In PH, return to office means facing the same old problems with an inflationary twist

As COVID-19 cases drop and the economy slowly reopens, some companies are starting to require their employees to work onsite. But what does this mean for workers????

Working class struggles??

Miggy owns a car, but surging gas prices force him to take subpar public transport when he goes to his graveyard shift work.??

He gets up at 1:30 am, freshens up, and asks his brother to take him to the nearest MRT station. He then falls in line for almost an hour to ride a cramped train for less than 20 minutes.???

He arrives in Ortigas and walks for 20 minutes to the Rockwell Business Centre area. By doing this for the past four months, he has managed to save more than P250 on cab fares.???

“A full tank for my car eats up a quarter of my salary. It’s easier to drive, but I want to try to save up,” shared Miggy, a full-time BPO worker.??

At the office, he enjoys the company of a friend, Chai, a temporary worker who juggles multiple jobs that deprive her of complete sleep on most days.???

“I wanted to try this setup because this was the only company that promised to pay ‘temps’ more than ?20,000 monthly to work onsite. I took it because prices go up daily, and I must keep up,” she said.??

However, Chai said she would not renew her contract and look for more “flexible” options. Miggy, meanwhile, is uncertain if he’ll get regularized after two months.??

Miggy and Chai, who requested anonymity for this article, are just two of the millions of BPO workers in the Philippines who are facing many challenges as they return to the office for work.??

Inflation worsens RTO woes??

Still fresh off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine economy has experienced a downturn following a global trend of fast-rising inflation.??

The rising prices of gas, primary commodities, essential goods, and public transport fares have forced Filipinos to look for jobs that can provide decent wages.??

And the most high-paying companies in the Philippines are in the BPO space, an industry that employs over a million Filipinos.???

With the country’s travel and work restrictions easing, BPO firms have begun to require employees to return to work onsite despite a study showing that most workers prefer hybrid or work arrangements.??

This is because the Philippines’ Department of Finance ordered IT-BPO companies to follow a hybrid work scheme, where 70% of the workers should be onsite while 30% can work remotely.??

Companies that do not comply with the Finance department’s order risk losing substantial tax incentives and other financial perks.???

The overwhelming sentiment that favours remote work is not unfounded, and here are several factors that explain why:???

Rising prices???????

Surging transport fares take a considerable portion of an average Filipino's already small pay. Even those who own a car struggle to keep up with steep spikes in gas prices.??

Worse, the price of commodities has also risen, adding to the burden on the employees.

Health concerns?????

While many Filipinos are vaccinated, there is still a risk of catching the virus when returning to the office.?????

And while the dominant variants today may result in mild COVID-19 cases, there is no way of knowing if one will be hit with mild, severe, or critical symptoms.???

Long, long lines??????

Poor quality of public transportation, lousy traffic management, and outdated routes have burdened commuters in major Philippine cities.??

Filipino commuters would endure long lines for an hour, then ride an overloaded bus that would get stuck in rush hour for another hour or two.??

Wasted time??????

The long hours spent waiting for the bus or lining up at train stations consume too much time, depriving the workers of quality personal time with their loved ones.??

Instead of having the energy to mingle with friends and family after work, most employees just choose to go straight to bed because of exhaustion.???

Stress and anxiety??????

Repeating the cycle of work every single day, especially in dire return-to-work conditions, results in high stress and anxiety levels.?????

Prolonged exposure to stress and anxiety does not just lower overall productivity. It also cripples the health of employees.??

Employees deserve better???

Make no mistake, the Filipino workers need work, and they want to work. But there should be no question that employees required to return to work deserve better conditions.??

Studies about “The Great Resignation” show that work-life balance is one of the top factors employees consider when staying with their employers.??

While factors affecting work-life balance seem uncontrollable, there are still a lot of things that companies can do to make things better for their people.??

Hybrid work??

Multiple studies worldwide have repeatedly suggested that “hybrid” is the way to go in the post-pandemic business world.??

Allowing employees to have the option to work onsite or remotely on most days of the week would be a welcome relief from all the problems they encounter on the road.??

Flexible schedules??

If an employee’s role wouldn’t require a strict 8-to-5 cycle, companies could always offer flexible schedules that would provide some much-needed space for the people.??

Giving employees some breathing room in their schedule allows the workers to avoid rush hour traffic and ease the stress of working onsite during the pandemic.??

Close to home offices??

Going to work has always been difficult in the Philippines, but having an office near home, if remote work is not possible, eases the burden of commute.??

Some companies are early adopters of multiple office solutions that allow their employees to choose the most convenient site.??

Transpo support??

If remote work is not possible, offering a shuttle service or additional transportation allowance would be very much appreciated, especially now that the pandemic has eclipsed rising inflation.??

Adding transportation perks may cost employers a little more than usual, but it keeps the employees healthy, happy, and productive.???

Better pay and benefits??

Undoubtedly, better pay and an even better benefits package will help employees survive and thrive during these challenging times.??

Comprehensive healthcare benefits covering mental health and multiple dependents can help an employee struggling with pandemic work.??

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Emapta is an Australian-owned offshore staffing company that offers flexible and close-to-home career opportunities through our 14 offices across the Philippines. For over a decade, we have been bridging Filipino professionals to industry-leading businesses around the world without the need to go abroad.??