For most people in Singapore, having a job is just a fact of life. But that simple fact encompasses a wide range of experiences. Have you ever really considered what workers do on a daily basis and how they feel about their jobs?Have you ever walked past an ice cream uncle and wondered why he does that particular job and how he got it? Ever wondered what your barista is thinking of you as she takes your morning coffee order? Have you ever considered the tension that comes with being a gay volunteer police officer and being tasked with enforcing the law in a country where sex between consenting adult men is still a criminal act? What exactly does a funeral director do? And did you even know that jobs such as academic ghostwriter, temple flower seller and Thai disco girl agent exist?

Hard at Work gives us access into the interior lives and experiences of more than fifty Singapore workers. It forms a snapshot of Singapore’s working population that will fascinate contemporary and future readers.