Rachel Dumba, CEO of Steadman Global, a Global Management and Development Consulting Firm, has urged company owners to formulate policies that value workers’ output and reward performance.
Dumba, an International HR, Development, and Management Consultant, made the remarks on Wednesday, November 13 while opening the ACCA Uganda Members’ Convention 2024 at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The three-day convention is running under the theme “Empowering Finance Professionals for a sustainable future”.
“The 8-hour day was introduced in 1919. Is this still viable or do we need to rework this? We need to understand why people we employ are working with us, especially given the rise of the gig economy and Gen Z, mental health awareness, remote work.”
Generation Z, also known as Zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years, with the generation most frequently being defined as people born from 1997 to 2012.
Most members of Generation Z are the children of younger baby boomers or Generation X. As the first social generation to have grown up with access to the Internet and portable digital technology from a young age, members of Generation Z have been dubbed “digital natives” even if they are not necessarily digitally literate and may struggle in a digital workplace.
A ‘gig economy’ is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organizations hire independent workers for short-term commitments. The term “gig” is a slang word for a job that lasts a specified time. In Uganda, it is also termed as “a side hustle” meaning an additional job that a person takes to supplement their income.
In 2021, 60% of Ugandan youth were involved in gig work in one way or another, aided by the digital shift towards platform work opportunities. 5 Platform work for many young people represents flexible work conditions away from structured office jobs and provides much-needed job opportunities.
While talking about authenticity, being your true self, and creating a workplace for talent to flourish, Dumba said work-life balance does not exist but work-life integration does.
“Set boundaries. Don’t call people at 11 p.m. for work. Take some time off. People need to breathe, people need to get off their desks. Express yourself openly and honestly and allow yourself as a leader to be vulnerable. Be authentic, tell your story,” she advised employers.
She added: “Are the policies implemented in your company necessary? Value output over hours, look at the outcome, and reward performance.”
When hiring talent, Dumba said that when looking for leaders today, people look at 80% emotional intelligence and 20% capabilities. “Do you know what Gen Zs are interested in? Is your company aligned to meeting these needs?”
She also warned employers against threatening or holding Gen Zs at ransom while trying to manage them.
“Remember the younger generations have choices. These days, Gen Zs don’t want you to imagine that they will stay with you for 5 or 10 years. Don’t hold them at ransom or threaten them. They know the law. Remember they have choices, are extremely knowledgeable, and have access to digital resources. Simply provide an enabling environment and be intentional,” she added.
According to the preliminary results of the Uganda National Population and Housing Census 2024, an astounding 72.3% of the country’s population is aged 30 and below, representing over 33 million people out of the total 45 million.
New Ways of Working
Alfred Brian Agaba, the Managing Director of ACCLAIM Africa Limited, said people spend half of their productivity time preparing to go to work, going to work, and coming back from work.
“This affects productivity and, therefore, we decided to work from home,” said Agaba while speaking during a breakout session discussing new ways of working; improving work-life balance, reducing stress, and achieving more fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Former Vision Group CEO, Robert Kabushenga, spoke on retirement and life after formal employment.
He encouraged participants to learn a new skill and learn a new trend as part of their retirement plans.
“The most important thing I discovered is we have different journeys, different expectations. Follow your journey. We all can’t be entrepreneurs. The question is what gives you joy? When you leave work, the most valuable thing won’t be money. It will be time. I have to be in bed by 9 pm. Sleep is a game-changer! Lastly, change your relationship with food,” said Kabushenga.
