Boss, it is raining!

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COMMENT | ELIZABETH K. PATIENCE |  I wake up and prepare to leave home for work. Moments before setting off it starts raining. Time check- 6.20 am! Because I stay in the city suburb of Nsasa, I always leave home by 6.30. Also, since I don’t drive, I often jump on a boda boda to the nearest taxi stage from where I take a taxi to office.

Today, I am in a fix as it is raining heavily. My mind starts wondering….. Should I brave the rain or should I ‘sleep ko’ a bit!. Should I order for Uber – but how ready is my pocket for this? Or should I sit and start on my days’ tasks?

Thank heavens it stops raining close to 8.00am and I dash to catch up with work at office in Muyenga, but the traffic is heavy as usual after the rains. In a few moments my phone rings,it’s my boss calling!  “Patience are you working today”?

I wonder, ‘didn’t he see the rain?’ Probably it didn’t rain the other side of the city.

“Boss I am held up in traffic after a heavy morning shower,” I respond, and he hangs up.

Finally I make it close to 10.00am, but enter office thinking of a probable reprimand and salary chop. But then how will my day run and how much will I accomplish on my plate given that my day is already ruined and my blood pressure slowly climbing?

People in my category often get into the same dilemma despite the emergence of the digital era and a new normal created by COVID-19 — working from home.

Others however still believe that delivering is when one is at their desk in an office.

Our bosses across the country should understand that the digital age is not only here to cut down on physical meetings, training trips and per diem but also to support in such instances of morning rain, when one can’t easily make it to office. One should be able to start work from home, then switch to office an hour or two later.

City workers in particular should embrace the digital age that enables you to be fully connected to your office, and work 24hours, even on the move. There is a growing and reliable network coverage by the telecoms in all corners of the city.

If you embrace working online, your boss will give you a thumbs up despite reporting late. This will keep you calm, your BP stable as you enter office later than planned.

The key is to update office and your boss before they think of getting to you. Most important, show that the you are already on top of the assignment they expect you to accomplish that morning.

Embrace digital, stay healthy.

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Elizabeth .K. Patience is Public Health & MEAL Specialist