Defining National Pride in the Office

By Fatma AlKhaja (@fay_alkhaja)

40 seconds.
40 minutes.
40 hours.
40 days.
40 weeks.
40 months.
40 years. This one REALLY counts.

After all the horrendous news of countries throwing off their leaders, we truly are in bliss, living amongst our leaders as our family rather than wanting to do the unthinkable. The UAE has remarkably accomplished a lot more than others have done in its 40 years and it all has to do with unity, which marks this year’s National celebrations that are titled ‘spirit of the union.’

As I stepped into my office before Eid, the office was hyped up with the buzz of how to celebrate, decorate the office, and which cake to order. This is all great, but is this what national pride and identity all about?

I work in a government organization and for me, national identity is to also take responsibility for what I was hired to do. Working in a government organization that belongs to the government of the UAE is also a sense of national pride. Therefore, if I am working there does not it mean that I must fulfill my job and duties at its best?

The government is spending money on me through its payroll, which means I am fully obliged and mandated to:

• Be at work on time (on the dot), not 10 to 20 minutes late without proper justification
• Do my work sincerely
• Not ditch and walk out for a quick coffee at the mall
• Not go for a quick manicure/pedicure during my free time (I swear! I have seen it)
• Not work on my studies during working hours
• Not give lousy excuses to skip work (refer to ‘are Emiratis ruining their own prospects’ by Shaima AlTamimi – 18^th issue).

If you do any of the above, then this is NOT what national identity, pride, and loyalty should be. So what if you decorate your office beautifully and get the best trophy for it? That is a visible attribute that could be considered as a good thing but morally, it is what is above that counts.

Decorations are nice, but it ticks me off when I see employees walking into the office casually carelessly 20 minutes past the actual time that they were supposed to be at work. Did you know that being late to work is also considered not being trustworthy? You signed a contract that binds you to certain timings and by not taking that seriously, you have already wronged it.

I have seen employees decide to do personal chores during working hours when they are free. It is ok to do it once or twice if it is an emergency but if it happens frequently then there is something wrong.

We should be thankful that we are working for a country that wants to provide the best for its citizens and wants to help them. We are getting paid to work for them. We are being offered an education, medical care, jobs, and pension.

So let us show this country properly how we, Emiratis, are proud to be a part of it and will take it as our responsibility to do what we are supposed to do at our utmost best.

A Happy National Day to you all.

21^st Issue – December 2011
Here We Start – Art of Living 101 – Beyond Inspiration – Community Talk – Food For Thought
Interview – Just Another Undergrad – Sense and Sustainability – Society of Tomorrow
The First Years Last Forever – The Mind’s Eye – Too Blunt For Words – Words, Observations, and Ramblings