A break is what you need, govt staff told

By LUKE KAMA
PUBLIC servants have been advised to take a good rest during the Christmas break, reflect on their lives, and return to work in the New Year refreshed.
Department of Personnel Management Secretary John Kali, pictured, also urged private sector employers to “observe Christmas and give citizens time to rest and spend time with families or go to church”.
Kali wished public servants throughout the country a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous 2018.
“Have a good rest, take a reflection of your personal life as well as your public service life,” he said.
“And if there are changes that you need to make, do it and come with a renewed heart and mind next year to serve our people and the country well and better.”
Government offices close from tomorrow for the Christmas break and will re-open on Jan 2.
Kali told The National yesterday that public servants around the country were entitled to the holiday according to public service calendar.
“That is according to our public service calendar and public servants will be observing that throughout the country.”
But he said the public service calendar did not apply to the private sector who had their own arrangements for their employees.
“It is really up to the discretion of the private sector employers how to observe the Christmas break,” he said.
“What’s stated in the public service calendar does not apply to the private sector. It is really at the discretion of the employers.
“The holiday dates stated only covers those departments and agencies created under the Public Service (Management) Act. But it is also important that private sectors employers observe Christmas and give citizens time to rest and to spend with families and go to church.”