Dear Editor,

IN its mad rush to be better than all others, a certain bank has been holding frequent courses and conferences during the weekends in various locations.

Attending courses and conferences are normal, except when it is too frequent and weekends become defacto company time. The bank coerces free time out of its employees and justifies itself by lauding the philanthropic motives behind it. Employees lose precious rest and family time because of these enforced courses and conferences. For example, in its callousness, the bank held a team-building course (cavorting in the water together) one weekend at a distant beach resort, disregarding the fact that it was the Good Friday/Easter weekend, a solemn occasion for Christians. Another instance was a conference that was held the previous weekend during the school holidays when other families use this time to spend time together. So let us, whether individual or corporate, not forget to listen to the people, lest we lose what we have, in the hope to gain what we cannot.

Source: Malay Mail – March 27, 2008