A job is a big treasure in the life of every person who understands what it means to be employed.
Have you ever taken time to ponder why you got employed? If you have never, then it’s high time you do, because that is what will help you improve yourself at your place of work.
On January 20, 2023, I read an article that had been published by one of the publications where a Canadian accountant, Karlee Besse, had been fired for being unproductive at her job.
Additionally, a civil tribunal, which is part of Canada’s judicial system, ruled that Besse owes her former company US$2,756 after the software installed on her laptop revealed that she misrepresented over 50 hours of work.
The problem of absconding from work is not only limited to Canada but to Uganda as well.
In 2022, Nakaseke District adopted the system of pay per day of work done to all civil servants in the district due to the problem of chronic absenteeism by government workers, which they wanted to deal with because it had ruined service delivery, according to the Human Resource Officer, Imelda Navubya.
Dr. Asuman Lukwago, the Secretary of the Education Service Commission, said that the Commission had embarked on the long-awaited national staff validation exercise to weed out ghosts and identify staffing gaps in the education sector. Some teachers had left the profession but were continuing to draw salaries without working.
According to the recent World Bank Report on Employment, jobs are essential because they determine the living standards of individuals and households, support economic transformation, and promote social cohesion.
“Having potential workers in the labour market helps in achieving equitable growth, and jobs improve the living standards of individuals. Jobs create a bond among employees, which in turn builds social cohesion,” Rachel Sebudde, the Bank’s senior economist for Uganda and the lead author of the report, stated.
It is therefore important for one to treasure their work since it contributes to gaining a sense of pride and self-satisfaction by reaffirming that they can support themselves. For instance, with work, one earns money to cover bills and pay for activities during leisure time.
A job creates income protection and annual leave that aid increased productivity. This helps to reduce stress and dealing with finances or fatigue, which helps one build more confidence in their role and eventually be valued by the employer, thus providing extra perks.
In this current generation, employers need people who can think differently about problem solving, get the job done, and add value to the company.
A job is not about pay checks, but it’s where people expand their social networks and eventually become happier. This is because work acts as a training opportunity to develop and improve social skills by developing friendly and supportive relationships. The support provided by co-workers can change someone’s life experience from one of isolation to one of feeling part of a community.
The National Employment Policy for Uganda 2021, issued by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, specifies that the only way to survive, generate value, and prosper today and in the future is to become more innovative and productive.
The significant principle to be noted is that, however small a job is, employees need to recharge themselves, as employers always want employees who are focused on their work.
