4-day work week possible in BPO industry

He added that some workers prefer a four-day work week because of the poor traffic and commuting situation in Metro Manila, where majority of BPO offices are located. (ShutterStock photo)

MANILA — A four-day work week can be possibly implemented in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, stakeholders from the industry said.

Teleperformance Philippines senior vice president for human capital Jeffrey Johnson said the company is already implementing flexible work arrangements, and adjusting to a compressed work week will not be hard for the firm.

“We’re actually monitoring this, we’re looking at that and we are looking what options we have,” Johnson said Friday, commenting on the compressed work week bill passed in the House of Representatives.

“Currently, we have now flexible work arrangements. We have some employees that are working on four days a week, 12-hour shift, and that’s of course depending upon their availability,” he added.

He added that some workers prefer a four-day work week because of the poor traffic and commuting situation in Metro Manila, where majority of BPO offices are located.

“For the industry, it really depends on our clients, and we’re looking at our clients’ need. So obviously, we will respond what our clients need. Sometimes, clients would have certain days of the week, they have less call volume. It can help us, we can adjust to that,” Johnson added.

“So there’s a lot of opportunities to adjust to that. In terms of that specific bill, we see that is something that we can work around and [it is] something we can evaluate,” he said.

For 27-year old Geraldine Donato, who has been with the industry for seven years now, said she welcomes the new legislation for a compressed work week.

She said an additional two-hour work on her daily job would be like an overtime work.

“Personally, a four-day work week is better since expenses for fare and food would be lesser. With the hassle in commuting — traffic congestion and poor public transport system — workers will welcome this legislation,” she told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Donato’s sentiment was also echoed by another BPO employee, Patrick Legaspi, who has been working in the sector for over a decade.

“Extending work hours during the four days of their work week is something that can’t be felt. Instead being caught in the heavy traffic during rush hours, employees can work on these extra hours to earn additional money,” Legaspi said.

“This scheme can also lessen employees using up their leaves because this time they have three days out of work in a week,” he said, adding this promotes work-life balance in the BPO industry.