Have you found yourself working longer hours at the office lately? Or maybe being forced to pop back to the office on Saturdays to clear up loose ends before you enjoy your weekend?

Some friends have lamented about having to work longer hours recently due to the troubles plaguing the world's economy.

They complained that they 'hate' being forced to stay later, or come in on weekends, without being paid more or offered a day off.

'So unfair,', 'Feel like killing my boss,' and 'Bloody slave drivers,' were just some of the colourful phrases being tossed about over dinner recently.

The conversation then veered to family life and one of them commented that he was lucky to have a maid. As a joke, I asked, 'Is your maid being overworked too?'

And the answer caught me off-guard. 'No lah. She still gets her one day off a month.'

When I questioned why he didn't give her every Sunday off, he said: 'We need her to work. It's her job.'

The irony of what he had said seemed lost on him.

This exchange got me thinking deeper about the plight of foreign workers in Singapore, especially in light of how hard some Serangoon Gardens residents are protesting against the foreign workers' dorm that will be built in their backyard.

Is it that hard for us to treat foreign workers, whether maids, construction workers, or cleaners, as fellow human beings?

The common refrain heard with regards to them: Yes, we need you to work your butt off, but please don't live near us or expect us to be friendly.

You'd expect sentiments like this from the snootily rich. But, based on anecdotal evidence, even the average working-class Joe here feels that he is far superior to maids and foreign workers.

I've even overheard a few of them referring to maids' employers as their 'owners'.

Could this be why Singaporeans fare so badly in the service sector? Just because they have maids serving them at home, could we be feeling that serving others is now beneath us?

This us-versus-them attitude is now getting so ingrained in some of us, a radical approach may be needed to reverse it.

Here's a thought: Instead of segregating, or even just tolerating foreign workers, why not consider embracing them?

Residents at Jalan Kayu have already taken the first step by inviting some of the 6,000 foreign workers who moved into their estate to grassroots events and to join them in patrols of the area.

But I think we should take it a step further.

Why not invite foreign workers who live in the vicinity of your estate to join your Residents' Committee, or the equivalent grassroots group?

During meetings, they can learn about your concerns about them being neighbours and vice versa.

Are some of them making a nuisance drinking alcohol and chatting loudly at void decks? Let their representatives know, and if something has to be done, let them police their own.

Involve maids in the neighbourhood watch groups. After all, since they take care of your household while you're at work, they are in the best position to be the eyes and ears of the estate.

The basic idea is to give foreign workers here a stake in the community in which they live.

Think this is too radical a plan? Then maybe baby steps are in order.

If you have a maid, start small and ask about her life back home. How are her parents? What did she do for fun? What food does she miss most from home?

If you pass foreign construction workers on your way home, smile. Chances are, they'll smile back.

You'll soon find out that they, too, are human.

This article was first published in The New Paper on October 19, 2008.