Telus International Philippines wins Asia Pacific Stevie Award

MANILA, Philippines - Top call center and outsourcing services provider Telus International Philippines (TIP) outclassed service companies from across Asia to become the only Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company to win a Service Company of the Year award during the recently concluded Asia Pacific Stevie Awards.

Dubbed by the New York Post as “the business world’s own Oscar awards,” the Stevie Awards honor the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and business people worldwide. The Asia Pacific Stevie Awards’ judges include several illustrious names in the Asian business community; prominent and well-respected leaders of business groups and marketing organizations.

 Telus International Philippines’ victory stems from its significant contributions to the community. The company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) philosophy, “We Give Where We Live,” is anchored in the belief that it is both a responsibility and a privilege to give back to the communities where team members lives, work and serve. But what makes its CSR program unique is how the company has embraced CSR as a powerful team member engagement tool, rather than just an occasional photo op.

 “The involvement of team members in philanthropic activities is never mandated — involvement is purely voluntary,” says Rajiv Dhand, acting regional vice president and general manager of operations, TIP. “This is how we know that everyone, from team members to board members, embodies genuine engagement and enthusiasm towards making a difference.”

 TIP prides itself with integrating social responsibility in its operations. The company has its own foundation, the Telus International Philippines Community Board, which provides $100,000 annually in one-time funding for projects in the areas of health and wellness, education and sport, and arts and culture.

The company organizes an annual Telus Day of Giving during which team members volunteer their time to support local community projects such as school renovation, home construction and painting, medical missions, tree planting, lectures on healthy living, and livelihood sessions. TIP also partners with a range of non-profit organizations that share the same ultimate goal of alleviating poverty in the Philippines, and enhancing the health and well-being of children and families. These include Gawad Kalinga, Bantay Bata, Bantay Kalikasan, Hands On Manila and Virlanie Foundation.

 Telus International Philippines also has special programs to support its more than 7,000 team members. The company places emphasis on nurturing individual interests and passions, which is evident in the various special interest groups. Apart from playing a critical role in establishing a healthy sense of unity and camaraderie among the employees, these clubs also magnify the company’s vibrant culture by showcasing the numerous talents of its team members.

 Taking it a step further, the company even has an onsite continuing education program that primarily targets undergraduate team members who are interested in pursuing a diploma in a top university while working. Known as the Telus International University, the program has partnered with some of the best schools in the country such as De La Salle University, University of Asia and the Pacific, Asia Pacific College, STI and Center for Culinary Arts (CCA), offering a well-rounded mix of courses for aspiring students at subsidized costs.

 Telus International Philippines attributes its growing business to the high team engagement afforded because of how it values team members. This was validated by Pulsecheck, an annual, third party-initiated survey that measures the general engagement of a workforce.  In an industry where attrition is the norm, the company has managed to limit attrition to a very minimal percentage, way below the industry average.