In welcoming the new year, there is in everyone’s prayer to the Almighty for the Covid-19 menace to be purged. Surely there is that whisper in everyone’s heart the wish for the safety of family, friends, and acquaintance — amidst the threat of faster transmission of the virus. The threat is real as news of high infection rates is continuously being flashed on television screens and the various social media platforms. No one is spared the risk of infection except those few who were reported to have received the vaccine shots, though acrimoniously, and now being publicly denounced.

Notwithstanding the challenges brought about by the pandemic, there is no reason to stop from carrying on with the work we are commissioned and acceded to do. For the employed, be it in the public sector or private employment, this means being thankful for the job yet apprehensive on how well they can protect themselves from the virus as “working remotely” could be withdrawn at any time. Many realize the limitations of the “work-from-home” arrangement and the designation of a virtual workplace in terms of the delay and lack of getting spontaneous feedback and response to matters requiring immediate attention.