BPOs urged to allow WFH amid quakes

CEBU, Philippines — Following the tremors experienced in Metro Cebu over the past weeks, the Cebu City Council has urged Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies operating in the city to consider implementing a work-from-home setup for eligible employees.

This came after the council approved a resolution filed by Councilor Joel Garganera, citing the consecutive earthquakes that have caused fear and anxiety among employees working in high-rise office buildings.

“The safety and well-being of employees must always be prioritized, especially during times when natural calamities pose risks to physical and mental health,” said Garganera.

The resolution noted that employees in the BPO industry, particularly those assigned to tall office structures, have expressed growing concern for their safety, which has affected their focus, productivity, and overall work quality.

According to Garganera, most BPO employees already possess the necessary tools, equipment, and conducive home environments suitable for remote work. This, he added, would enable them to maintain operational efficiency and client satisfaction even outside the traditional office setting.

In line with this, Garganera appealed for consideration and flexibility from BPO companies—not to mandate a full work-from-home implementation—but to extend the option to qualified employees who meet the technical and operational requirements for such arrangements.

He also sought consideration for employees who have the proper equipment, stable internet connection, and a conducive home environment, to help reduce the number of individuals inside office buildings. With these measures, Garganera said, risks during evacuations could be minimized and emergency response improved in the event of earthquakes or aftershocks.

“Enabling qualified employees to work from home will also support business continuity, as operations can still proceed safely even when building inspections, aftershocks, or safety advisories temporarily prevent others from reporting onsite,” said Garganera.

Despite the appeal, Garganera acknowledged that not all employees have access to the proper equipment or environment for remote work. Hence, he said, the decision should be left to company management based on operational capacity and individual employee readiness.

The council’s resolution formally requests BPO companies operating in Cebu City to consider allowing eligible employees to work from home during periods of heightened seismic activity or when safety concerns persist, provided that these employees can ensure a stable and secure setup suitable for call center operations.

It can be recalled that Kyle Enero, spokesperson for BIEN Cebu, earlier confirmed that the group had filed formal complaints before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) against at least ten BPO companies.

According to him, these complaints involve “potential violations of labor rights” and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards.

“Kung diin in an emergency situation, instead nga ang mga employees, papaulion, parecoveron, gipugos og pabalik sa ilang mga offices under the premise nga ang mga private companies kuno ang mag decide as what have been instructed by the DOLE,” said Enero.

After the earthquake struck most areas of Cebu, Enero said it was neither fair nor safe for BPO employees, especially since the group also received reports that at least 30 companies had forced workers to return onsite to resume calls. — /FPL (FREEMAN)