time-consuming and prone to errors. Leading the rollout and adoption of the system, she worked closely with managers to establish standard operating procedures and ensure a smooth transition from manual processes. The result has been a significant improvement in efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of HR data across the company. While no system is ever perfect, HRIQ represents a major step forward in modernising Tiong Seng’s HR operations and enhancing the overall employee experience.

Choosing HR and Staying for the People

Choosing HR was a deliberate decision driven by a desire to take on a supportive, socially-oriented career. For Si Min, Tiong Seng offered both challenge and opportunity, and the collaborative culture has made it a place she is proud to stay. The most rewarding aspect of her work is the human connection. Seeing employees positively impacted by her guidance and support, and maintaining relationships even beyond their tenure at the company.

Navigating HR Challenges in Construction

The construction industry presents unique HR challenges, particularly when it comes to communicating across a workforce that is both culturally and linguistically diverse. Employees range from site workers who may speak different native languages to management teams with varying expectations and communication styles. This diversity requires Si Min and the HR team to not only convey policies clearly but also to ensure that guidance is understood and actionable by everyone. Over time, adaptability, trial-and-error, and attentive listening have become essential tools for overcoming these challenges. Helping the team to understand the perspectives and concerns of employees and respond in a way that builds trust, collaboration, and a safe, supportive workplace environment.

Advice for Future HR Professionals

Her advice to anyone considering a career in HR is to stay open-minded, embrace change, and be committed to continuous learning. Policies, systems, and workplace needs are constantly evolving. Flexibility is key, as is curiosity: understanding why rules exist, exploring better ways to support employees, and adapting approaches based on real-world situations. 

At Tiong Seng, HR isn’t just about rules and processes. It’s about building a culture where people feel valued, heard and supported so employees can perform at their best while feeling respected and cared for. 

For Si Min, being part of that journey, seeing the tangible impact of her work on people’s daily experiences and career growth is what makes her role so meaningful. Every enquiry she resolves, every process she improves, and every connection she builds contributes to a workplace where individuals can thrive and projects can succeed.

Join Tiong Seng

At Tiong Seng, we are always looking for individuals who share our passion for building, innovation, and teamwork. Our projects are not just structures, they are opportunities to learn, grow, and make a difference. If you are curious, determined, and driven to leave a lasting impact, there is a place for you here.

Explore your possibilities. Build your future. Join Tiong Seng.