During the festive season, people often organize to go for holidays away from home or family to share the special moments the season offers. However, some professions interfere with the enjoyment that comes with the festive season since they have to work regardless of the holiday.
During the festive season, people often organize to go for holidays away from home or family to share the special moments the season offers. However, some professions interfere with the enjoyment that comes with the festive season since they have to work regardless of the holiday.
For instance, a doctor will have to work on Christmas day because people fall sick all the time. People working in amusement centers have to work because families come to these very centers to have fun. The list is endless.
In an interview with The New Times, Eric Murari, supervisor at Bourbon Coffee, MTN Center, explains the challenges that come with working during public holidays or weekends.
"Although I really need this job, I find it challenging to work on public holidays. The only time we don’t get to work is in April at the beginning of the commemoration period,” Murari says.
All his free days are scheduled for weekdays so should a public holiday fall on his day off, then he won’t have to work.
"During the festive season families come together especially those from abroad. Therefore, I request my family to come have lunch and celebrate with me at work although it has to be for a short time since I have to get back to work and attend to other clients,” Murari says.
The 27-year-old Murari is outgoing and blissful. He gets an off once a week and works eight hours a day.
"When people work, they have different goals, targets and visions that they strive to achieve. Working on a public holiday such as Christmas shouldn’t make you quit your job especially if you have ambition,” Murari suggests.
He goes on to advise that it’s always important to make sacrifices in order to become an achiever in life. Christmas will always be there. Missing a few should not matter when it comes to achieving success.
He has been awarded the employer of the month on many occasions at his work place. When asked what keeps him going in his field of employment he said: "Actually, since it’s a company, I’m assured of payment at the end of the month plus medical insurance and other allowances. When I serve, I get tips from clients which is a motivating gesture.”
Murari was once Bourbon coffee’s ‘Employer of the Month’.
"When I became ‘Employer of the Month’, clients congratulated me and it was a good feeling, really encouraging. I always want to be the best in whatever I do, that is my goal,” he adds.
Eric Darik Musegimana, a colleague of Murari at Bourbon Coffee, has been working with him for the last eleven months.
"I have never encountered a single problem with Murari; in fact he is social and very hardworking. I suppose it is a result of his character that he is promoted on a regular basis,” Musegimana discloses.
Born on September 21st, 1984 in Mombasa, Kenya, Murari is the first of two boys. He attended his primary education and part of his high school in Kenya before moving to Rwanda in 2003.
"On reaching here, I had to get part-time jobs while studying because I had to earn my fees as my mother (Rose Nyirarukundo) was out of work at the time,” Murari says.
He worked at Rwanda Technology before joining Bourbon Coffee, UTC branch in 2009.
"Like any other job, there are challenges I face. Although most of them are personal, for instance, whatever I do, is supposed to favor my work schedule. It’s a challenge because it affects personal commitments.
"If a family member falls sick and you need to attend to them, it is close to impossible to get immediate permission to leave because that will affect the whole working schedule,” says Murari. He adds that a lot of planning is required in his field of work before attempts to fulfill personal commitments are made.
As a child, Murari always wanted to become a businessman.
"I always thought I would own a big company and employ many people. However, I am passionate about music, and hopefully it will eventually work out. I don’t sing but I like playing instruments such as the drum and guitar.”
Murari is not married but his ideal woman should be a dark beauty.
He says, "Besides beauty, I would love a woman who is intelligent and compassionate.”