When jobs become nightmares

Mar 25, 2013

The dream of every school-going child yesterday, today and in the future, is to get a job, earn some income, possibly start a family, be happy and live a fulfilled life.

By Tumusiime K. Deo

The dream of every school-going child yesterday, today and in the future, is to get a job, earn some income, possibly start a family, be happy and live a fulfilled life.

However, listening to real life stories told by some of my friends and acquaintances, I get to realise that a number of employees actually dread the day they stepped foot into the working world- it can mean to be a nightmare.
 
In a country where labour policies are a far cry; and where jobs are often offered as a favour rather than deserved, employees are paying a very high price. Even where some organisations have tried to institute human resource policies, many are either accumulating dust in the shelves or are only implored when it most suits the employer.

Perhaps what even hurts most is that fact that some human rights organizations themselves violate the rights of their employees.
 
A friend of mine recently told me that when you enter a work place, you are expected to wear out all your other identities and adorn the new identity called “employee”. This “employee” is some sort of machine with no life and functions on orders to deliver expected results as and when.

Many an employer do not really care whether one is married or has children or has any other social engagements like belonging to social or Church clubs or even a farm or animals desirous of impromptu checks. As if that’s not enough, for many, not even does possession of adequate academic qualifications and relevant experience for the job absolve them from the harsh treatment collectively meted on staff by some employers.

Should anyone attempt to question unclear tendencies by the boss, one risks isolation and subsequent expulsion, sometimes under petty circumstances.
 
I have listened to a number of friends’ experiences and never stop asking myself; just what’s wrong with mother Uganda? I have personally shed tears on hearing some of the stories; and how I wish these voices can resonate with anyone with the power it takes to help the situation:
 
Julian’s story: Julian is a fresh graduate. She recently got a job in one of the banks in town. One month into the job, Julian loses her mother after a short illness. She calls her boss to share the news and explain why she won’t be coming to office in the coming days. The boss, who is of a foreign nationality, without any interest in her story, tells Julian, “Why didn’t you inform us earlier?” To Julian, this statement simply spelled double tragedy. 

I also know an organisation where staff were told that they can only be allowed to go for burial, if it is of a close relative. They must indicate a list of close relatives on their staff files prior! So if you lost a friend, it is not obvious that you’d get permission to go for burial or else the time is deducted from your annual leave or salary is debited each time you go off for a burial!
 
Rita’s story: Rita works at a supermarket. Unlike her colleagues in formal employment, her day starts at 8.00am and she leaves at 11.00pm after balancing the books for the day. She is only one of a handful of staff, meaning that there is no chance for absence off duty.

Two years ago, when she realised she had gotten pregnant, she wasn’t sure whether to celebrate or mourn because she risked losing her job. She was actually picked from duty to hospital to deliver her baby, and hardly a month later she was back to her job, notwithstanding the statutory  three months maternity leave.

Above all this, by the time she returns home, she’s too tired to attend to both her baby-baby and her baby-husband, save for any time for herself before resuming her routine the following day.
 
Daudi’s story: Daudi recently celebrated his 55th birthday. He has grown up children, his eldest daughter currently pursuing a course at University. Daudi’s boss is female, anything about 10 years younger than him.

Daudi’s boss never stops to show how she’s his senior and sometimes embarrasses him before younger staff. By the time he returns home, Daudi is so disturbed that he cannot even afford a smile with his wife and children; his job is simply dreadful.
 
Precious’ story: Prior to securing her latest job, Precious was a happy mother to 4 children. She was desperate for a job to fend for her fairly big family.

Recently, Precious unexpectedly got pregnant. She approached the human resource manager (HRM) for time off after her doctor recommended bed rest. The HRM did not believe her, and demanded she brings a medical form accompanied by a fetal scan!

The environment also meant that Precious could not attend routine antenatal lessons and check-ups, until she escaped from duty one day, only to be told that there was a deformity undertaking in her womb! I met a distraught Precious and we both simply cried.
 
Bridget’ story: Bridget may be married and a mother to two beautiful children, but she still bears that attractive and sexy slender body. Bridget’s husband is a humble middle income earner, but he loves his family with all his heart. One would imagine that Bridget’s body should ideally be her husband’s business and should have nothing to do with her work; but Bridget is going through hell.

Bridget’s boss does not care at all about her marital status, and has been on her case for the last one year, luring her with all sorts of lavish surprise gifts sometimes unceremoniously. Lately, Bridget has started leaving office so late and occasionally both her and her boss report late to work about the same time! It’s a routine ‘rumor’ among staff that Bridget and her boss are having an affair.
 
Against the above background, some people have resigned their jobs and laboured to start private businesses and would do with just any earning as long as they are not subjected to trauma.

I also know a few married men who have vowed that their graduate wives must stay at home! Those still pushing on, especially where the spouses involved seem to be enjoying the game, continue to nurse strained family relations.
 
The above experiences apparently are not isolated incidences limited to the individuals mentioned, but seem to be a common phenomenon in Uganda’s laissez-faire employment sector. As such, so many people have lost self-esteem; lost morale; and others have even committed suicide.
 
I think that we should not merely count the numbers of our people employed in this country; but we should go an extra mile and analyse the quality and work environment and ethics. 

Employees deserve to be respected as human beings originating from homes, and ought to be treated and remunerated humanely. The Government must also establish such avenues that allow employees facing inhuman treatment to report and seek redress before their ordeals get out of hand.
 
God bless Uganda!

The writer is a media practitioner

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