Overworked, underpaid and undervalued; the outcry of a working Vincentian

WHEN THE NORM IS hearing a working Vincentian complain about how overworked, undervalued and underpaid they are, that’s when you take to the press.

It is never right for someone to be working six almost seven days a week just to make ends meet and then be met with an employer and an administration department that shows little to no appreciation for their workers. That is ridiculous. We need employers who see their employees as people and take a stand for their rights. Some of these issues are going to be raised in this piece.

Firstly, the Human Resource Department within a company is there to protect the employees, manage employee relations, resolve conflict and foster a positive work environment. They are also supposed to ensure that the Labour Laws, the Occupational Health and Safety Laws are being followed to a ‘T’. It is absolutely ridiculous when an employee goes to the HR department to make their grievances known and their concerns are met with almost no form of consideration or even acknowledgement. Before an employee is hired, most companies have a confidentiality agreement that is signed, yet sometimes one has to wonder if those in charge of the hiring process are aware of the above-mentioned agreement. The Human Resource Department should be the first department that an employee seeks advice from. The people in this department are supposed to be able to listen to the problems of employees and keep what they are told private, not make it a conversation starter or a piece of gossip to be shared between other employees or friends. As adults, sometimes we take for granted that we all know how to properly take care of ourselves or even know about personal hygiene, however, that is not the truth. When this problem is encountered, this is where one pulls the employee aside and speaks to them, not using this situation

to embarrass them or make it a matter of discussion amongst peers. Another issue that may be raised is where some employees are not well learnt and this is used to belittle said employee. These issues are to be dealt with privately, maturely and out of care. Employees are to be treated with utmost respect, after all if it was not for them then your business may not even exist. Employers or managers should not be speaking to their employees in whatever manner they feel like, this includes using expletives and calling them names.

Secondly, the issue of staff appreciation. Employers should make it mandatory that certain days in the year are to be recognized as Employee Appreciation Day, don’t just wait until the end of the year or until the anniversary of the company comes around to treat your employees to a ‘treat day.’Your employees should feel appreciated at all times, make them know that you are glad that they are there for you.

Lastly, have sessions to keep your employees up to date. Facilitate workshops, seminars, and training sessions. Fight for your employees, use incentives to have them move up within the company. Treasure them, show them that you are appreciative of them and their dedication to your company. Raise their salaries, give them days off. Stop treating them like they are nothing.