Dear Editor,

Professionals are not coping well and productivity levels are falling because of daily interminable traffic jams. It does not matter how early one leaves home in the morning to try to beat traffic congestion, efforts seem futile, as there are often long lines of vehicles containing passengers hoping to arrive at their destinations on time.

Imagine leaving your house an hour or two earlier to get to work, school, or an appointment on time but still arrive late because of heavy traffic.

What is worse is spending another two to three hours in traffic after your workday ends. It is definitely tiring and taxing on the mind and body.

Employees lose valuable hours of sleep and rest due to traffic, which affects their effectiveness at work. And no employer wants his/her workers to sleep on the job.

Consequently, it is an opportune time for corporate industry leaders to reconsider reinstating a more rigorous flexi-work policy.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has taught us that employees can be productive from the comforts of their homes. Additionally, during that time, it showed some managers and supervisors that they could entrust their staff with certain tasks without micromanaging them, although some workers do require some amount of supervision.

However, one of the concerns raised during the COVID-19 pandemic was that some workers were engaged in multiple jobs. But should there really be deep concern if the objectives are being met? The workplace should not have to oblige workers to be present physically simply to spy on them. Where applicable, companies should provide flexi-work schedules and remote work options to employees.

Most structured work in Jamaica requires employees to be present Mondays through Fridays for at least eight hours daily. Many people use the weekend to go to church and perform household chores. With all of these obligations to fulfil, it is obvious that there is hardly any family and recreation time.

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica may want to occupy its time discussing a four-day workweek and flexible work options for employees instead of lobbying for a long Emancipendence weekend.

Oneil Madden

maddenoniel@yahoo.com