So Many Holidays in Kenya – Foreign Employer Complains as Staff Rest on Monday
An American employer, Jason Marshall, has criticized the government in public for permitting his employees to partake in a tree-planting holiday on the following Monday.
The expatriate expressed regret in an X app post that his employees would be engaged in a tree-planting activity instead of carrying out their duties.
“So many holidays in Kenya. Our Kenyan staff is gonna be out on Monday for Tree Planting Day. What? Seriously?” Jason Marshall wondered.
Marshall observed that Kenya observes an excessive number of superfluous holidays, in contrast to the United States, which observes few such occasions. He further stated that holidays are predominantly observed by government and bank employees in the United States.
“In the US, only for bank and government employees. For years, I worked at a leading US company and had 6 paid holidays per year (New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day were half of the 6),” Marshall explained.
Marshall asserts that government and bank employees in the United States are granted eleven federal holidays per calendar year, whereas the majority of private sector employees are granted seven to eight holidays.
“Bankers and government people get all 11 federal holidays off (15 percent of workers). Most private sector employees get 7 or 8 holidays in the USA. 10 vacation days is standard also,” he noted.
ALSO READ:
- KRA Sets Auction Date of Unclaimed Goods at Moi and Eldoret Airports
- Why Kenyan economy is struggling – Ledama
“I’ve worked in the USA for over 30 years, I’ve never had a paid Jewish or Muslim holiday. I’ve never had Good Friday paid either. Christmas is the only Christian holiday I’ve ever had as a paid vacation day.”
Marshall stated that although his employees were granted a paid holiday, the organization would still be responsible for any expenses incurred on that day.
The government designated November 13 as a holiday for tree-planting in a gazette notice published by the Ministry of Interior last week.
To achieve its goal of cultivating 100 million seedlings throughout the country during the exercise on Monday, the government provided complimentary trees to the people of Kenya.
Raymond Omollo, principal secretary of the interior, exhorted every Kenyan to select and plant the free trees from the office of the nearest chief in their preferred location.
PS Omollo stated, “For tree seedlings, members of the public are encouraged to contact the area assistant county commissioner and deputy county commissioner in their respective counties or visit the chief’s office in their nearest vicinity.”
So Many Holidays in Kenya – Foreign Employer Complains as Staff Rest on Monday
