It is good to appreciate the work and responsibilities carried out by respective staff welfare in any given institution. Any worker who happens to be in such an institution is definitely a staff. It is not important to exaggerate the divisions entailed within. What is of great concern is that, whether main or subordinate member of staff, time is running out within space. We are getting older every other day, meaning we are heading towards retirement age. However, the economic times within our country Kenya are worrying and devastating. One wonders how and why the taxes have been so much magnified and left the tax payers paupers. Staff or no staff, the outcry is so loud that, everyone within the country is crying about the suppressing pressure of tax payment, in all kind and manner, to the extent that it has lost value and vigor to the payer.
This is a call to the Staff Welfares in various institutions to start thinking and rethinking about their colleagues going for retirement. Keeping in mind that, we are all crying about the pressing issue of scarcity of money while still actively employed, how on earth will such a cry be when one calls it a day and retires from active employment? This calls for a well calculated move to come together as members of staff in an institution and think ahead. Definitely, let us think of some of our colleagues as well as ourselves when such a time of retirement comes. Each one of us should have a clear knowledge and prior preparation of how to cope with such times.
That’s why I urge the responsible staff welfare officials to arrange and prepare their colleagues for such times by, at least setting times for briefings about ‘future economic management’ of the little one could have. Given that there are very well versed economic minds that could help us out of such future quagmire, I believe it is inevitable to use such minds while we are still safe and strong; while still working on employment jobs.
By doing that, it will not just be, ‘God help us,’ but about thinking hard and coming up with a plan of how to cope with the dark economic future.
Let each one start thinking about the retirement time, because it will certainly be inevitable, how to come out of economic quagmire when such a time comes, how to avoid the urge of hand-outs and incentives give in the place of work, and how to work outside the institution.
Let us not always believe that retirement is the time to go back home and dig, scavenge from the dustbins of the employed colleagues and the wealthy ones, or start thinking of how we can rely on our past students to give us alms.
Let us ask God the giver of wisdom to make us wise on how to cope with each and every situation joyfully and happily, for all the times belong to Him and we are all His creatures.