Safety of employees in BPO operations

India is the hub for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operations for many multinational companies. BPO means the transmission of processes along with the associated operational activities and responsibilities, to a third party with at least a guaranteed equal service level and where the client contains a firm grip over the (activities of the) vendor for mutual long term success. BPO is positively related to the search for more efficient organizational designs: cost reduction, productivity growth and innovative capabilities.

The BPO companies work round the clock and generally, youngsters work round the clock to carryout the jobs in India. The timings in these offices are very odd and often one has to work during night times for days together without any break. The biorhythm of the body is disturbed in the workers and the body does not get enough rest during day time. The salaries paid for the staff in these offices is quite high as compared to other industries for the persons with similar qualification. It is observed that the age group of the staff members is early twenties, they are fashionable and the male and female staff members get close due to the longer periods of each other’s company during odd hours of working. The staff members are also victims of psychological problems and are spendthrifts. It reported that alcohols and drugs are common in frequent parties or outings indulged by the employees. However, the BPO operations provide employment opportunities to the young adults and are fast acquiring the status of industry.

In media, it is often reported that suicides, rapes and murders are common in the BPO industry. Often, the victims are young girls and incidents occur during transportation to and from the work place. The vehicles/drivers for transportation of the employees are being outsourced. Though there are restrictions and guidelines for the safety of the female nightshift employees, the incidents still occur periodically and given wide publicity by the media.

It is now well understood that the employer is responsible for the safety of the employees even during their transportation to and from the workplace. Female security person accompany female employees in vehicles ferrying young night-shift employees. The employer should ensure that the security guidelines such as: the driver doesn’t report drunk for duty, verification of driver’s character by the police, etc are followed strictly.

Some of the demands by the enraged public at large include: no night shift for female employees, female driver for transporting female staff members, use of the company’s driver for the transportation, dress code for the night-shift female employees, etc.