We Are Married

Eid is about winning - the celebration for Muslims who succeeded in conquering their worldly wants and ego during Ramadhan. But it does not always feel like a happy occasion for some. I had a very interesting Eid this year (maybe because I took leave for one whole week and accidentally became the main adult in the house 😒) My beloved grandmother passed away in 2020 on the evening of the first day of Eid. She was our matriarch, and it was hard adjusting to our lives without her. Eid and Ramadhan were always her thing - she would plan all the meals and celebrations, the house visits, the guests' schedules and all the other important stuff. We all miss her, of course: my parents, my aunts and uncles, my siblings, my children, my cousins, and all those who knew her. But I think that hiding in grief would be an insult to her memory. She was always someone who was welcoming whenever guests were over - nothing made her happier than meeting her relatives and friends and making sure they h...

These past few months, we handled 2 cases of employees with chronic conditions that felt like they were mistreated. One complained that her medical leave certificate was rejected, and another complained that she was unfairly transferred out of her department.  As we dived into the cases, I noticed that some managers tend to not have the courtesy, or should I say, bravery , to take the lead in discussing the chronic conditions together with the employees. Some managers just take the chronic condition at face value, some did not even bother to actually confirm the condition and just accept rumours, and not doing anything to help. Of course, it is understandable to think that by acknowledging the condition, the employees may "bully" the managers to get what they want. But, some employees with chronic conditions may actually need genuine help, and we may miss this group of people. Having a chronic medical condition, be it physical or mental, is not something someone wishes upon t...