Devon Dick

Recently, the chairman and CEO of GraceKennedy, Douglas Orane, bemoaned that productivity in Jamaica has not improved since the 1970s. As we celebrate Employers' Month and Productivity Week, I believe that the biblical Sabbath offers a solution to the problem.

The Bible states, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates." The Bible recommends a rest day from labour that is comprehensive - even animals should get a break. Under cruel slavery, the enslaved got a day off.

A recent survey done in England showed that overwork was affecting productivity. It is possible that overwork is affecting the performance of our professionals. The working hours for doctors and nurses are too long and working seven days a week should be a no no. And when mistakes are made in the medical professional it can be deadly. For optimum performance, a medical team needs to be relaxed and alert. Therefore, doctors and nurses doing two shifts should be a thing of the past. Pilots cannot do more that a certain number of hours for the week and an important profession such as those involved in the health services should be treated similarly.

Hours are too long

The same mistake is being made with our security forces. Their hours are too long. A shift for a security guard is 12 hours. That makes no sense. For the police and security guards to produce at an optimum level there needs to be rest periods and days off.

Earlier this month, I heard a domestic helper complaining on a talk show that she had been working as a live-in helper for a year and she asked for two days to deal with her child's education and she was fired. She also mentioned that she was working seven days a week. Live-in domestic helpers need a day off to attend to personal matters, family issues, and time to congregate for worship and other spiritual activities. The Government needs to be more assertive in protecting workers' rights.

The Sabbath (rest) concept is also useful in other contexts. Unfortunately, some employees perceive training as an hindrance to doing real work and some employers view training as an expenditure rather than an investment.

However, regular rest for training could improve workers productivity. Too many employees are still not au fait with the technology, which could help, in quicker and more efficient delivery of goods and services.

Break is vital

Another vital break is for lunch and refreshment. After these refreshment breaks the brain and body are energised and will produce more. Working through lunch breaks should be outlawed. The practice of employees eating in their office and before a computer is not good practice. A new EU regulation requires that managers insist on workers taking breaks.

There are still many managers who, in an attempt to be ahead of the rat race, become workaholics. They reach office early, don't take breaks and leave late. They need a life.

Jamaica is in the old mode of thinking of clocking hours believing that the longer the person works without a break in the day or the week, the more he or she will produce. Research does not support that conclusion. However, rest, relaxation and reflection once a week and during the day enhance the productivity of workers.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building'.