Caring for calamity-stricken employees

MANILA, Philippines - At the peak of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, thousands of employees living in Metro Manila and northern Luzon were totally cut off from their employers. Regardless of what jobs they have, all were caught in a dilemma of how to survive in the rising flood waters that already reached the second floor of their homes.

Sitel, a leading business processing outsource provider with more than 11,000 employees (or associates) in seven sites in Metro Manila and Baguio City, immediately came to the rescue, mobilizing all its local and global resources to help its calamity-stricken employees .

Deeply concerned about the safety of its employees, Sitel responded quickly by giving financial relief assistance to severely affected associates. It also launched a donation drive—the Power of One and the Sitel Relief Fund, which pool contributions of Sitel associates all over the world, specifically for use in the Philippines. Its global clients also gave and pledged donations of money and relief goods.

To help Sitel employees in their financial needs, the company gave early 13th month payouts. Moreover, it offered work schedule changes to associates who might find the need to work in convenient shifts, housing assistance for those who were displaced or lost their homes, and counseling sessions for those who suffered trauma during the calamity.

In anticipation of the devastation that the typhoons may cause, Sitel was cognizant of the needs of its associates and was prepared for any disasters, whether natural or man-made, to ensure that adequate measures were in place to guarantee continuity of service and to minimize any casualties following a disaster. Although the company continued normal 24/7 operations, Sitel was primarily concerned about the well-being of all its associates and has been proactive in deploying many initiatives even before the typhoons entered the country. Its human resources immediately conducted a blanket call drive, a 24/7 procedure to determine the situation of associates and assess their needs and losses. Fortunately, Sitel’s human resources reported no casualties in every department. Most associates braved the floods just to report to work, reflecting the dedication of Sitel associates towards their work. Other associates even went overtime to show their commitment to the company.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, Sitel employs more than 60,000 associates worldwide with a global footprint that expands across 27 countries and 144+ facilities throughout North America, South America, EMEA, and the Asia Pacific Rim.