“Murungu anayo mari” – The costly employee mindset bleeding businesses dry

MUNYARADZI MAMBARA 

“Murungu anayo mari!” which loosely translates to “Our boss has the money to bear whatever cost!” is a phrase commonly heard in many workplaces, often said jokingly among employees. Yet behind the humour lies a mindset that quietly costs businesses money. Lots of it. 

Image: iStock

The assumption is not hard to decipher: the owner has the money, so damaged tools, reckless use of equipment, or careless handling of company property are someone else’s problem. It does not immediately occur to the employee that it should be. collective responsibility to keep company expenses on the low. This behaviour by employees – of thinking that their malfeasance should be remedied financially by the employer – creates hidden costs that rarely appear on a balance sheet until much later. Talk of costly consequences. 

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those that rely on semi-skilled labour, are especially vulnerable. The effects of negligence may not be immediate, but they certainly accumulate over time. 

A service vehicle driven carelessly will eventually need new tyres, shocks, brakes, or expensive repairs – not because of normal wear and tear, but because responsibility was never shared. How do we change this employee mindset? One solution, though admittedly unpopular, is borrowed from the insurance industry, and that's accountability. 

Where negligence is clearly established, employees should bear part of the replacement or repair cost. Genuine accidents are different and should remain the employer’s responsibility. That distinction is supremely important.  

When people have something to lose, they are more likely to exercise care. Such a system introduces meaningful checks and balances, improves operational efficiency, and encourages employees to treat company assets as valuable resources rather than disposable items. Most importantly, it challenges the myth that every business owner is cash-rich. 

The reality is that many entrepreneurs are simply trying to keep their businesses alive. Every avoidable cost matters. That should dawn on employees.