Mentor, Colleague and Advisor

Q: What’s a typical day like for you at work?
Mr Tan: On top of my regular day-to-day tasks, I help to train new colleagues in the department. We strive for excellence and ensure that clean and crisp clothes are delivered to hotel guests. As a mentor, I share tips with younger colleagues on ironing and pressing various materials, as well as inculcate the right values in them.

Nurul: The laundry department, like what Uncle Tan said, is responsible for all linen used in the hotel. I start my day by collecting laundry from the rooms before sending it back to the department for washing and ironing. My colleagues and I will then press the clothes before delivering them back to the guests.


Q: Tell us more about your mentor-mentee relationship.
Mr Tan: As Nurul’s mentor, I teach her everything she needs to know about working in the laundry department, step by step. I also impart to her the right work attitudes and values. When she first started at the laundry department, she was fresh out of school and had no prior experience. She is now a skilled worker and very proficient in her day-to-day tasks in the laundry room. I am very proud to see that she can work independently and deliver all her tasks with minimal supervision.

Nurul: Uncle Tan is a very patient mentor. Step by step, he shows me how to go about doing my duties and is always patient in guiding me.


Q: In your opinion, why is it important for more experienced workers to mentor younger colleagues?
Mr Tan:  As hospitality service providers, the satisfaction of our guests is very important to us. Being new, my younger colleagues may not be experienced enough to manage work as intuitively as seasoned staff. They may be slower and more prone to making mistakes. By teaching and guiding my younger colleagues well, we can work better together to make our guests happy and increase their satisfaction levels. When my less-experienced colleagues become good at their jobs, team members can support one another better, and our workload can be shared. Work is also more enjoyable and less stressful when there is good teamwork!


Q: What are some of the benefits of being a part of this mentoring programme?
Mr Tan: I am thankful for the opportunity to further develop my skills in management and mentoring. When I see my younger colleagues become independent workers, I feel a sense of satisfaction.

Nurul: If I did not have a mentor, I think I would feel more stressed and stretched at work. I would also need more time to learn the ropes. With a mentor like Uncle Tan, I know that I can seek advice on work anytime, which helps me better support the laundry team.

This article first appeared in the January – March 2015 issue of Upbeat.