The Sunday Mail
THE Bible is regarded as one of the greatest – if not the greatest – book ever written. It is often used as a reference to questions of morality.
On May 1, the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the value and worth of workers and employees.
For more than two centuries, workers have been doggedly fighting for their rights, particularly at the workplace.
And, not surprisingly, the Bible also seemingly advocates for a fair reward for employees.
James 5:3-4 reads: “Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.
“You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you.
“The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.”
It needs to be pointed out that one of the greatest mistakes local companies are making is not paying employees their wages and salaries.
There are workers that are going months on end without receiving their dues.
Such a situation cannot be healthy for any business.
While it is given that the country is facing significant economic headwinds, the rights of workers, especially the right to a decent wage, should be respected.
Employees are very critical stakeholders in any business and they should be treated accordingly.
Often times, happy workers translate to a prosperous company.
Clearly, if employees are putting in a shift, they deserve to be motivated by being paid.
It’s a law of natural justice. Ideally, no one can work for free.
But running organisations is not an easy task by any means.
The challenges that companies face can be huge, but there is always need to ensure that management is proactive enough to circumvent these challenges.
As the saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail.
Having a comprehensive and actionable strategy helps to create engagement, alignment and ownership within the organisation.
The welfare of workers should be put at the centre of such plans.
There is need to have a clear roadmap that shows where the company has been, where it is and where it is going.
If it becomes apparent that a slowdown is imminent, it might be useful to either retrench or create strategies to boost income.
It is generally believed that it is better to retrench legally and give workers their packages than letting them work without getting their due rewards.
There now exist a new crop of local businessmen who are in the habit of not paying their employees.
And it is not only the employees of struggling companies that are affected.
At times the business might be doing well but the business owner rather sacrifices the welfare of his workers in order to satisfy his or her own whims and caprices.
This is a very bad practice.
International best practice dictates that the welfare of the employees must be considered paramount.
There are countless studies that prove how multinational companies have been able to grow their brand through human resource management.
It is a time-honoured practice to invest in the welfare of workers in the hope that they will tireless work for the success of the business.
The downside of treating workers unfairly is also apparent.
Where there is worker apathy one cannot rule out sabotage and theft.
Unpaid salary bills are part of the problem that is confronting most of the companies that are struggling.
It is high time local companies realise that it is folly to think that they can easily sacrifice workers without sacrificing the well-being of the company.
Workers should always get their money. Excuses are not welcome at all.
Yes, in the current circumstances it might be difficult to pay a living wage, but companies have to invest every effort possible to pay decent wages.
Employees who are not motivated perform at a lower level than other workers.
If there is no excitement for the mission of the company, it can be difficult to maintain the momentum needed to complete work tasks.
Low productivity is a consequence of not being motivated.
Tying in company goals with employee objectives helps staff members to see the importance of their positions.
Encouragement helps employees know they are appreciated.
However, poor performing employees can consume an inordinate amount of a small business owner’s time, and dealing with late or unfinished projects can directly impact earnings.
It is therefore very important for workers to be paid as there are so many hidden costs for not doing so.
Taurai Changwa is an articled accountant with vast experience in tax, accounting, audit and corporate governance. He is MD of SAFIC Consultancy and writes in his personal capacity. Feedback: [email protected], Facebook page SAFIC Consultancy and WhatsApp +263772374784
