Beyond the Clock: Unpacking the Punctuality Paradox

In the bustling offices of Tamasco Enterprises, productivity was the buzzword of the day. At the helm was Mr. Abubakar, a no-nonsense boss known for his strict adherence to punctuality. He believed that those who arrived early were destined to succeed, while those who struggled in late were simply unmotivated. His mantra echoed through the halls: “Time is money, and I pay in punctuality!”

The morning sun had just risen over Accra as employees filed into the office. Dede, a diligent worker, rushed to her desk, adjusting her kente scarf as she settled in. She had always been the first to arrive, eager to impress Mr. Abubakar. Meanwhile, Salifu, a talented graphic designer, strolled in casually, arriving thirty minutes after the official start time.

“Morning, Dede!” Salifu greeted with a playful smile on his face. “I see you’re still keeping your title as the early bird.”?

Dede chuckled but frowned. “You know how Mr. Abubakar is. He values punctuality above all else. If you want to get ahead here, you must be on time.”

Salifu rolled his eyes. “But what’s the point of being early if the work isn’t done well? I’d rather be a bit late and produce quality work.”

Dede sighed. “You know he doesn’t see it that way. Just look at how he rewards the punctual ones.”

As the days turned into weeks, the office thrived on its routine. Mr. Abubakar would award bonuses each month to those who never missed a day of being on time, often ignoring those who consistently delivered outstanding results but struggled with their arrival times. One day, as the sun set over the horizon, Mr. Abubakar held a team meeting to announce the latest round of bonuses.

“Congratulations to our top performers this month!” he declared, handing out envelopes filled with cash. “A special shoutout to Dede for her unwavering punctuality! Keep it up!”

Dede beamed, her heart swelling with pride. Meanwhile, Salifu sat quietly, feeling the sting of disappointment. He had just completed a complex project that transformed the company’s branding, yet his efforts were overshadowed by the accolades of someone who simply arrived on time.

That evening, as the team gathered for drinks at a local spot in Accra, Salifu expressed his frustration to his colleagues. “I can’t believe Mr. Abubakar rewarded Dede for just being early. My design has brought in new clients, yet nobody cares about the quality of work.”

“Maybe you should just arrive earlier,” Dede suggested gently. “It’s not fair, but that’s how it is here.”

Salifu shook his head. “I refuse to compromise my creativity for the sake of being on time. I’d rather work at a place that values results over clock-watching.”

The following week, the tension in the office began to rise. Mr. Abubakar’s unwavering focus on punctuality led to resentment among some employees. One morning, Aisha from Greater Accra, a new hire who was highly efficient but often a few minutes late, approached Dede. “I’m tired of this. I’ve worked in places where the emphasis was on delivering results, not just showing up. I think it’s time for a change.”

Dede pondered this. “What if we all band together? We could have a conversation with Mr. Abubakar about changing the focus from punctuality to productivity.”

Salifu nodded in agreement. “That’s the spirit! Let’s show him that we can be both punctual and productive, but we shouldn’t be rewarded for mere presence.”

The following week, the team gathered their courage and approached Mr. Abubakar during one of his morning briefings. Dede spoke first, her voice steady but earnest. “Sir, we appreciate your focus on punctuality, but we believe that true productivity should also be rewarded. Many of us feel that our efforts to deliver quality work are overlooked simply because we arrive a few minutes late.”

Mr. Abubakar raised an eyebrow, surprised by their audacity.

Had they miscalculated, or was this the moment things would finally change?

Find out what happens next...continue reading here.