10th December is the International Human Right’s Day so rather than hemming and hawing about what’s going wrong in the world out there – I thought we should take a look at what applies to our situation – and when I say our situation I mean the situation inside organizations i.e. the workplace. I am left wondering “Are we even aware that we are violating certain human rights at the workplace? 

Understaffing, overworking, working long extended hours on a regular basis are violations of human rights

A cursory read of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” consisting of 30 Articles made me take notice of two which we ought to recognize, understand and then ask ourselves if we are doing enough for that.

I quote them as they are in the original document.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

You would agree as leaders of organizations we are responsible for the protection of these human rights enshrined in the declaration.

I know you have your leave policies in place and paid holidays in place. The point is to go beyond the articulation of these rights in policies – having as much work as is humanly possible to do is the basic human right of your people. Understaffing, overworking, working long extended hours on a regular basis are violations of human rights. Let us not look at any other way. 

The right to security in the face of illness and unemployment is also a basic human right. I am not advocating running a welfare state for ex-employees I am only insisting on the fact that we have to care – it is our moral responsibility to care. 

So given these difficult times for all people, let us use the International Human Rights Day to reflect on how we as leaders could do our bit to create a world where every human’s rights are protected.