Book excerpt: 'Human Resource is our most precious asset. Progressive HR enhances human capital. Regressive HR depresses it. HR practitioners are entrusted with heavy responsibility. They must equip themselves with the knowledge and skills so that they could multiply the human capital under their care. This HR management series is timely. It is written in the Singapore context guided by our local employment laws and tripartite guidelines and standards. I commend the authors for their endeavour to produce such a first.'Lim Swee SayFormer Minister for ManpowerFormer Secretary General, National Trades Union CongressHuman Resource Management in Singapore — The Complete Guide covers a wide spectrum of human resource management topics in five volumes: Employment Management, Work and Remuneration, Employee Benefits, Performance and Development, and Employee Conduct and Relations. In every chapter, the WHY, WHAT and HOW are presented lucidly. The books are a must-have GPS for any human resource practitioner in Singapore. Students, academics and bosses into human resource management as well as overseas human resource practitioners will also find the books helpful and instructive.Volume A on Employment Management explains the differences between contract of service and contract for service and the various types of employment and engagement of services, including permanent employment, term contract, re-employment, part-time employment and casual work. Key employment terms including probation, notice period and non-compete agreements are discussed. A clear execution guide is given on recruitment and selection, as well as managing the different forms of employment exit, including resignation, contract expiry, contractual termination, dismissal due to misconduct, vacation of office, frustration of contract, retirement, retrenchment and medical boarding out. Staff transfer and secondment, as well as legal transfer of employment are also covered. Readers will find the 11 chapters easily comprehensible and packed with invaluable insights to guide them to make good decisions on manpower resourcing and managing employment.