HSBC may be latest to slash jobs, is hot-desking really that cool?, and more top news

The news professionals in Asia are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments and share the Daily Rundown with your network. 

Up to 10,000 jobs may be cut by HSBC in the banking group’s most ambitious plan to reduce costs, The Financial Times reported, citing anonymous sources. The cuts are on top of 4,700 redundancies announced in August, and comes as the bank faces low interest rates, global trade disputes and the ambiguity created by Brexit. Globally, banks have pledged to slash 50,000 jobs, with Deutsche Bank, Santander Barclays leading the way. Japan’s MUFG also recently said it would cut around 60 jobs, or less than 40% of its staff in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

Also: Computer giant HP will cut up to 9,000 jobs, or 16% of its workforce, through firings and voluntary early retirement amid difficulty with its printing business.

Singapore is building what is set to become the world’s largest fully-automated port. The S$20 billion project, which will double Singapore’s existing shipping capacity when completed in 2040, means maritime workers will need to upskill themselves and become more familiar with technology to work alongside the robots, The Straits Times reports. This comes as the city state, whose maritime industry contributes about 7% of GDP, faces competition from ports in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as the opening of the Arctic route. ? Here's what people are saying.

More than a third of Japanese female employees with mental illnesses said that they had suffered from sexual harassment, assault, bullying and abuse of power at work, according to a new government survey. For men with mental health issues, 16% of them said harassment was the main reason, while 23% attributed it to a change in workload or job function. This comes a few weeks after another study found that one in four Singaporean workers have been "bullied, undermined or harassed" in the workplace in the past year. Research has found that those who are bullied or exposed to violence at work may face a higher risk of heart disease. ? Here's what people are saying.

Making an argument? Keep it simple: When we’re passionate about making a persuasive case to others, many of us opt to pile on the supporting evidence. But when it comes to argumentation, less is often more, according to London Business School’s Niro Sivanathan. When we take an “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to persuasion, our argument often suffers from a “dilution effect”, where stronger evidence mixes with the weak, making everything seem average. To make your case, go for short and sweet. ? Here’s what people are saying.?

As more and more businesses hire freelance workers and contractors, the hot-desking trend has picked up steam. But is it really the money-saver it was intended to be? A recent survey revealed those in hot-desking offices took about 18 minutes to find a seat. In other words, 66 hours a year of wasted time. Not to mention, it isn't very popular with workers. A survey by Workplace Unlimited found hot-desking was ranked fifth out of six varying office designs. ? Here's what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: It may seem like great creative achievements are born via an instantaneous burst of inspiration. But actress and author Felicia Day reminds us that countless hours of preparation and effort are often hidden beneath glossy finished products. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

“If only every piece of art told us the amount of time and effort it took to make, perhaps we’d be a wee bit easier on ourselves when we don’t achieve success overnight.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments, and hit “share” to tell your network what you think.

— Yunita Ong