Many Filipinos were raised with showing up, no matter what, as a virtue. Industry and persistence are highly valued traits that have made our workforce an asset. A little difficulty, a little sickness – we don’t mind these. We are good workers, always thankful for an opportunity to earn a living.
But of course, anything has to be within reasonable, humane bounds.
During the onslaught of supertyphoon Uwan last week, some business process outsourcing companies allegedly required their employees to report to work, notwithstanding the attendant dangers of venturing outside amid strong winds, rain, and flooding.
The Labor Department is now looking at almost a hundred companies and work sites, after complaints from their workers raised the possibility of violations of the law on occupational safety and of guidelines on work suspension.
BPO employees are used to unconventional working arrangements. They do not don usual corporate attire or keep regular nine-to-five schedules. They work with different time zones, adjusting their body clocks to work with colleagues and clients from different parts of the world.
But it does not mean that they could be compelled to subject themselves to danger just to comply with management orders.
The rules are clearly laid out, and it may be argued that premiums and hazard compensation will be paid, anyway. But in this instance, some employees were supposedly issued a notice to explain their absence when they failed to report for work even if they cited flooding, high-risk travel conditions, and power interruptions.
It could be argued that employees need not wait for their employees to tell them it is all right to not report for work. They could just make that decision for themselves, and justify it later on. Unfortunately, a significant part of the workforce, not only in BPOs, are not in a position to make this call.
BPO employees – and all other workers, for that matter – brave the dangers and inconveniences of going to work, and they should not be penalized for their inability to surmount overwhelming odds just to be present at work. What a contrast to some so-called public officials who pocket huge amounts of money without an honest day’s work, and with hardly any consequence if they decided to take a day, or week, or indefinite periods of time, to pause and attend to other things.
We hope our labor officials are always mindful of the value of human capital and that the welfare of our people should be paramount. Businesses without compassion or empathy must be reminded that people’s safety and well-being should come first, no matter what.
