CALL CENTER = CANCER : does the BPO company care?

[omad]

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there are a lot of research that indicate "night shift workers are at high risk for cancer and heart disease". while this is still under research, my question is: are call center workers made aware by their company of this health hazards?

or are they gonna wait until the study is proven for them to do something about it?
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Call Center Workers At An Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer


Noel Colina, the executive director at the Institute for Occupation health and Safety Development says that women who work in night shifts are more prone to develop breast cancer. Citing a study by US-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center, Colina said that a number of women were taking up work in the graveyard shift - usually from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

This type of work usually done at call centers placed them at a high risk for developing breast cancer. "Nighttime sleep deprivation or exposure to light at night somehow interrupts melatonin production, which in turn stimulates the ovaries to kick out extra estrogen, a known hormonal promoter of breast cancer," he said. Colina added that the study had showed that the risk of developing the cancer increased by as much as 60 percent.

Nighttime work may also play havoc with the menstrual cycle. "Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea), absence of menstruation (amenorrhea), and heavy menstruation (menorrhagia) are conditions associated with women taking the graveyard shift," Colina said. "Although the study isn't conclusive, it provides us [with] pointers on how to address and protect the occupational health and safety of working women at call centers."

Call centers must take a note of the study and provide free and regular breast cancer screening for their employees, he added.

source

[omad]

this is in response to the posts from the other thread:
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to cut the story short... it is in our sole responsibilty to keep ourselves healthy all the time if possible. on the statement it used the words "could be" and "if" so that means it is conditional. if you really abusing your body without vitamins or whatsoever... then a 101% masakit jd ka. its just how you take care of yourself that matters.of course your argument that the research: "night shift workers are at high risk for cancer and heart disease" is full of words such as "if", "could be" that led to your conclusion that it's conditional, is just your own opinion. was there anything on that research that says that it's already proven? maybe they called it a "research" for a reason?

the fact still remains that neither one of us is a doctor let alone a member of the distinguished International Agency for Research on Cancer. do you have any background on this field for you to conclude that a "night shift worker would be fine as long as he takes vitamins"?

here's another article posted on WebMD:
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Does Your Job Cause Cancer?

Remember the days when smoking wasn't linked to cancer? At first, it was un-thought (and unheard) of, then it was invariably presumed, then it was proved. Well, get this: graveyard shift work is now considered a "probable" carcinogen. And the proof is already mounting.

This month, the World Health Organization's cancer division will classify shift work as a probable carcinogen - just like anabolic steroids, ultraviolet radiation, and diesel engine exhaust. (Following suit, the American Cancer Society said it would most likely add shift work to its list of "known and probable carcinogens" as well.)

Scary? It think so. In a fast-paced world that demands shift work in numerous industries, millions - billions perhaps - could be affected globally. About 20 percent of the working population in developed countries work night shifts.

WebMD
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International Agency for Research on Cancer
World Health Organization Cancer Division
American Cancer Society

those 3 reputable organizations on this area of Cancer Research have already focused on the study. I don't think that they've come to that decision through a hunch. there must be probable cause for them to focus on such study, don't you think?

why would I believe somebody who is not in any way affiliated with those said cancer research firms and doesn't have any background on this matter?

tell me...

[esprugodoys]

ok here i am... just to let you know sir, im not forcing you neither anyone to believe on what say. im just sharing my own opinion on the topic as what this forum is intended for. right? and for the readers, that includes me of course respect each and everyone view not unless they are taking it as a personal attack on them.
well i dont have any clue why on earth i was tagged as an expert but anyways here's my point of view in this topic. im sensing a little bit of sarcasm on that part. hehe..

first i would like to ask, i assume you already understand much of this research you posted sir. now, if these 3 reputable research centers already established the fact that night shift workers are indeed prone to such illness then why are these companies who demand shift work still exist?

[esprugodoys]

one more thing by the way, to the question "does the BPO company care?" yes they do... even companies who dont demand shift work cares. and do i have to explain further why?

[omad]

first i would like to ask, i assume you already understand much of this research you posted sir. now, if these 3 reputable research centers already established the fact that night shift workers are indeed prone to such illness then why are these companies who demand shift work still exist?these research were not solely intended for the companies who require night shift skeds for their employees BUT for the employees to have sufficient knowledge of what this type of job will do to their bodies in the long run. as long as companies conduct awareness programs for their employees re this subject and would follow the advice of medical organizations then they would still exist.

besides, there are laws against shutting down companies due to health hazards the same way that the sale and consumption of cigarettes weren't banned after knowing its cancerous effect. research are conducted so those people concerned would be adequately warned against such harmful effects thus the warning on cigarette boxes: "smoking is dangerous to your health".

if you've only spent some time reading my replies at the other thread you would have come across this statement:

and I quote: "We feel employees have a right to be informed. Therefore, when this study was published, we provided our shift workers with the study results," says Zimmerman. "We feel each individual should make up their own minds. We have encouraged concerned employees to seek the advice of their medical doctor if they have concerns."

the question is, have you seen results of these studies posted conspicuously in the call center workplace? I suppose you didn't judging by the way you gave the "as long as you take vitamins" comment.

if not, then it shows that these companies don't care. that makes quitting call center jobs an easier decision. but who am I to make that decision right?

[stubburn]

well i guess people who are working in a call center should try talking to their HR regarding this matter. hoping they would take action. but as far as i know there is man annual check up for employees. i went through check ups and all that with my previous employer (a call center firm) to see if i'm still fit to work and if i have this and that disease. and in addition to that they have health benefits if ever you get these illnesses, they can provide medication and prevent whatever disease you have caught while working with them or not. so you see..other companies still care. of course they wouldn't want employess working on their firm and yet they have cancer pala. peace! my own opinion lng ha..

indeed working in a call center has a lot of harmful effects. but i do believe some or a few employers still care.

[esprugodoys]

exactly... call center or dili, every employee mka dawat ug health care premiums which even extends to the family members. and if ingon ani n k bug-at ang research s ani nga klase s trabaho wala n unta shifting nga trabaho karon.

[stubburn]

i agree esprugodoys . i also understand omad's concern regarding this issue. salamat bro for the info. i guess those companies who doesn't give their employees annual check ups to see if they are still fit to work or not should start doing so. peeps, if you can read this thread and if you feel like you're company is not concerned at all about your health, i guess it's about time that you guys should raise this issue to your employers.

[omad]

well i guess people who are working in a call center should try talking to their HR regarding this matter. hoping they would take action. but as far as i know there is man annual check up for employees. i went through check ups and all that with my previous employer (a call center firm) to see if i'm still fit to work and if i have this and that disease. and in addition to that they have health benefits if ever you get these illnesses, they can provide medication and prevent whatever disease you have caught while working with them or not. so you see..other companies still care. of course they wouldn't want employess working on their firm and yet they have cancer pala. peace! my own opinion lng ha..

indeed working in a call center has a lot of harmful effects. but i do believe some or a few employers still care. what would the annual check-up do if only to find out that you would develop cancer in the years to come? having a night shift job means a 60% chance of developing cancer and no annual check-up can prevent that. early stages of cancer is still manageable and cureable if we're living in first world countries ie US, Canada, UK. the fact is, we are in the Philippines and those type of treatments are not that affordable to everybody even if you earn "good money" by working in call centers.

does the health benefits of your company include or shoulder 80% of cancer treatments ie chemotheraphy? or they would just find a way to fire you, which is not that hard since some 2,000 employees have been fired recently for no reason at all.

unless your company vigorously updates itself on this study and asks those cancer research organizations ways to prevent one from developing this disease. what if those research companies would say that the only prevention for now is avoiding night shift jobs?

the reality of it all is that: it would be much safer to play "russian roulette" 'coz you have a much smaller chance of getting killed ( 1/6 or 17%) than developing cancer (60%).

so you'll just continue working night shifts? [br]Posted on: March 05, 2008, 08:09:44 AM_________________________________________________exactly... call center or dili, every employee mka dawat ug health care premiums which even extends to the family members. and if ingon ani n k bug-at ang research s ani nga klase s trabaho wala n unta shifting nga trabaho karon.health care premiums eyy? try to verify from your HR personnel if the premiums involve shouldering let's say 80% of cancer treatments.

the last time I heard, it would cost P500k annually for chemotheraphy.

[esprugodoys]

hmmm.. sound like your underestimating the aid of annual or quarterly medical check ups. just an example noh though dili mn gani related s night shift n trabaho. my grandmother would have had breast CANCER if not with the annual medical checkup that our whole family does. good thing s medical checkup, n prevent ang something catastrophic disease which should have taken the life of my grandmother.

so you see.. makta mna nimo kng ang company wala paninagad s ilang employee. you yourself can tell if your employed already. di mn gani mo shoulder ang company with such amount for chemotheraphy pero with the annual medical checkup n inyong buhaton which is ma shoulder s company's health insurance makatabang n ug prevent ana nga sakit or unsa pa n lain sakit n pwede motapot s atong lawas.