Mental health issues are not new to hear even now that we’re in the 21st century. In fact, mental health issues of employees in different companies are even rising each year. Compared with the past decades and generations, everyone can agree that the workplace today are very different. Not to mention the processes that applicants and employees undergo to determine their well-being. Generally, millennials cover 50% of the workforce today not just in the Philippines, but worldwide. Meanwhile, some of the oldest population of generation Z is already starting to work as well. Source: img.rasset.ie The culture of 24/7 connection and remote works are growing fast thanks to the help of advanced technology and internet connections. Workplaces are experiencing a lot of changes when it comes to the work’s culture, the way of communication, and management strategies. Needless to say, both workers and employers should adapt to these changes to survive in the industry.
But with the constant growth and improvement in the workplace, the pressure also increases. Employees absorb a lot of pressure until it bounces back to their work and the company. This leads to mental health issues that became one of the growing concerns of the HR department. So, is it really worth it for employees to adapt to the current demand in their workplace to survive? How does the HR department handle these issues rooted from personal life and work to help their employees? Accessible Support Lines Online shops are not the only businesses that benefit from support lines. Even the best practitioners and counselors on mental health use it to give an accessible support line for their clients. HRs can also employees to handle their mental issues by calling help lines. Companies should encourage employees to seek the help of professionals while keeping everything confidential. This way, the concerns of employees are answered with sensitivity via phone call or online communication. The more confidentiality it offers, the more employees will seek them voluntarily. Flexible Working Schedule Experts believe that having a flexible working schedule from home sometimes can give a great positive impact to work. This reduces their stress especially if they are balancing work, health issues, and complex family issues at home. HR managers should monitor employees and determine if they are coping with mental health issues in and out of the workplace. Businesses should check if some of their employees are already carrying too much workload and make the necessary adjustment. This prevents employees from being burnout, and employers to keep efficient workers. But then again, the best way for HRs and businesses to reduce the mental health issues in their workplace is to embrace diversity. Employees should be encouraged that it’s more important to focus on what they can do for the business and not over think their condition.
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Even with the threat of Artificial Intelligence or AI, outsourcing is still the leading industry in the Philippines which opens doors of opportunities to many Filipino workers who yearn to have a better job and revenue that could sustain their family’s simple lifestyle. As BPO companies continue to welcome new recruits, many recruitment teams are puzzled on why many experienced call center agents are going after the back office positions? Yes, the back office position is now considered as the most sought after position for the simple reason that it requires minimal calls. So, if you think that calling people and answering queries are not your call but you still want to be part of this emerging industry, why don’t you apply for their back office positions? But before you do, you should know that even though the job description may sound simple, it does not mean that the job isn’t. Back office jobs are more than just sending emails. This is a common misconception why many qualified applicants fail on their job interviews. They do not understand well the position they are applying for. If you want to land a back office job, this is your lucky day! Here are some tips that recruitment teams from well-known establishments that you can use to land on your dream job and be part of the back office support group. But before tackling the tips, you should know that once you work in a back office position, you may deal with people from different businesses and not the end-user consumers alone. Source: officersassociation.org.uk
From the moment the outsourcing community started to do well locally and internationally, the Department of Labor and Employment here in the Philippines has already cited some health and safety issues associated with BPO works. From then on, they have promoted programs that could help ensure the safety and well-being of our BPO workers. As the BPO industry continues to grow and develop, it has also created significant employment opportunities to our fellow Filipino workers not knowing that the lucrative lifestyle it can offer has much at stake. Workers have to put their health and wellness in line just to achieve a better lifestyle for them and for their family. If you are planning to jump in the world of outsourcing, you should prepare yourself because you are about to face some of the specific health problems faced by the BPO workers. Specific Health Problems Faced by BPO Workers:
Our talented and skillful BPO workers are at high risk of facing health problems most of it has a great connection with their work shifts. The same with IT professionals, BPO employees frequently suffer from biomechanical problems of the back, neck, and hands. Aside from these, BPO workers also encounter eye problems, upset bio-rhythms, unexpected change with their body clock, and carry a huge load of stress. The health problems mentioned above are commonly connected to the workers’ shift work. As a BPO worker, you should be able to work in the night and sleep during the day. Although your body has evolved to operate with the inbuilt rhythms called “circadian rhythms”, your body still produces hormones called melatonin within the small gland in your brain. The production of this hormone takes place at night when you’re sleeping. And your job as a night shift employee disrupts the production of melatonin that could lead to cancer. How? This hormone is known for being a tumor suppressant. Besides from the shifting work, the change in your body clock can adversely affect your health. With a frail immune system, you can face these health problems as well insomnia, fatigue, tension headaches, and exhaustions. They could pass as minor health problems but eventually, they could lead to psychological disturbances like anxiety and depression. Preventing these health problems You can’t avoid shifting work in this kind of industry. Hence, DOLE is continuously encouraging all BPO employers to join their programs. The purpose of their program is to introduce a better workplace design that could reduce muscle and joint pains, to carry out an enhanced safety service such as providing transportation for night shift workers and lastly, launched an awareness program about eating healthy meals and avoiding vices at work. No one is stopping you from working in an outsourcing company. But, make sure that you should also start a healthy living as you start a new lifestyle. When President Rodrigo Roa Duterte took the helms of the government and decided to deviate from the US government, there was already an outcry from the Amboys and Amgirls who are so subservient to the Americans. They are crying foul claiming that the outsourcing industry will die a natural death and the green bucks will no longer flood the Philippines. This was also the same scenario when US President Donald Trump bowed to bring all jobs back to his countrymen and end outsourcing. That announcement alone sent jitters to those who work in the BPO industry in the Philippines. Looming Threat Posed by AI Now, another concern is on the rise due to the warning from a US-based Filipino guru, Diosdado Banatao. About the looming threat posed by AI or Artificial Intelligence in the BPO industry, Diosdado claims that US experts predict that the BPO might be hit hard. All repetitive tasks done by call center agents will now be performed by AI which is the reason why Banatao is prodding the government to put on a significant undertaking on AI in order to help the BPO industry to cushion or avoid its negative impact. The Department of Science and Technology under Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Pena claims the department embarked on various initiatives and made an action plan on this emerging technology. Source: i.guim.co.uk The concern about AI and robotics had come to the fore due to a spat between two biggies, Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX and Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook co-founder. There had been a healthy debate as to the doom or boom of AI and its impact on society, to jobs and the global economy. Scholars had predicted that in a decade or two, AI will take over and automate about 47% of jobs in the US. So, the question now is, "How soon will robots replace most jobs like call center agents, factory workers, and bank tellers?", and "Will other countries be prepared to face the impact of this technology on employment?".
Jobs Will Be Affected The Contact Center Association of the Philippines or CCAP President, Mr. Jojo Uligan accepts that there will be jobs affected. But those are the provided services in the past like the obsolete job of directory assistance service where clients ask for phone numbers. Hence, machines can take over for this position. Some services will go but other services will remain to assist clients, wherein the industry banks on the importance of human interaction since people prefer to hear a human voice, not machines or robots no matter how intelligent they are. A client verifies if the one on the other end of the phone is a robot or a machine. Well, a slight laugh and a denial confirm that indeed the one who's talking on the other line is human and trained to answer clients' concerns. The BPO industry in the Philippines has the right to be confident about its place since a road map has been already in place to upgrade skills of local BPO workers in order to handle jobs that hadn’t been done before. The thrust of the industry and CCAP is to understand the AI technology, know the services that can be provided to stay relevant and protect everyone that works in the industry. Marketers always find ways to influence how products and services gain the attention of the buying public. There are always new trends that emerge to make an enormous influence on how the public’s attention will sway and patronize a certain product or brand. For digital marketing, everyone faces a fast-paced world wherein the rules and strategies change daily or even hourly. The next year is almost coming and marketers face the possible trends for 2018 that will boost each company’s marketing strategies. Source: img.huffingtonpost.com
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October 2017
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