IN recent weeks, the remarks of Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, sparked controversy when he defended the “996” labor practice—working from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. for six days a week—as a “huge blessing.” This view supported such work schedule as an opportunity for people to exert more time and energy to attain success. Nevertheless, the Chinese billionaire clarified that to do overtime is an offshoot of passion and happiness being found on such endeavor. His comments later on suggested that to work overwork is the resolve of the employee rather than a mandate of the employer.
This work arrangement may easily find acceptance to those in the early stages of their careers and who have the youthful vigor, patience and stamina to endure extended hours of work. Count in those who are determined to spend longer time in their work, trading off their social calendars for lucrative positions in a corporate hierarchy, bigger paychecks or even brighter career prospects. And perhaps, add those who simply desire to discover delight in such undertaking.
Yet, any idea of work, be it prompted by self-motivation, requirement, or something else, easily resonates to all of us not because it is this month of May when we celebrate Labor Day nor it is this tropical summer when we are offered a good holiday break to pause, reflect and unwind from work. It is because work is a familiar concept—our lives are built up from work every day. As highlighted by Pope John Paul II in Laborem Exercens, work is a “universal calling,” in which we are created with a vocation to work. Reflecting on this social encyclical, there is a wide spectrum of reasons why we have to view our work above the customary objective sense, of it beyond being a mere duty for us to make a living.
We are called to realize that work is a “mark
of our humanity” which distinguishes us from the rest of creatures. Through it,
we are exercising our capability of being rational and achieving fulfillment as
a human being. In my article published in this column last year, I underscored
the special dignity of human work. I
discussed then the subjective dimension of work being an act of a dynamic
worker and a human person. Accordingly, it is in this
subjective side that gives dignity to our work and precludes us to be regarded
objectively as commodities or meek tools for the production of goods or
delivery of services. After all, we are led to realize that “work is for man
and not man for work.”
We are also called to develop a fresh perspective of work and a novel way of proceeding: we are being part of building a just and humane society. As long as we provide goods and services that ultimately help improve the quality of our lives, regardless of whether we work in our executive rooms, cubicles, coworking spaces, production sites, or any workstations, we are all in the service of nation building.
In and through work, we become stewards of the resources for the next generation. We share in the continuous process of creation and support in generating sustainable wealth for those who will come after us. This presupposes that our work is healthy and sustainable as we strike a work-life balance, following the context by which Jack Ma’s earlier remarks were founded.
By viewing our work creatively and differently, no matter how we are obliged and destined to toil, we may wake up and live each day with joy and renewed sense of purpose.
James C. Pascual is an assistant vice president for Corporate Finance at St. Luke’s Medical Center. He holds an MBA from Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business where he previously served as the external vice president of the Student Council.
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