My eldest sister worked a government job for about 10 years and would certainly have benefitted from a four-day workweek. Many would describe local government departments as hopelessly inept, but sometimes fail to take into account how overworked these employees are. My sister worked hard enough to be promoted several times in rapid succession only to take a bit of a step back to focus on her family. She has three kids now and that’s proving to be a fulltime job.
This does not stop her from managing a non-profit that has achieved some notable successes while still hunting for a new job. Government no longer appears interested in her 10 years of loyal service and single income households have it tough in the current South African economy. I have to wonder what would have happened had the 4 Day Week SA been signed into law back in my sister’s day. Would she have been able to earn a seat in parliament, while raising her growing brood?
Sisters deal with a lot in South Africa. Not my intention to share the shocking statistics; local media has that area covered on the daily already. It may be time to secure that day off for my two younger sisters at the very least. One is in the tech space and the other plans on leaving the country soon. No judgement here.
A decade’s worth of experience in any industry today is akin to the lifetime of service our parents achieved in their day. My sister should not have been placed in a position to choose between her work and family life. Shocking statistics aside, our sisters require that day off. Let’s make that a reality for them and remember that someone’s sister is also someone else’s daughter or wife.
4 Day Week SA, INFJ, dear INFJ, 4 Day Workweek, 4 Day Week, Future Of Work, Entrepreneurship, Lead With Empathy, South Africa’s Digital Revolution, Work Time Reduction, Reduced Workweek Revolution, Wellbeing In The Workplace, Proudly South African
David-John Wayne Bailey is an INFJ from Cape Town, a proud pioneer pilot participant of 4 Day Week SA and an advocate of a four-day week for everyone working in South Africa.