Government purchase expensive chairs, justifiable?

[Kaixing]

Time to re-look at the purchase of expensive chairs.

 

http://liangkaixin.wordpress.com/2012/08/1...o-about-chairs/

 

Much ado about chairs

Posted on August 15, 2012 by kyeixhin

 

Hi guys, you know there was this hooha on Ministry of Manpower and their ergonomic chairs right?

 

Link to story: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/S...325-270092.html

 

In short, they

[macrosszero]

I am an office worker and I spend almost 10 hours in my office chair a day.

 

I paid $2000 plus for my king sized bed and I sleep in it for between 6-7 hours a day. I also have an "office-style" chair at home at my study desk which I hardly sit on once a week and paid $120 for at a nearby HDB furniture shop.

 

Now you might think that my bed and chair at home is bought with my money and so no one's problem but mine, but the 10 hours I sit in the office, I am helping my company with its operations and indirectly contributing to its revenue.

 

So in your opinion, should office staff on taxpayers' funds sit in plastic foldable chairs then?

 

And if you have no idea about office chairs what the heck are you doing questioning the price of them? What would you say is the right price then?

[Joseph22]

I am an office worker and I spend almost 10 hours in my office chair a day.

 

I paid $2000 plus for my king sized bed and I sleep in it for between 6-7 hours a day. I also have an "office-style" chair at home at my study desk which I hardly sit on once a week and paid $120 for at a nearby HDB furniture shop.

 

Now you might think that my bed and chair at home is bought with my money and so no one's problem but mine, but the 10 hours I sit in the office, I am helping my company with its operations and indirectly contributing to its revenue.

 

So in your opinion, should office staff on taxpayers' funds sit in plastic foldable chairs then?

 

And if you have no idea about office chairs what the heck are you doing questioning the price of them? What would you say is the right price then?

 

From his website, someone posted this. i think maybe himself.

 

 

 

kyeixhin on August 15, 2012 at 8:54 am said:

Just to add on, according to newspaper reports, Xtra Designs, located at Park Mall, is the sole authorised dealer for Herman Miller chairs.

[Joseph22]

Anyway i was thinking of buying one myself but too expensive.

end up i buy a 2nd hand Freedoom chair with head rest for 350.

 

Not bad still got warranty on all parts.

[Silver_blade]

Getting ergonomic chair that is for the well-being of office worker is reasonable. I have a Herman Miller chair (for over a decade and still good) at my home office and if it adjusted correctly, it make a lot of diff sitting for long hours as compared to the cheaper korean version (which I also have for years).

[Tayspiderx]

IT should be more transparent with other stat boards, are others doing the same??...By doing so, it open the flood gate for other ministries to jump on the likes of brompton bike and this HM chairs as stepping stone to acquire other branded stuffs in future...

[Hondacub777]

I think is fine to reward these civic servants who spend quite a time on their desk.

It's not like they buying for their own family use.

[Joseph22]

IT should be more transparent with other stat boards, are others doing the same??...By doing so, it open the flood gate for other ministries to jump on the likes of brompton bike and this HM chairs as stepping stone to acquire other branded stuffs in future...

if our stat boards are having only 1 purchasing department, then yes what you say valid.

 

but in true. not easy. Even in big company, office accessory like chairs in different business unit are buying them individually. what more for a stats board.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Joseph22

[macrosszero]

I would get quite ticked off if a shareholder holding a few lots of shares in my publicly listed company came into my office and started questioning whether I should be given a $50, $500 or $5000 chair/computer/desk/space.

 

Just because he is a shareholder doesn't mean he gets a say in what equipment I am given to do my job to earn revenue for the company he has a stake in. He might as well give me a cave, a nail and a slab of rock to write my report with so business costs are less and he can get more dividends. Stupid, right?

[Davidklt]

In fact, they are showing other companies , particularly SMES, a good example in providing good office equipment for staff.

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Things are getting out of hands.....

 

Next will they ask why TP buy S60 Volvo for Highway Patrol, Greely cars can leow.... . afterall, TP can rely on their Radar Guns....

 

Normal police cars can use Cherry QQ...

Edited August 16, 2012 by Picnic06

[Rainbowbiatch]

In fact, they are showing other companies , particularly SMES, a good example in providing good office equipment for staff.

 

totally second that!

gona forward that link and email to my superior!

[Freestylers09]

these chairs can last 10 years..

 

lousy chairs 1 week,i threw some away liao

 

if base on depreciation on assets, it's consider a good buy already

[Watwheels]

As long as they dun install a golden tap next to their desk I'm fine with the chairs.

[Maxus-MIFA9]

if our stat boards are having only 1 purchasing department, then yes what you say valid.

 

but in true. not easy. Even in big company, office accessory like chairs in different business unit are buying them individually. what more for a stats board.

 

maybe official vehicles should be something like this ....

 

 

http://xqno.com/binb

 

 

[Mockngbrd]

they got good deal on herman millers... those buy outside cost more

[Joseph22]

maybe official vehicles should be something like this ....

 

 

http://xqno.com/binb

wah best.. the ppl start KPKB saying how come treat singaporean so bad.

 

really ppl working in stats board got majority singaporean. at least they are the one enjoying it wor

[Sk65]

i think we are missing an important point.

ownership of the subject matter - cost

 

 

try telling your direct boss, u wanan buy 20 HM chairs.

your boss will probably say no before you present the benefits in a ppt.

 

becos cost = $$ from the company = can buy other things, business expansion, dividends, bigger scale DND

 

just becos govt $$ comes from ah kong,

and if dun spend all, next year cannot budget as much,

i feel la, i may be wrong,

there is actually lesser direct ownership in relations to the $$ spent.

 

 

if it was your own $$, u confirm think 3-4 times b4 buying.

 

 

so back to the qns,

justifiable a not ?

HM or brompton,

i say no,

becos your job is to do your job well in a reasonable condition

not to do your job well in the most comfortable condition

Edited August 16, 2012 by Sk65