What it means when workers are told to reapply for their jobs

Process can incite feelings of insecurity, hurting employee morale and engagement

- Sharon Salim

When Ms Teo was told a few years ago that she could reapply for her current role if and when it opened up or be redeployed to another department, the situation created a lot of anxiety.

There was also speculation of layoffs, she recalled, and Ms Teo was told her team would move to a new department under a new boss due to different business units being merged.

Ms Teo, who works in the tech industry, was eventually redeployed to another position.

"I was unsure of the longevity of my new role as I did not possess the necessary skills to excel in that role," said Ms Teo, who wanted to be known only by her surname.

She later found out that the company already had a candidate in mind for her old role.

She started applying for a new job and found one not long after.

Ms Teo and her former colleagues are not the only ones who have experienced this.

Most recently, large companies like British bank HSBC and broadcaster BBC told staff to reapply for jobs as part of restructuring efforts to trim their workforces.

The reapplication process at HSBC reportedly involves pitting senior staff from the commercial banking division against those from the global banking and markets unit to compete for the jobs available in a newly formed combined division.

Food delivery platform foodpanda, which is headquartered in Singapore, had asked some staff to reapply for their jobs in November 2024, The Straits Times has learnt.

The move affected at least two people from the customer experience team.

When asked, a foodpanda spokesperson said the company "introduced changes" to improve its service for customers and partners.