You must care about workers, not just the output – Akosua Ago Aboagye to employers

Broadcaster and General Manager of Sompa FM, Akosua Ago Aboagye, has called on employers and human resource managers to adopt more flexible workplace policies, particularly when dealing with mothers and employees facing personal challenges.

Speaking at the second edition of Convergence of Mothers organised by media personality MzGee, Ago Aboagye said organisations must look beyond productivity targets and pay greater attention to the well-being of the people responsible for delivering results.

Responding to a question about medical excuse duties and workplace resistance to granting employees time off, she argued that flexibility is an essential component of effective leadership.

"Flexibility is so important," she said.

According to her, organisations can adopt either rigid or soft human resource practices, but the most effective approach is often a balance between the two.

"You can practise soft HR or rigid HR, or you can balance the two," she noted.

Ago Aboagye shared an example from her own workplace, recalling how a member of her front desk team recently requested permission to bring her sick child to work.

Rather than insisting that the employee choose between work and caregiving responsibilities, she approved the request.

"My front desk executive told me her child was not feeling well and she wanted to bring the child to work. I said, 'Bring her,'" she recounted.

The media executive explained that employees cannot perform at their best when they are distracted by concerns about their families or personal circumstances.

"Your mind has to be sound," she said. "If you don't have a sound mind, you cannot give out your best. Productivity will go down."

She stressed that employers should not focus solely on outcomes while ignoring the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of workers.

"You don't have to care about only the output, but the one who is bringing out the output," she said.

The broadcaster added that when employees are struggling mentally, physically or emotionally, forcing them to work without support may ultimately harm both the individual and the organisation.

At the same time, she acknowledged that workplace flexibility must be managed carefully to prevent abuse.

According to her, some employees may attempt to take advantage of compassionate policies, making it necessary for employers to strike a balance between empathy and accountability.

"You have to balance the two," she advised.