Mass termination in major call center

[Velvett]

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i exactly got your point the first time but the thing is that is not true. that is what the companies would like the employees to believe but you and i and everybody knows that is nothing but a bunch of corporate image packaging BS delivered by HR.

sometimes there is a thin line between mindset and denial. i'd rather be a realist than and optimist.

the reason why i offered the "business person" mindset is to empower employees.

so what are you trying to say exactly? that employees are doomed to be modern-day slaves? that there's nothing one can do about it?

[Wats_Out]

insulting!

Guys, I am one of the group of terminated Agents that everybody has been talking about. I just like to set things straight. First,In the manner that they terminated us Wats has violated all the rules, from our company personnel handbook, employment contract and the labor code. But they never expected that there would be people who would stand up against them. They thought in the past they were able to get away with it because the agents that they terminated were inexperienced and didn't know their rights as provided by law. So most of them just let it slide and moved on. But this time we will not let them get away with it. We know fighting for our rights will take time in our justice system. But somebody has got to do it otherwise they will just continue to bully these people that they duped when they recruited them. Mind you there will come a time in your life that you will be forced to stand up for what is right. And when it's your time you have to do it whether you want to do it or not. None the less when it's your time you'll know.

Just some tips for you honchos out there!
When an employee is ilegally terminated he or she has to go through this process.
First file a complaint with NLRC not dole because when you are severed from employment it is already outside dole's jurisdiction (dole is only good while your still employed and your money claim is below Php5000).
Then the labor arbiter will schedule 2 or a max of 3 preliminary meetings between employee and management and in these meetings no merits of the case will be discussed only monetary settlement (there is even no need for you to have a lawyer but his presence might indeed help it depends on you lawyer). Once the Arbiter finds that there is no room for amicable settlement, then he will direct both parties to file their position papers at these stage you will need a lawyer to do this for you. In the said position paper both parties will stating be the merits of their complaint and likewise the company's defense. Afterwhich we don't know for how long the arbiter will give his judgement.

After the said judgement or award by the arbiter has been decided and if any of the parties is not contented with the arbiters judgement then they can file an appeal to the NLRC, then an appeal to the court of appeals and finally to the supreme court. It sounds so tedious right, but once you reach the position paper stage there is no need for the employee to keep on appearing in court it will just be paper work that the atty would be the one to do it.

The process that I illustrated here is the only process that you have to go thru because when it comes to labor cases it is outside the jurisdiction of the civiil courts. My advise to you guys working in wats and other call centers of which I know some of them are also being maltreated by their employers, make sure that you keep record and file all written documents that you receive from your employer (Such as pay slips, contract and any form that you filled out and signed etc.) you'll never know when it will come in handy. If you don't know any lawyer there is one firm that is just on the 3rd flr of dole office near independencia.

Lastly, never be intimidated by the company or its lawyers nor lose heart because you think it will take too much of your time and resources. On the other hand never lose your cool, emotional people can't think clearly. All you have to do is hang on until you reach the position paper and you can start looking for another job. Start saving up now guys you'll never know when your time will come. Good Luck People and Pray for us that we may indeed obtain justice because our victory would also be the victory of all call center Agents.

[omad]

Start saving up now guys you'll never know when your time will come.

^ true that!!!

[neomorgatory69]

Ayaw jud hunong ug complain until you get the compensation that you deserve!! Magsalig lang jud na ang watts kay taga gawas sila. Grrr...

[LytSlpr]

the reason why i offered the "business person" mindset is to empower employees.

so what are you trying to say exactly? that employees are doomed to be modern-day slaves? that there's nothing one can do about it?

not ALL employees are slaves but ALL employees are technically NOT business persons. it is good to have a business mindset or entreprenurial attitude but relating it to employment can sometimes confuse an average and most of the time, over-optimistic employee, if you know what i mean.

[thadzonline]

problem with that mindset is that you have to be ready to let go of a client that gives you more headache than profit, when the employer/client doesn't make you win and results into an unfair win-lose situation favoring them. And bottomline ins that the client/employer doesn't even treat you like they are dealing with you as a business man but rather a subordinate, a statistic

[Velvett]

@lystslpr and thadz

that's true. it's not for the 'average person' i guess, just for the enlightened ones. but this is an option which i believe will relieve employees from the helpless feeling of being an employee-slave.

[Juan Miguel]

An interesting article from Ibon.

RP Call Centers, OFWs To Be Hit Worst By U.S. Slowdown
Written by IBON Media
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Call centers and overseas Filipino workers, both lauded by the Arroyo government as economic winners, are seen to be the worst hit by an anticipated US recession and general slowdown in the world economy, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation. IBON research head Sonny Africa said that the country’s economy would be hurt by a foreseen US economic slowdown, particularly given the Philippines’ strong economic ties with the superpower. Africa said the US is one of the country’s top investment and exports partners. The US accounted for nearly 32% of total approved foreign direct investment in the first semester of 2007 and 17% of total Philippine exports from January to November 2007.

Africa said that the business process outsourcing sector, which is led by call centers, may experience job losses and pressure on wages to fall, and the same may happen to US subcontractors in the country’s export processing zones. The effect would be magnified further by how many Philippine exports to East Asia are actually intra-firm exports with the US being the ultimate destination. Major US firms with BPO operations in the Philippines include Accenture, Amex and AIG, while the US accounts for 14% of the total investments in export processing zones from 1995 to 2005.

Overseas Filipino workers’ remittances would also likely drop, which would further hurt the country’s growth by slowing domestic consumption. Africa pointed out that although the US is not a top destination for the country’s OFWs, most of the employing countries depend on US investments, such as trade centers like Hong Kong and oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia. Further, OFW deployments may drop with a similarly expected slump in world economic growth, which has been slowing from 5.4% in 2007 to an expected 5.2% in 2007 and 4.8% in 2008.

These developments may also result in a bursting of the domestic real estate bubble of the past few years, which has been driven mainly by OFWs demand for housing and call centers, for office space.

“If there is a worsening of the fiscal crisis as a result of the slowdown of these two vital sectors, the country could experience a steep economic slowdown in the coming years,” said Africa.

He added that this scenario could have been avoided if only the country had developed stronger domestic industry and agriculture sectors, which would have created enough jobs to absorb displaced overseas workers. (end 1/23/0

[LytSlpr]

problem with that mindset is that you have to be ready to let go of a client that gives you more headache than profit, when the employer/client doesn't make you win and results into an unfair win-lose situation favoring them. And bottomline ins that the client/employer doesn't even treat you like they are dealing with you as a business man but rather a subordinate, a statistic

my point and sentiments exactly! in the middle of the scrounging for profit fiasco, the employee may remain professional bu the corporation won't. so the ethical and professional employee will only feel frustrated and upset and some, hung up.

[estor_boot]

Nalzaro: Hiring foreigners
By Bobby Nalzaro
Saksi

I CANNOT understand why Western Wats Philippines, an American call center based in Mepz 2 in Lapu-Lapu City, is recruiting new agents while terminating the services of current employees. In its paid ads, the company is luring would be applicants with attractive salary package.

The company used to employ 1,700 people at its peak since it was established in 2003. The work force has been reduced to almost 300 employees. The firm's Human Resource Department head resigned because she could no longer stomach what the company is doing to its employees.

Company officials claimed those terminated were inefficient and ineffective. But insiders told me the reason why some Filipino employees are being terminated is because the firm is hiring foreigners, especially Korean nationals, as agents to handle Korean clients. Local agents have difficulty handling Korean clients because Koreans do not speak English well.

There's no problem with hiring foreigners, but my source said the Korean nationals hired by Western Wats have no working permits from the Department of Labor and did not pass regular application requirements, like submitting medical records. These Korean employees are also receiving higher salaries and benefits than their Filipino counterparts who are rendering regular eight hours duty.

Is this discrimination? Is Western Wats above the law? Are agencies like the Bureau of Immigration giving the firm special treatment? Can we ask concerned agencies to look into this matter? Sometimes these agencies fail to check the status of our foreign guests here.

Meanwhile, jobseekers, especially those who are not from Cebu, should learn from the experience of some of the former employees of this company. Some of them came to see me crying. They said they relocated their families to Cebu from the provinces when Western Wats hired them. They thought their future was bright there. They were wrong.

Their services were terminated without explanation. When they reported for work one morning, they were just told verbally of the company’s decision. They were not given separation pay and other benefits. Worse, it happened during the Christmas holidays.

While investors are welcome to come to the country, we don't need this kind of cruelty from foreigners.


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb...aro.saksi.html