By SYCORAX TIYESA NDHLOVU –
IT is the festive season again! But what does this mean to a worker? Or what does this mean to an employer? Workers and employers work as a team in producing goods and services that members of the public want.
Therefore, like ever before, during festive seasons, employers and workers should appreciate each other.
But before we see how workers and employers appreciate each other, let’s also thank God; The Creator: the one who sustains our lives for the gift of such a life that He has given to those of us who are still alive up to day.
Each life is precious; but delicate to sustain. Care for your life at all times.
Therefore, one can genuinely thank God for the gift of life through celebrating Christmas and New Year festival seasons responsibly. Life has to continue according to God’s will. Don’t cut your life short by being over excited during Christmas and New Year festivals!
It was interesting to learn from some workers in some organisations that their respective employers have lined up a number of seasonal rewards to their respective workers.
Some employers have given all their workers a Christmas bonus while others have identified some hard working workers; and have given such workers some gifts of varying types and sizes.
However, the questioned that needs an answer is why workers should be appreciated during this period.
Workers are one of the factors of production apart from land, capital, management (entrepreneurship) and time as critical factors of production. Workers provide labour to an organisation.
Without this labour, an organisation cannot produce goods and or services to sell or provide to its customer or to clients respectively.
It is the continuous provision of such labour that sustains smooth operations of every organisation.
Against this background, employers should reward their workers not only on the Labour Day but also during Christmas and New Year festivals.
It is, however, sad that some organisation, despite making profits from their business undertakings, do not reward their workers either on Labour Day or during the festive period.
With high unemployment and high poverty levels in Zambia which has a population of about 13 million people, it is perceived that finding a job is a blessing not only from God but also from an employer.
For some employers especially the private organisations, who do not recognise Christmas due to religious background, you should clearly spell out conditions of service before engaging somebody because they would expect to be rewarded with a bonus at the end of the year.
For doing so would make the would-be worker appreciate the conditions of service and do not expect anything at the end of the year as bonus.
Otherwise, end of year celebrations promotes team work in the organisation as workers would interact and break departmental barriers.
During such come together parties, workers get to know each other at personal level, a situation which is good, as it helps to create and promotes a conducive working environment.
Rewarding workers during the festive season could be part of appreciating the contribution workers have made to the smooth and sustained operation of an organisation.
It is such a process of being pro-active both in workers and in employers in their respective roles that produce a conducive working environment in organisations.
Reward workers would motivate them to work harder the following year and it would create a sense of ownership among the workers because of the bonus which is given after the organisation makes profit.
Workers should work hard to produce goods and or services while employers should mobilise and direct resources to produce goods to achieve maximum and highest productivity.
In organisations where top management motivate the workers materially and create an enabling work environment, workers tend to work hard to produce high quality goods and services.
However, if you an employer who would not reward your workers this year but you are making profit, please ensure that you recognise the efforts of the workers for the growth of your organisation.
On the other hand, for those that are not making profits and unable to reward your workers the Christmas bonus, please go back to your drawing board and re-strategies so that you become a profit making organisation and start rewarding your employees.
I finally therefore challenge workers to work hard and be part of the profit making team.
To the employers, I urge you to create enabling working environment for the workers to achieve the highest turnover so that at the end of the year, they are able to receive a bonus.
(The author is a trainer and career coach. Contact: Cell: 0976/0977 450151 E-mail: sycoraxtndhlovu@yahoo.co.uk)