29 Nov 2017

South East District Council staff has been encouraged to plan for their retirement life as early as possible to avoid unnecessary stress.

The call was made by the programme coordinator of Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCAIP), Ms Oteng Kebitseope on Tuesday during the council’s wellness day in Ramotswa.

She encouraged the council staff to invest early for their retirement, saying retirement package was not intended to start building a house.

Ms Kebitseope said the socio-economic wellbeing plays a vital role in the staff performance, therefore staff must invest well on time. She said other components which contributed to the staff performance included physical, psychological and spiritual aspects.

Therefore, all components must be functional to achieve optimal performance at the workplace, she added.

Further, she noted that physical activity goes a long way in curbing non-communicable diseases.

She noted that excessive thinking could also affect staff performance and added that people tend to take time thinking about their relationships and ‘why things are not going their way.’ Ms Kebitseope, who is also a marriage counsellor encouraged staff to have positive attitude towards marriage.

She said although the country experienced high cases of divorce, marriage could still be salvaged, adding that each and very marriage could be exemplary if spouses were committed.

Another speaker, Reverend Thabiso Segatlhe of the Evangelical Lutheran in Botswana of Ramotswa said the spiritual aspect of a person manifest in their character and how they relate with others.

He encouraged staff to avoid conflicts in the workplaces, but instead love one another and embrace challenges that come with the workplace.

“Learn to fill your heart with love,” he said, adding that a workplace like other institutions can have instances where there is jealously and negative attitude. Rev Segatlhe said ‘the workplace must have reconcilers who do not necessarily apply disciplinary measures, but bring peace among colleagues.’

South East District Council chief education officer, Ms Keabetswe Pilane said the event was aimed at improving employees’ health habits as well as increase employees’ level of physical activity.

She encouraged staff to adopt healthy eating lifestyle as such reduced chances of contracting non-communicable diseases.

Ms Pilane added that physical activities could reduce workman’s compensations emanating from injuries, which result from staff lack of fitness.

The chief education officer told the employees that physical activities also reduced absenteeism and a number of sick leaves. BOPA