Many employees still in Idul Fitri holiday mood

Thursday was the second working day after the extended Idul Fitri holiday. In some places, it was business as usual, but many parts of the city were still influenced by the holiday atmosphere, and people were reluctant to work. The Jakarta Post talked to some employees on Thursday about how they felt about going back to work after the long holiday.

Sumantri, is a security officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs who has been working for a year. He lives in Palmerah, West Jakarta, with his wife and three children:

As a matter of fact, I still felt reluctant to go back to work after the Idul Fitri holiday this year. I would still like to stay at home with my family partly because we are still in the holiday mood.

Probably it will take another two to three days to psyche myself into the working mode.

However, it was a very good idea to extend this year's Idul Fitri holiday. At least, I had enough time off. Last year, I felt worse when I started working after the Idul Fitri holiday.

Despite such feelings, I have a responsibility to carry on my duties here.

Rustani, 42, is a cleaning service attendant at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital who has worked in the same position for more than 10 years. He lives in Grogol, West Jakarta with his wife and four children:

As an ordinary worker, I felt really lazy when I had to go back to work after the Idul Fitri holiday this year. I have that feeling especially when I wake up in the morning. I am still in the holiday mood and this is why I feel a bit reluctant to start work.

But I can't allow myself to succumb to such feelings, otherwise my four children won't get any pocket money to buy snacks.

Besides, I work here on a contract basis. So, I have to come to work to get my daily income, even though it is only a mere Rp 5,000 a day.

There is nothing special about this year's holiday compared to last year. At least, there is no big difference in terms of the work load. The most important thing is that I have to go to work to make sure I get my full salary.

Mulya, 42, is an employee at the morgue of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital. He lives in Bogor, West Java, with his wife and three children:

I prefer to get back to work as soon as the holidays are over. I was fed up with the atmosphere in my house where the only people I meet are my wife and children. Worse, all that they talked about was money and the family budget.

I prefer to have something to do that takes me away from household matters. I am accustomed to working hard. So, spending a few days at home with nothing to do is really frustrating for me. I don't know why that is so, but it's true.

So, I'm happy to be back at work after the holiday this year. I also felt the same way last year.

Antok, 26, is an employee for a multinational consultancy company in Kuningan, South Jakarta. He has been working there for a year:

Honestly speaking, I felt lazy about going back to work after the Idul Fitri holiday. Only some of my colleagues showed up at the office because most Muslim employees are on leave. I feel as if I am working alone.

Besides, what makes me reluctant to go to work is that I am not allowed to wear casual dress this week despite the relatively relaxed working situation. Worse still, I even feel that the pressure has increased at work.

Another factor is that it is difficult to look for somewhere to eat as many food stall owners haven't reopened yet. This is also another factor that makes me feel reluctant to go to work.

Compared to last year, I have to admit that I am more mature this year in terms of my job. Last year I didn't come to work as I wanted more time to have fun during the holiday.

Anyway, now I am able to keep on working regardless of my feelings.

-- Leo Wahyudi S