This profession has no concept of "Tet holiday"

While everyone else is eagerly anticipating Tet (Lunar New Year) and enjoying a long holiday with their families, those working in apartment building management are still diligently carrying out their duties.

Apartment building management: A profession where there's no such thing as a "holiday break."

While everyone else is eagerly anticipating Tet (Lunar New Year) and enjoying a long holiday with their families, those working in apartment building management are still diligently carrying out their duties.

Dedicated "housekeepers"

In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the entire apartment complex is bathed in a soft golden light, like a giant candle lit in the heart of the bustling city. Inside each apartment, brightly lit windows, the sounds of laughter and conversation mingling with the fragrant aroma of sticky rice cakes and braised pork create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Children excitedly show off their new clothes, while adults gather around the dinner table, sharing stories of the past year. It's a truly beautiful, simple yet fulfilling picture of Tet.

But if you look closer, in the dark corners of the basement or the quiet corridors, you'll see figures silently working. These are the security guards, cleaning ladies, and technicians on duty through the night. Their Tet holiday isn't about spending time with family, but about dedicating themselves to keeping everything in the apartment building running smoothly, so that residents can celebrate Tet with peace of mind.

Apartment building management acts like silent "conductors," keeping everything running smoothly. (Photo: Le Toan)

Mr. Hung, a technician, spent the whole day checking the electrical system and repairing a broken water pump in the basement. He sat breathless in the small, cramped control room. He smiled and said, "Work is three times busier during Tet than usual. But hearing residents thank me for the timely repairs makes all the fatigue disappear."

Then he said slowly, "It's a pity I can't go home for Tet this year. Every year, I'm away from home all year, and all I want is to be able to come home for a meal with my wife and children during Tet. My wife says the two kids keep asking when their dad will come home, and it breaks my heart to hear that." His eyes suddenly darkened, but then brightened again: "Well, if we can contribute a little to help the residents have a peaceful and joyful Tet, it's also a kind of comfort."

Meanwhile, Ms. Lan, a cleaning staff member, is meticulously tending to every corner of the main lobby area. Each step of her cleaning is gentle yet full of responsibility. She smiles, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead: "During Tet (Lunar New Year), the amount of waste doubles. There's fruit, gift wrapping paper, firecracker casings... It's never-ending. But thinking about residents stepping out to find the lobby clean and beautiful, I feel it's all worth the effort."

Pausing for a moment, she said wistfully, "To be honest, I miss home a lot. My daughter is studying far away and can't come home for Tet (Lunar New Year). I'm always busy and can't visit my mother in the countryside. Sometimes, seeing other people together makes me feel sad. But I'm used to this job, and I'm happy because I'm doing something meaningful for people."

Both Mr. Hung and Ms. Lan have their own personal concerns and simple desires for family reunion. But they chose sacrifice, silently dedicating themselves, to ensuring a fulfilling and peaceful Tet holiday for the apartment complex.

Workers are not alone.

Apartment building management teams are like silent "conductors," keeping everything running smoothly. They maintain technical systems, keep the environment clean, handle unexpected incidents, and ensure security and order. These tasks, though quiet, form a solid foundation for a peaceful life.

Thanks to them, each resident can enjoy a complete Lunar New Year celebration with their family without having to worry about complicated issues. They are not only the keepers of safety, cleanliness, and convenience, but also the invisible thread that binds the community together. In the warm picture of the apartment complex during Tet, they are simple yet indispensable elements.

Representatives from Saigon Thang Long Group presented gifts to employees before the Tet holiday.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Nguyen Duy Thanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Home Real Estate Management Joint Stock Company, said that the end of the year is the time when residents focus on purchasing and replacing equipment, as well as disposing of old equipment. Activities in apartment buildings become bustling, from decorating and offering prayers to people preparing to return to their hometowns for Tet (Lunar New Year)... Therefore, the workload increases significantly, accompanied by high pressure and a constant need for support.

However, these "managers" are not alone; to ensure morale, the company always has policies in place to motivate, support, reward, and encourage them promptly. Members of the management team are given New Year's greetings, receive New Year's gifts, and are given a 13th-month salary bonus before the holiday to stabilize their lives and help them focus on their work.

Representatives from the Management Board and the Residents' Committee of Lu Gia Plaza apartment building organized a rice cake-making activity to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year).

In addition, the company encourages employees to schedule time off, arrange personal matters before Tet (Lunar New Year), and prepare food and essential supplies for the holiday shifts. Employees working during Tet also receive gifts and meals as encouragement, and are evaluated and rewarded based on their work attitude during this peak period.

Regarding the work schedule, Mr. Thanh said that the company always ensures there are staff on duty 24/7 at the apartment building. The duty roster is arranged on a rotating basis, with each person working one day and resting one day, to ensure both their health and personal rest needs during Tet.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Nguyen The Loi – Chairman and CEO of Saigon Thang Long Group (a company providing building, apartment, and hotel management services…) – shared that in these projects, the security, technical, and cleaning departments must be on duty continuously, with no time off during Tet (Lunar New Year).

Mr. Nguyen The Loi – Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Saigon Thang Long Group – participated in activities to prepare for Tet (Lunar New Year) with the employees.

For these on-call departments, Saigon Thang Long annually organizes activities to ensure both the mental and material well-being of its employees. Specifically, in addition to their regular salaries, the company provides essential food items and special gifts for the workers. Furthermore, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the company's leadership team personally visits each project to extend New Year greetings and give lucky money to the employees.

"Besides material well-being, the morale of our employees is very important, and we always prioritize this. That's why, during holidays, the management team always takes the time to be with and share with employees, fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring that employees don't feel lonely," Mr. Loi said.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/batdongsan/quan-ly-van-hanh-nha-chung-cu-nghe-khong-co-khai-niem-nghi-tet-d242421.html