Jobless (Part2)

Philippines
September 30, 2012 12:45am CST
I have been away from Mylot for quite some time that I have forgotten that it takes a short amount of time before your discussion has too many reponses making it hard to comment on each one. Well, I read one post that it seemed unusual for hypertension to be a cause or grounds for not being able to work. Yes, if you are already taking in maintenance medication for hypertension and it is controlled, then definitely you can go to work. In my case, my blood pressure was going bonkers and I wasn't on meds so my doctor advised me to stay home and rest before having my blood chem done. It was only after my blood chem that she was able to prescribe meds. I know that the BPO industry sucks the life out dry of its employees. I have worked in a restaurant as a manager for eight years with only one day off but I have never been this sick. The main reason is that I was happy with my job as a manager, and it is ten times stressful that that of my BPO jobs because I have people working under me. Unlike BPO's, I wasn't concerned about numbers produced by my staff. The numbers will follow if you treat your people well. I did spend a great night out with friends last night who were wondering why I wasn't responding to their texts or emails. Happy weekend everybody!
5 responses
nivorn
@nivorn (33)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
I don't understand why the title is jobless yet clearly in your statement you have a job at a BPO? Well, I'm just curious so do answer my question if you are comfortable to do so. Anyway, I agree with you when you said that life working at a BPO sucks the life force out of you. In my personal experience, that's what actually happened. When I worked at a BPO as a call center agent I felt that I was a walking zombie or a vampire. I slept during the day and worked my butt off at night. Sleep to me was a luxury and stress was a daily struggle. Before I knew it, I developed hypertension because of the stress and my BP shoot to 140/100. I couldn't believe it because I was only 23 that time. So to make the long story short, I quit my job and went to pursue another career. Regarding your BP problems, I suggest you do some exercises if it is not an option for you to quit your job. Eat healthy and do regular exercise to keep fit and keep your blood pressure at bay. And do get enough rest if you can. If you are taking medications, take it as the doctor has prescribed. With the type of work you have, the stressful environment and sedentary life you are prone to as a BPO worker, health will be a constant struggle for you. So keep it easy, ok? :-D
anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
So sorry guys. I had an earlier discussion that detailed what happened. But to cut the story short, I was sacked because I was absent for a week because of my hypertension and my doctor advised me to rest. I guess my supervisor doesn't like me because she told me to make sure I get a medical certificate saying that I was "Fit to Work" and when I got it after a few days since I had to get the results of my lab tests she advised me that she or the company can no longer consider my employment. So, in spite of that I am happy with the turn of events because I hated the rush hour traffic, plus the pay isn't that good. I took a job that was way below my skill set and I guess people at the office got scared of me because they know what jobs I handled before. Anyway, I hope this clears some of the confusion.
Angelo Abuda
@aabuda (1722)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
My job is also in the BPO industry but not in the call center side...we are analyzing financial statements and I am happy to say that even though it is stressful, I can say that I am happy on it because I am surrounded by people who supports me and that they don't fail our clients!
anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
Not all BPO jobs suck the life out of you. There are good ones and I am lucky that my first job was one of the good ones that I stayed three years as an agent. I guess no matter what job you have, if you're not happy with the job or the people you work with then it will make the job more stressful than it is. Thanks for your reply.
LetranKnight25
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
Hello anne, I don't get it? are you still in the Call center, or have you left it again? well, we have this family business now that I made sure that i get them to pay every month or so. weekends were fine even though i didn't have that much to do. BPO isn't for every body, but some how i envy those other nursing graduates who gets to have an easy get in the call center, while people like me who spent times in call center trainings had a hard time getting in
anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
Hi LK! Officially I am no longer an employee of that BPO company by tomorrow, the 1st of October. I have never found it hard to get employment in this industry so far. As for the nursing graduates, I don't envy them but rather pity them because these people are forced to work in the BPO industry because the salary of a nurse is insulting considering that the tuition fees and other expenses when you take up nursing costs a lot. I guess it's time for me to be serious with putting up my own business.
yahnee
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
Perhaps it was the stress of the job and the sleepless nights that has caused your hypertension. Did you resign from the job or are you on leave? Having hypertension is not a communicable disease hence it follows that they can't kick you out from the job especially if you have a medical certificate to support your sick leave. However, it is really difficult staying in a job when you are no longer happy with it. From what my friends told me there are call centers in the daytime though not with the same amount of salary. Perhaps, what you need is a change in lifestyle, diet and exercise. Many have indeed succeeded in fighting hypertension even without maintenance.
anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
I do have a medical certificate, but they still kicked me out. It's okay. The job itself isn't that stressful. What got to me is the heavy, rush hour traffic since it is a dayshift account. I don't plan on staying on hypertensive medication, knowing what it has done to my mom (liver cancer). I've been eating healthy and regularly for the past, plus rest. And in fact instead of gaining weight because I am just at home, I have dropped five pounds doing nothing. Thanks for your response.
Raine38
@Raine38 (12257)
• United States
30 Sep 12
I agree on the BPO thing. I worked in one for only about 7 months before I called it quits. It was okay at first, the pay and benefits are good, but when you start working all week with no day off (because you want to finish the job) and will just go home to shower and change (I start sleeping in the office or the hotel right across it), I don't feel too good about my job anymore. And when my health starts deteriorating, I can't feel the good pay anymore. I'm not by all means bad-mouthing the industry, just looking back at my own experience when I was part of it. I do admit I learned a lot especially in dealing with people from different walks of life, and of course I love experiencing working in a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-national environment. But of course, it goes to say that I have never experienced that kind of working in any other industry that I have been in.
anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
30 Sep 12
I don't know why it has become "normal" for people to sleep at the office so as not to miss work. The way I see the industry has become is that you can't have a normal life anymore, especially when you're in an agent position. It does pay well, well some do, but it's not a job I can term as a career. Thanks for responding!