THE Cebu IT-BPM Organization Foundation Inc. (Cib.O) wants more information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) firms to adopt a work-from-home arrangement for the safety of their workers and to help the government contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Cib.O managing director Wilfredo Sa-a said such measure will protect the 170,000-strong workforce employed in the IT-BPM industry of Cebu province.
“Some IT-BPM companies have already existing work-from-home schemes. The thrust right now is to make it more deliberate and expanded,” he said.
But Sa-a said companies need to secure approval first from their clients before they could proceed with the work-from-home arrangement.
Aside from this, Sa-a said they need to guarantee that their employees have reliable, stable and high-speed internet connection at home to avoid work disruption and ensure clients of a stable power supply and data protection.
“They have to request permission from the client to take the work out of the office. And they are working on complying with these requirements right now,” Sa-a said.
Cib.O doesn’t have the exact figures yet of IT-BPM companies that have adopted the work-from-home scheme but Sa-a noted that more are considering the option.
Stella (real name withheld), an asset management specialist, said they already have an existing work-from-home option as part of the business continuity plan.
“We had a smooth transition because we already have laptops. The only issue is that some of us don’t have internet connection at home so some employees helped each other, and let them borrow pocket WiFis,” she said.
She added the company is also in the process of acquiring laptops for those who have no devices.
Roy, a financial planning assistant, who requested anonymity, said they make use of messaging applications to communicate with the clients and conduct virtual meetings.
“We brought our desktops from the office to our homes. If there will be no internet connection, we have to provide it on our own,” he said.
An anti-money laundering compliance officer said their employer is also setting up a virtual private network (VPN) for online security and privacy while they work from home.
“In our division, working from home works well since we’re not critical to the bank’s business operations. Our employer provided us laptops though there’s a little limitation on the systems since we can’t access everything from home. But our IT staff are trying to provide us an access through a VPN connection to fix the issue,” he said.
In Metro Manila, BPM companies and other similar firms have until Friday, March 20, 2020, to transfer equipment to their employers and set up work from home arrangements in compliance with the “enhanced community quarantine” that the Philippine government has implemented since Monday, March 16.