It’s halfway through 2022, and the COVID restrictions in the Philippines remain relaxed, with Metro Manila under Alert Level 1 for almost four months now. More than two years ago, no one knew that remote working would become an option for corporate workers.
Since April 2022, companies are starting to open their offices, and workers are being asked to report on site. This is after the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) urged companies registered with the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) to comply and return to economic zones or lose tax incentives from the government. The industry most affected by this move is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), the largest industry in the private sector. With BPO companies thriving during the pandemic, the number of employees has significantly increased, with most working from home. It is challenging to suddenly require hundreds of thousands of employees immediately and simultaneously.
Despite the loss of tax perks, some companies have pushed for a 70-30 ratio hybrid work setup. 70% of its employees are on-site, while 30% are allowed to work remotely. This move by many organisations is to keep employees safe and happy and avoid mass resignation.
With companies moving to accommodate employees’ work demands, it is definite that remote work will remain a standard practice in some businesses even after the pandemic. Most of the workforce today are digital nomads; thus, the demand for a more flexible and innovative approach to working should be considered for a positive employee experience.
Is remote work a long-term business solution?
Despite most companies already back in their offices, the popularity of remote work has not decreased since the start of the pandemic. However, the most crucial question we should be asking is, “Will remote working still be possible in the long run? Is it a long-term business solution in the Philippines?” Sadly, workforce analysts say no.
The following are some reasons why companies may still need to return to their offices eventually:
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Isolation Burnout
While Filipinos have significantly benefited from working from home, most have experienced burnout within 8 months of the pandemic from continuous calls and video conferencing to compensate for being away from the office.Studies have also found that around 59% of those forced to work from home have taken more overtime than they did pre-pandemic because they fear being laid off from the company. Add this to the pressure of multitasking between work and doing house chores, especially for those with children.
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Connectivity Issues
One crucial aspect of working from home is to have a good internet connection, yet this remains a problem for remote workers all around the country.Despite the fact that the Philippines has been known as the country with the most time spent on social media per day, we are still dubbed as the country with the slowest internet speed in the Asia Pacific. Philippine fixed broadband speed ranks 63rd out of 178 countries, while speed in mobile ranks 89th out of 138 countries.
Because of this, remote workers continuously have difficulty catching up with the demands of remote working. We constantly encounter internet connection complaints around social media, which has intensified after most of the workforce was forced to stay at home.
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Cost of Internet Connection
Because of the unprecedented problem that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the business world, we found ourselves unsure of what will happen to our jobs. Our employers have come up with the best solution: to bring home our work. This meant company equipment being delivered to our homes to continue our work. Setting up our home office—buying our own work table and office chair.An overlooked factor, but an important one, is having an internet connection at home. After the March 2020 lockdown implementation, there was a surge in fixed broadband subscriptions within the next three months. Revenue has also increased according to the top telco companies in the country.
One crucial question we should ask is: Who should pay for the internet? The employee or the employer?
In a statement by Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas, 4 out of 5 employees working from home have been paying for their broadband and internet fees. Despite no law requiring businesses to provide subsidies for their employee’s internet subscriptions, companies are still encouraged to provide their employees internet allowances. This comes from the fact that employers can save on operational costs from not working in the office.
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Philippines work culture
Filipinos love face-to-face social interactions. We enjoy gatherings, and we don’t like missing out. Most working classes have felt isolated during the extended quarantine, so many employees are eager to be back in the office.People have craved physical connections; some are willing to return to the offices and shared spaces where they can interact and connect with peers and workmates.
Some companies offer a hybrid work setup to compensate for employees who still wish to keep on working remotely. Depending on the companies’ terms, hybrid work setup varies from weekly alternating from office to home, daily alternating, remote working a few days a month, and more.
Companies like SUDOSTAFFING are still fully remote and perfect for those not yet ready to return to the office because of the ongoing presence of COVID-19 in the country. The jobs offered are fully computer-related and cater to Australian clients.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us what seems impossible is possible. Although it is still a debate whether remote work will stay or not, what is sure is that work-from-home arrangements will not be for all companies. It will definitely depend on what industry you are in.
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