CALL CENTER = CANCER : does the BPO company care?

[omad]

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hmmmmm.... is this thread really intended for "sharing" of opinions or is this somewhat like a "campaign" already?
just like to ask though.. because of these lines and lines about cancer in working night shift you are bombarding in this thread you sound like you are ready to conduct seminars on each CC company. and lastly, why are using this research thing against BPO's night shift work when there already night shift work that existed long before the BPO industies did when you have no personal vendetta against BPO?
dili r mn cguro BPO ang naa night shift work dba? it is a sharing of opinion for me. it is a raising of awareness. it is also a campaign, a campaign for BPOs to break this news firsthand to their employees. if you have read these research sometime ago and just disregarded it, it's ok.

like what I said: your body, your decision. your life, your move.

but is it also fair to let the rest of the 99% call center population to at least know this research? uhh duhh what do you think? and it would be a lot better if the news came from the BPO company themselves, a whole lot better. if all the 99% or the rest of CC workers knows about it and maybe 10% of them quit their jobs and move on to daytime jobs then it's ok. at least there is the 10% who've made a decision.

but if these 99% are not aware of this study, then do you think it would be fair for them not knowing the consequences of working night shifts? after all, EVERYONE of those in the category should have the right to know. wouldn't you? and when I say everyone, that includes nurses and other medical profession, factory workers, laborers and all the rest who do night time jobs.

talking about night time jobs other than BPOs already existing, yes it's true. but if you base it on the research, it's not so long ago that they focused on the relationship of acquiring cancer and doing night time jobs. check the dates and you'll see when the first study was conducted. you see, studies come up when doctors or scientists can see a trend. research would then be conducted when there is cause for their suspicion. this is why they started all of this.

it just so happen that BPOs in our country employs thousands upon thousands of workers and the bulk of them, maybe 70%, works the graveyard shift day in and day out. it was in one of the studies that working the night shift 3 days in a week is dangerous, how much more if it's 5 days in a week, every single week and so on and so forth... how do you think that would add up? [br]Posted on: March 06, 2008, 02:26:30 AM_________________________________________________like what Metz posted... naa p lain job nga nag demand ug night shift work which are more stressful than in the BPO.
and if you were to own a BPO industry lets say for example, your company has thousands of employees working in the night shift, are you going to educate them those information, provide booklets, posters or whatever means of medium that can be used to spread the news about this research? can you imagine what would be the effect of that?

its not just you who is aware about this health concern, not just us employees in this afformentioned company, but also those who are managing these BPO industries here.. if I were the owner of one of the BPOs, first thing I'd do is contact those three Cancer Research companies and ask for opinions on how to prevent the development of cancer in my workplace. next, I'd ask them copies of leaflets, handbooks and posters that focuses on prevention. these big companies would gladly mail those information materials without any costs to those asking for them.

third and the most important one: by sharing these research and studies to my employees firsthand, I would be looked upon by them as somebody who really cares. somebody who doesn't think about profit as more important than the welfare of his employees. knowing that there is a high chance of developing cancer in this type of business I'm in, no healthcare, medicaid, or any work compensation is more important than the welfare of my employees.

think about this for a second, for every employee, there is probably four or five of them at his home that relies on him financially. his wife, his brother or sister, his parents and most importantly his kids. no single human being can sleep at night knowing one person died because he worked the night shift at your company. think about ten or a hundred of your current or previous employees dying because of cancer, think about their families. think about all those people he or she left behind. the sad thing is, I could have prevented it. I could have saved one life or maybe a hundred.

what's worse, I knew about these research but I didn't care to let every single one of my employees know about it. it's different when you told them about this research and they stayed and continued working compared to those who don't even have a clue, any inkling of what's ahead of them in this type of career. that would be UNFAIR!!!!

everybody has a right to live to a ripe old age, do you agree?

but I'm not the same as the other BPO owners. go figure.[br]Posted on: March 06, 2008, 03:10:55 AM_________________________________________________This is supposed to be a warning or some sort of information, a very important and alarming information. I find it quite funny that some people would rather believe their own judgment than results of very, very credible research institutions.

Don't take this lightly, especially for those who are working at CCs, this is something that might save your lives in the long run.. and even your pockets.TRUE. it is just that, a simple information but a very important one.

and I don't have anything to gain by posting this.

I can change the title to "NIGHT SHIFT JOBS Health Hazards" if you want me to but would it lessen the risks of acquiring cancer in Call Center employees if I do that? that would just serve as a lip service. I think that would only create a false sense of security and would lead to complacency.

once again: your lives, your decision. [br]Posted on: March 06, 2008, 03:47:38 AM_________________________________________________good news!!
Meanwhile, scientists are trying to come up with ways to reduce night workers' cancer risk. And some companies are experimenting with different lighting, seeking a type that doesn't affect melatonin production.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...bcancer29.html

you might think that people working in CCs posting here in this thread are against you. what you posted was very helpful insights but at the same time scary. hehe.. imagine..all you posted was effects and all that. wa man lng how to prevent or lessen or whatsoever..except for the "thought" na resign nlng ug CC pra d mgka cancer. hehe..my own thoughts lng.. peace bro! the question is, did your company start this different lighting experiment?

but first things first, did they acknowledge that these research is important for their employees to know about? or maybe they'll just wait until one agent falls sick and the diagnosis would be a tumor. then another one and another... breast cancer on this one... prostate on the other one and so on and so forth... and the list goes on and on with no abatement in sight.

and finally a lawsuit... just like the Tobacco lawsuit that took about 50 years to settle.

but would monetary judgement help those who are already terminally ill with 3rd or 4th degree cancer?

I would post the preventions next time but please don't blame me if it won't work ok? see, those same scientists who are on this research are still on the experimental stage. I'd gladly put important information on "ways to reduce night worker's cancer risk" but that would come with a waiver stating I just copied it from one of the prestigious cancer research firm's website and they're still experimenting on it ok?

please don't blame me if the scientists suggestion don't work. please be advised that by following their "not so sure" advice/experiments you won't include me in the lawsuit.

I am just the messenger here, please remember that.

is that clear?

[stubburn]

hahahahahahaha...OMG! this is getting crazy! goodness...uugghhhmmm, ok ok ok! whatever you say.. hehehe..so, you're only quoting on that? grabha nmo ka negative jd oi..are you really like that? i actually did a little researching hoping to brighten up this thread a bit..but seems lke you really wanna keep it your way. negative! geez..hehe..oh well i'll just go get some dark night sleep. and oh..no stupid person will blame you! i think.

my own thoughts..people will die whether they like it or not! we will die whether we have cancer or none, whether we are working in a call center or not! everybody's candle will burn out someday..

FYI: call center people are trying to work hard for their families. because that's the only job that gives a high salary and doesn't even require graduates. this kind of job helped out a lot of people. now if these people die..i don't think it's your fault. don't go posting "don't blame me blah blah blah...i'm just a messenger" yeah we got your point! look here..if you're really that concerned..write to the government or to the president of the Phils and say what you have to say. give them all the links that you have there..or write to newspaper companies and let them spread the word. now if something good or "positive" happens we might thank you and even bow down for the great help that you did for those people working in a call center.

[omad]

hahahahahahaha...OMG! this is getting crazy! goodness...uugghhhmmm, ok ok ok! whatever you say.. hehehe..so, you're only quoting on that? grabha nmo ka negative jd oi..are you really like that? i actually did a little researching hoping to brighten up this thread a bit..but seems lke you really wanna keep it your way. negative! geez..hehe..oh well i'll just go get some dark night sleep. and oh..no stupid person will blame you! i think.

sorry for my being too serious about this issue, it needs the same amount of seriousness to get my point across. I don't want to laugh or anything because by doing that, my point might be misconstrued and I don't want that either. so now that our pleasantries are done and over with let's continue this discussion.

first let's try to focus on the issue: "night shift workers are at high risk for cancer and heart disease"
second issue: "scientists are trying to come up with ways to reduce night workers' cancer risk. And some companies are experimenting with different lighting, seeking a type that doesn't affect melatonin production."

so with both factors given, what would be the next step to take? a decision to follow unproven experimentation for reduction and prevention of cancer development OR start looking for another job, a day time one.


my own thoughts..people will die whether they like it or not! we will die whether we have cancer or none, whether we are working in a call center or not! everybody's candle will burn out someday..

of course that's a fact. that's one of the constant things in this world, "Death and Taxes".

but if you have a choice, which this study is affording you: death at the age of 35 or death at a ripe old age of 60? but it would be selfish if you would take the first option, what about your son? your daughter? your husband? don't they have a choice in all of this?

that's what I've been saying all along.

[omad]

FYI: call center people are trying to work hard for their families. because that's the only job that gives a high salary and doesn't even require graduates. this kind of job helped out a lot of people. now if these people die..i don't think it's your fault. don't go posting "don't blame me blah blah blah...i'm just a messenger" yeah we got your point! look here..if you're really that concerned..write to the government or to the president of the Phils and say what you have to say. give them all the links that you have there..or write to newspaper companies and let them spread the word. now if something good or "positive" happens we might thank you and even bow down for the great help that you did for those people working in a call center.

I never questioned the effort, never questioned the sincerity, the love for work of those in that field. I know it's one of the best jobs there is in the Philippines right now. but would you sacrifice your life for the NOW? what about your future? your families'? why don't you apply for another job and wait until there is another job that will come in the years to come? a job which is as high paying or much better than what you're earning right now but without the threat of acquiring cancer? at least you're still alive and healthy when that time comes.

what if you already have cancer when that time comes?

BTW, it's no longer my job to write congress, write the president, write to newspaper companies to let them spread the word. I already did my part here.

information dissemination to those who are directly involved with the risks is more important to me. I don't want my 15 minutes of fame. as long as some call center employees read this and do their research, my job is done.

[vladmire]

this doesnt really bothers me w/ the right food and exercise, illnesses such as cancer can be avoided even if you have a shitty schedule. but this is already a good warning for those peeps who work to any kind of job. every job has its own risks.

[omad]

this doesnt really bothers me w/ the right food and exercise, illnesses such as cancer can be avoided even if you have a shitty schedule. but this is already a good warning for those peeps who work to any kind of job. every job has its own risks. TRUE. every work has its own risks, nobody is arguing with that fact and I already made it clear a couple of times already. yes, you can take vitamins, eat the right food and exercise. but one thing still remains the same, you are working the night shift and according to the study, you are at a higher risk of developing cancer.

here's a video about that research:

Graveyard shift linked to cancer risk

[b|tcH_g0dd3sS]

First of all, let's not shoot the messenger.

Second, After working in the call center industry for several years now, I understand why some people 'seem' to shoot it down. But maybe, they're not really meaning that. So i did some more thinking (exercise the brain a little bit coz i don't want to become a NO-Brains Call Center Employee), and realized that the 'newness' of the industry accounts for its 'spotlight'.

In answer, if the call center industry = graveyard shift work is hazardous to our health, why do people still want to work in these industries? Simple, They Don't Have A Choice. In an ideal Philippines, we all work in the industries we studied for.

Does the BPO Industry Care? I want to think yes, or else they wouldn't have provided HMOs for their employees. How many non BPO Industry companies who have graveyard shifts do this?

A line from the articles mentioned previously : "Light shuts down melatonin production, so people working in artificial light at night may have lower melatonin levels."

- what about those people who can't sleep with the lights off? they sleep with the lights on so they're equally exposed?

Another line: "Sleep deprivation may be another factor in cancer risk. "

- there are people who are insomniac.

ahhh, finally this is what he said: "Anyone whose light and dark schedule is often disrupted — including frequent long-haul travelers or insomniacs — could theoretically face the same increased cancer risk, Stevens said.

well, we can try what he suggested: "He advises workers to sleep in a darkened room once they get off work. "The balance between light and dark is very important for your body. Just get a dark night's sleep."

All in all, this is a good thread, let's just keep our cool and keep it objective.

Karma for Omad and stubburn

[omad]

here's some advices by posters of Britannica Blog on what to do about this:

__________________________________________________ _________________________________________
Richard L. Hansler Ph.D. Says:
December 14th, 2007 at 1:03 pm

Fortunately there is something can be done about this. In 2001 it was found it is principally blue light that causes melatonin suppression. Glasses that block blue light and light bulbs that don’t make it are available on a website www.lowbluelights.com. By using them a few hours before bedtime the long flow of melatonin we enjoyed before we had electric lights may be obtained.
__________________________________________________ _________________________________________

again, I don't know if this is effective or reliable.

[r0mm3L]

i was a former IT staff in a call center

i quit. must look for normal working hours hehe

[omad]

In answer, if the call center industry = graveyard shift work is hazardous to our health, why do people still want to work in these industries? Simple, They Don't Have A Choice. In an ideal Philippines, we all work in the industries we studied for.

^it may very well be that, granting that they already knew about this study in the first place. but how about those who have never stumbled upon this news? knowing about it but doing nothing AND completely not knowing about the study are two different cats.


Does the BPO Industry Care? I want to think yes, or else they wouldn't have provided HMOs for their employees. How many non BPO Industry companies who have graveyard shifts do this?

yes, there are a lot of companies who have 24/7 / 3 shifts per day schedules ie SMB, Coca Cola, Pepsi and most companies over at MEPZ. but that is beside the point, which is, has the BPOs started the awareness campaign for it's employees to let them know about the study and thereby letting them decide on what to do with their careers? that's the main point of reference of this topic.


- what about those people who can't sleep with the lights off? they sleep with the lights on so they're equally exposed?

that's another story but it should also be looked upon by scientists with the same utmost importance.