Is It Fair For Employers To Force You To Work On The Weekend?

By Jane Okoth,

How would you feel if you were compelled to work on a weekend whether Saturday or Sunday when you should be enjoying the weekend or performing religious duties?

A recent article publisheds by the star reported that Post Bank employees may soon be skipping work on Saturday after suing their employer for violation of their rights.

The 3 employees who are members of an Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church got reprieve after a high court ruled that their rights were violated by the employer by forcing them to work on Saturdays.

Majority of Kenyans seem to agree with the decision.

“I agree with the court ruling because religious responsibility is very personal,”points Alice Nganga, a business woman at local clothing store.

“You cannot force someone to come to work at the expense of absconding religious duties,” she says.

“I have also seen some employees working on Sundays. Surely when are you given time to rest? she poses

“I am just wondering if there are any workers Rights Organizations like COTU that can come to free us from the terrible culture of working on Saturdays!” yells Yvonne Syombua, a caregiver at a humanitarian organization.

“How can they say that Saturday is an official working day? Well it is not. It is just one way of overworking us,” she says.

“I agree that working on Saturday is no fun. Unfortunately I work in the healthcare industry and people get sick on weekends and holidays too,” says Peterson Ochieng, a nurse at a private hospital.

“I cannot stand working in weekends whether Saturday or Sunday, says Gladys Mutiva, a data entry clerk at a software company. “While my friends are out there enjoying the weekend I am just here stuck with work which is not fair,” she says.

I work on Saturdays and even Sundays,” says Daniel Owino a tout at a PSV vehicle.

“In fact those are the days that I make money a lot because a lot of people use transport,” he points out.

But Bernard Angwenyi, a governmental institution employee seems to be very comfortable with his working on Saturday.

“I have found Saturdays to be one of the most productive days in my week, and has been one of the best days of my work,” he says.

“Reason being I get paid for my overtime hours of work because where else in my working days will I get a chance to earn that extra cash?” He asks.

“This actually motivates me to work harder. I have no problem working on Saturdays because there are so many benefits in doing so,” he concludes.

What’s your take? Is it fair for employers to force you to work on weekend?

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