# A slice of life at work When I interviewed this gentleman, a young Saudi national for his job I had an instinct about his high potential. He recently came to put in papers. We had invested significantly in this employee based on my recommendations in terms of leadership programme. When he recently turned up for putting in his papers (of course after being called in by me for a discussion) it was more or less appearing he would leave given the rise in pay by the competitor which we cannot match and certainly we cannot do any thing before he completes a year. During my interactions I found he was having a financial problem and apart from a fair sense of career progress including a decent increment after a year, if we could do something about the financial problem we had a good chance of retaining him. I took first of a kind exception approval to get him a staff loan which was addressing the financial problem. He went through hell to get the loan disbursed and only after my intervention after considerable delay in operations. He took it sportively as against fears from our end that he could insist he should leave as he still had the competitors offer. As his reporting manager was proceeding on an annual vacation abroad and contending he could not cancel those tickets as he would not get a refund, it was very important this gentleman continues and acts as head of the unit during absence of his reporting manager. And the most complex issue about routines was Eid holidays starting by 2nd day of the month. Regulatory and other reports for the Quarter were upon us. Everyone had a vacation plan. I had a chat with this gentleman well ahead of time and with his consent devised a Eid holiday plan for these regulatory and non regulatory returns wherein he takes the responsibility along with his colleague to schedule work during Eid holidays with the proviso that all of us in the team will be at his call and discretion to come back from vacation at a short notice. As I started tracking the progress from end of day on 30th September, I had to take the unusual situation of system glitches not getting resolved as given. Yesterday I personally started tracking resolution ticketed with IT and by late evening could get the dump from them. By the night a critical return was going from the desk of this gentleman who was one foot out of the organization days ago. As per our engagements he would turn up at office today, although it is a Friday and make sure Finance department does not have any issue with the details given and supplement data provided with any details or cuts they need. I called on this gentleman and asked him to tell me frankly whether I could go ahead with my vacation or he would require my presence, just for additional comfort. He was confident and said that would not be necessary. Another colleague was with him at late hours to help him out. Expat professionals especially in KSA often complain against the local talent in most generalized ways as though they have to make up for their deficiencies at all times. I have a classic case to say there are people who care and are able to come on a week end, that too a Friday that is coinciding with Eid holidays. Care is possible. From everyone. Anywhere.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:35:04 +0000