Staff reviews on Glassdoor highlight alleged favouritism and promotion issues at PropertyLimBrothers

SINGAPORE: On 28 January 2026, PropertyLimBrothers (PLB), a Singapore-based real estate firm, confirmed that two senior executives, Melvin Lim and Grayce Tan, had resigned from their roles with immediate effect.

The announcement followed an internal review by the firm and came amid widespread online speculation regarding alleged misconduct involving the two executives.

Videos circulating on Reddit had alleged inappropriate behaviour between Lim and Tan.

Glassdoor ratings draw attention to employee sentiment

Beyond the leadership controversy, attention has turned to employee sentiment reflected on Glassdoor, an anonymous, crowdsourced workplace review platform.

PLB currently holds an overall rating of 2.6 out of five stars on Glassdoor.

According to the platform, only 26 per cent of reviewers indicated they would recommend the company to a friend.

Several reviews, purportedly written by current or recent employees, raise concerns about company culture and management practices.

One review stated that the firm was previously close-knit, but alleged that trust eroded after senior management set up a separate agency without informing staff.

The reviewer criticised the commission structure, claiming associates earned significantly less than co-brokers while facing steep commission cuts and difficult performance tiers.

The same comment urged management to reflect on fairness, rebuild trust, and reassess whether the appropriate leaders were in place. These claims could not be independently verified.

Claims of “operational disconnect” and uneven enforcement

Another Glassdoor review described what it termed an “operational disconnect” between management and staff.

The reviewer alleged that excessive mandatory events disrupted core work and were enforced through fines, while leaders themselves did not follow the same rules.

That review further claimed that leadership promoted company values without leading by example, undermining respect and trust among employees.

The review also highlighted an expense reimbursement system described as broken and opaque.

According to the comment, staff were required to pay upfront for expenses, with claims allegedly left unresolved for months without clear communication.

Incentives and key performance indicators were described as unrealistic, with promised rewards allegedly unfulfilled.

Allegation of funds directed to non-core ventures including a hotpot restaurant

Promotion practices were also criticised in the same review, which claimed advancement appeared biased rather than performance-based.

The reviewer said morale had fallen sharply, with declining participation in company events.

The comment further alleged that company funds were directed towards non-core ventures, such as opening a hotpot restaurant or sending management on costly overseas courses, instead of employee welfare initiatives.

One comment alleged inconsistent and unfair promotion practices, claiming advancement was tied to personal closeness with management rather than measurable performance.

The commenter claimed that some staff with limited or low-impact responsibilities received top performance ratings and promotions.

In contrast, other employees who worked long hours and delivered consistent output allegedly failed appraisals.

Claims of fear-driven culture and high turnover

The discussion also described what it characterised as a strong management disconnect, with leaders frequently absent from the office.

It alleged low morale, poor participation in company events, and a culture driven by fear amid high staff turnover.

Despite stated commitments to openness and candour, employees allegedly felt transparency and accountability were lacking.

Policy changes were said to be poorly communicated, with dissent perceived to result in retaliation.

Allegations over Tan's remuneration and hotpot business

Another now-deleted Reddit post, written by a user claiming to be a former employee, said they were not surprised by the recent leadership controversy.

The post alleged details about senior management remuneration, claiming Tan earned an annual salary of S$230,000 as vice-president with approximately two years of experience.

The Reddit user contrasted this with claims that she had previously been an intern earning S$800 per month.

The same post alleged that firm funds were used to support other co-owned businesses involving Melvin Lim and Tan, including a hotpot business. These claims have not been independently verified.

Earlier, The Online Citizen (TOC) has wrote to PLB seeking clarification on whether the Baby Hotpot business is a subsidiary or sub-venture of the firm.

It also sought confirmation on whether Melvin Lim and Tan co-own the business, and requested comments on the allegations raised in Glassdoor reviews and online discussions.

In a statement carried by The Straits Times on 28 Jan, PLB said it was reinforcing workplace conduct policies and governance processes.

The firm said these measures were intended to reaffirm professional boundaries and standards across the organisation.

" We will not comment on rumours or speculation. Our business operations and client services continue as usual, ” the statement said.