Sometimes even when we’ve done our best, our best appears not enough. Not because it is our fault, not because we are not good enough but because some situations require more: more wisdom, more hands on deck, more courage and so on. But then we can only try, we still sometimes get it wrong. One of the mistakes we make as individuals is remaining in an unpalatable situation for too long. Especially when it's a sadistic employment. Let me tell you a bit about this type of employment which is of course typical in Nigeria today.
Most Sunday evenings are dreaded even if one wasn’t due for work until monday evening, that short time of rest which was rare and only on occasions could never compensate for the rigour of the job. This type of job that causes female workers to suffer miscarriages at different times. Workers get sad and worried because they know it's going to be another week of harrowing experience at work, it was nightshift and everyone was expected to be active all night, no matter what you’ve gone through during the day. If you mistakenly bat your eyelids and any mistake or error occurs on the job, you will be queried and insulted. Not that day shift was any better, one thing is certain and general in this workplace, you had to work and work till you could no longer do tangible work for that day. The salary? Not commensurate to the job, incentives? They do not exist. The way things are at this workplace, no one can get management to fix things crucial and essential to the operations and functioning of the production company. It had taken them over months to get a clinic fixed to take of sick workers and emergencies which of course occurred daily at that workplace. Infact some workers whose job description don't even match medical aids are converted to first aiders and amateur nurses, there is virtually no good heath care for workers.
But the question is how easy is it to take a leap into the unknown? How many times have we remained in our gloomy dark days because of fear of the unknown? How many people can forgo their salary and take a dive into starting their own business? Not that as individuals we all have resources to stand on our own but then taking a leap of faith is better than remaining in the same level or meandering on the same point. If we begin to think of what to do to make more money or earn a living worry might set in. Handcrafts are good, one can make money from them or do it to occupy time but this is Nigera where almost everything hardly works, this things couldn’t of course fetch enough money which is why most individuals remain addicted to salary. Trying their best to cope, adapt and survive with all they face on the job. What of unnecessary termination of appointment? These kind of workplace sack workers without notice and for no particular reason. With a management that is epileptic and unreliable how does one expect or ex progress? A management who just like Nigerian politicians they were after the money.
perience
In one organisation I once worked in, one of the executive directors had been in the factory , claiming to be monitoring and observing things. You know all these ‘money miss road’ semi illiterates who really didn’t know what was going on but claimed to do because one way or the other they have the money to call to the shots. So yes, money miss road executive was around in the factory, he had seen me and my partner on duty and he had asked the human resource manager who was also always in the factory because he was doing more than his job description as well, ‘who are they? , ‘what are they doing?” “can’t one of them do the work for all the lines?” Is their job so important’? lest I forget (I was a quality control officer). I didn’t quite get the HRM’s response, I had pretended not to be aware of what was going on really.
Almost a month after, three people from the department were told to go home. Several claims of customer complaints and errors during production were rumored as reason but of course you and I know why they were really sent home.
In Nigeria, asides from the fact that we have corruption as a background problem, some supporting problems we have are selfishness, greed and insensitivity. How on earth do we expect to belabor a worker with the job meant for three or more people yet expect perfection? Especially in a factory where almost every process is manual and not automatic? Yes your guess is right, new workers weren’t employed to replace the ones that left. Rather corp members were expected to work in the same capacity.
Unfortunately, as much as we have terrible leaders and inconsiderate people at the top, we have ass kissers who would rather suffer, accept evil and punish others people as well than face the truth.
Probably because Nigeria is such a scary place to live in, a place where even if you know the truth it doesn’t necessarily set you free rather it torments you and in most cases it puts you in danger. But then some people are daring and allergic to evil against all odds.. Which is why you would believe me if I told you I had a few confrontations with so called bosses and ass kissers at some points. I would spare you details but one thing is certain, speaking the truth, confronting that which is wrong and unacceptable has never been a step to regret. No matter how slim the chances of you proving a point easily is, you would have at least sent a message across and sincerely keeping quiet and cowering away has never been a better option.
Having a boss or a leader who lies, lacks wisdom and knowledge, tries to manipulate, verbally abuses, pretends to know what’s going on but has no single clue, a leader who likes to shift blame, insist on things done in his own way is also a common phenomenon in private organisations where most people find themselves. You definitely know things can never be right in such an environment.
I mustn’t forget to mention immorality which is usually at its peak. It is actually the norm in most factories and organizations today. You are either sleeping with the bosses as a junior worker whether willingly or by force or you are sleeping with your co worker, such that promotions, work benefits and ease at work came with this price. More irritating is the fact that if you are not one to dance to such tunes you would not only be angry and frustrated at work you will be cheated and treated with hatred. Even if you know what you are doing and you are good at your work, your efforts might still get frustrated and of course they try as much as possible to overshadow your efforts with that of the one who rubs their back.
Highlighted in this article is a few true life experiences. I do not intend to bore you with too many words, I have written this article to encourage someone out there never to remain in a sad and stagnant situation because of the little benefit attached.
Starting afresh, trying something different is more rewarding, even if you have to forgo your salary, and you are not where you want to be yet, you will be glad that you are not where you used to be.
