A HIGH-PROFILE man is in a quandary.
On the one hand, he is supposed to follow the dictates of a position his colleagues have agreed on. And on the other, he wants to ensure his siblings can retain their jobs.
In normal times, he would not have had this problem. He would have been able to just say the words, “Touch not the anointed”, and they would be safe.
But these are far from normal times. Today, with people being retrenched from a variety of organisations and businesses in both the public and private sectors across the island, any hint of nepotism or favouritism could lead to a backlash.
So this vociferous, vertically challenged individual has been walking on egg shells trying to make sure that no one can truthfully say he has been interfering in any process to keep his family on the job.
Unfortunately for him, though, no one can say he has done anything to keep them on the job, the fact that his siblings are still working while those who were employed long before them have been axed suggests the agreed process for retrenchment has not been followed.
No wonder the labour unions are crying foul.
How this will all play out is anyone’s guess.
Driving Mr Daisy
WORKERS RECENTLY AXED from a statutory corporation and those facing the same plight from another quasi-Government agency are saying two men who work as drivers at their respective entities are favoured sons.
And they now truly understand what it means by the saying “Who the dog like he licks”.
At the first organisation, the axed workers say the man is officially categorised in a job grade below that of driver, yet he only drives and is paid at that higher grade. What’s more, he drives one particular vehicle only and, to boot, gets to take it home overnight and on weekends like the top executive.
The workers suggest his good fortune may be due to his friendship with an influential individual connected to the organisation.
In the other agency, the issue with the driver is the amount of overtime he earns.
Based on what these employees facing the boot are saying, this driver can some months make nearly as much as the well trained professionals at their agency.
The employees are saying that, given the losses the entity has been incurring in recent years, thousands of dollars would have been saved if there had been better management of the use of this individual.
But it seems whatever the boss there wants he gets.
Return doesn’t add up
WORKERS CHOPPED FROM a Government agency on January 31 are wondering how one of their number is now back on the job.
They want to know how come she was hired only prior to the last general election and yet got back a job last month, while those working at the entity for several years are home twiddling their thumbs hoping for a miracle.
They want to know if politics sealed the deal for her success.
And they are saying the whole thing is unfair and a black day for all who love fair play.