Chapter eight

As usual, Ellaisaire was the first to get up. She prayed, took time to reflect on the scripture, and left for work. She valued her work greatly and like everyone else never wanted to carry the blame for a life to be lost. She wanted to save lives. Besides her boss made it clear that the job market was shrinking especially to those whose minds were bent on traditional methods of operation. He kept on saying those who had reached their destination should get off the boat and create room for new talents. His was a private business and he needed to see profits at the end of the month. No one needed such scathing attacks to perform.

Ellaisaire was at all times aware that this man never minced his words. She knew a lot more about this man than any other worker. Having served for at least twenty years, most of her colleagues believed she had overstayed and was the one under the indirect attack. This man, her employer, was married to a querulous domineering woman who was barren and whom she never saw eye-to-eye. Her name was Zennath.

Zennath could create a mountain out of a molehill so that when everybody asked what was to be done, she would give her advice.

Jose's growing fortune trickled downward to Ellaisaire. She now felt better able to face Zennath.

When Zennath bought a new mobile phone, Ellaisaire would buy a better phone. Ellaisaire became trendier in fashion and classy in taste. She took the lead and without knowing opened a new battleground.

Zennath wanted the clinic to operate as a family business. She wanted to be the one who speaks and the rest listen. Her husband, however, wanted the clinic to operate as a private profit-making venture. He believed that family business mentality stifled entrepreneurship and that workers needed to be remunerated according to their performance. A business is a separate entity from its owners. It has no uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters.

When an issue came up for arbitration, Zenith's word carried the day. And more often than not, Justice was aborted. With time workers formed associations and alliances, by use of these groupings, support in times of distress was readily made available. As these associations became effective, Zennath soon discovered her influence as an arbitrator was waning.

Her husband had no problem with these groupings. They acted as safety valves and this was good for his clinic. When 'grapevine' sifted through, he did not dismiss it. He paid attention. His clinic enjoyed a low staff attrition rate compared to the rest of the clinics and was doing well as far as profitability was concerned.

When Jose informed Ellaisaire of relocating to a more convenient workstation, she started to ask herself if she was ready to switch careers. Even though Jose had not formally disclosed his intention to move by the amount of work he had to do, she knew sooner or later, he would need her assistance. She could manage his schedule; assist with the display of exhibitions and bookkeeping. This is the work for which she needed no formal education.

With these thoughts in her mind, Ellaisaire felt like she was the queen. She now needed a time and a place to hammer the last nail to the coffin in which Zennath's control over her rested. Thereafter, she will bury the whole affair in the graveyard called 'gone and forgotten forever. However, Ellaisaire underestimated Zennath's will to fight back. Sometimes you gain through losing. Other times you lose through gaining.

If Zennath was losing from the workplace front, that was not the only frontier. She could open up a battleground elsewhere; Ellaisaire's home front.

It came to her as a surprise then, when one-day Ellaisaire was notified that all members of staff were required to sign up new work contracts. Ellaisaire's new job included additional duties for which no extra pay was to be given. The added responsibilities were aimed at adding value to service delivery.

It was evident that the revised contract was intended to assert the administrator's authority. It was a case of seniority versus authority. Ellaisaire in rank and pay enjoyed a better package. She was senior but Zennath was the administrator's wife, therefore had more authority by being the boss's wife.

Ellaisaire flatly refused to append her signature. When the matter came up before the staff meeting, members of staff were enjoined to a battle of might between Ellaisaire and Zennath. Some members of staff were worried and others were excited. Some said that it was necessary for Ellaisaire and indeed all members of staff to obey orders from the Administrator. While others said that Ellaisaire did the right thing since experience had shown ineptitude on the part of the Administrator. All of them knew Zennath as the Administrator was not going to lose hands down. The meeting ended with no resolution. As such, members of staff enjoyed a reprieve.