Council wants stress mgt programs institutionalized in Cebu BPO firms
Acknowledging the high levels of stress experienced by workers in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, the Cebu City Council wants stress management institutionalized in the human resource programs of companies operating here.
The Council also asked the Department of Labor and Employment to push for the initiative.
“While the BPO sector is creat- ing reasonably good jobs, (but) the workers are stressed and some work conditions have to be improved. Thus, it’s important to protect the health and safety of the BPO staff,”
reads the resolution penned by Councilor Alvin Dizon that the Council approved.
To address this, Dizon suggests the establishment of a counseling desk manned by an in-house counselor who is also an HR professional with knowledge of human psychology; a staff development and wellness program; and strengthening of employees incentive and team building programs.
“The BPO industry should be proactive in undertaking measures towards stress management in the workplace through investment in programs and services to address the well-being of their workers, which ultimately helps yield maximum efficiency and productivity out of the work force,” Dizon said.
“There is almost a universal consensus that the nature of work in call centers, which involves coping with too much pressure, long hours, and repetitious activities, is highly stressful,” he said further.
Dizon said it is important for the city to protect the interest of workers in the industry because BPO firms are among the important contrib- utors to national and local economies.
Last August 16, a worker of a call center company operating at the Cebu I.T. Park jumped to his death from the roof deck of the building he worked at.
Dizon said the companies themselves must play a part in providing mental, physical and social health care to their workers.