In 2020, as the shadow of the epidemic enveloped the globe, I made a decision that many considered bold - I resigned from the stable government regional clinic job, and chose to join a private hospital in Kuching, Sarawak as a pharmacist.
Although the pace of work at the private hospital is quite hectic, the hospital provides quite good benefits to employees in the initial stage. Especially in the first few years, at the year-end, the hospital would give each employee a relatively generous bonus. This extra reward not only serves as recognition for everyone's hard work but also becomes a motivation for us to look forward to the year-end. For me, this is also a completely new experience, considering that during my time as a government civil servant, I never enjoyed similar treatment.
However, over the past two years, the situation has quietly changed. For some unknown reason, the hospital suddenly stopped the distribution of the year-end bonus, without any prior notice or explanation. This unexpected turn of events caught many medical staff off guard, and raised significant complaints and dissatisfaction. Especially for colleagues with lower incomes, the year-end bonus is not just a reward, but also an important source of income used to cover household expenses each year.
The cancellation of the year-end bonuses undoubtedly increases the financial pressure on many families. Under the impact of the epidemic, the cost of living continues to rise, while salary increases have not shown significant improvement. The cancellation of the year-end bonuses adds insult to injury. Many colleagues have started to feel disappointed in the hospital's decisions, and a atmosphere of complaints is gradually spreading among medical staff. Although most people still hold their positions, the evident emotional downturn is undeniable.