Are BPO Employees' Multiple Identities Leading to Ethical and Psychological Challenges?

Hi all,

...........The multiple identities a section of BPO employees are asked to assume seem to be causing psychological problems for some of them, industry experts say. BPO employees are expected to make appropriate changes to their accent, name and their personality so they are able to converse with a person sitting in Idaho, Texas or Boston. Dr Liam Brown, a medical doctor and now CEO of Integreon, a BPO firm, says, “At an age when you are unsure of yourself, if somebody asks you to don another personality, it may have a long term impact on the psychological makeup of people.” Some of the impact of this corporate sponsored multiple personality may now be manifesting itself at the work place. One of the side effects of this is that a small section of employees may be losing sight of what is ethical beahviour. For instance, stealing corporate databases or information is not seen as a crime by these employees. First it is not something tangible that they are stealing but a list of names and ! numbers, second they can blame it on their office personality for stealing and thus avoid any responsibility of theft.

Source: 12-08-05 The Economic Times New Delhi Edition Compiled by www.naukri.com

:) :) :)

Regards

Namaskar.

Happy to meet you, atomleaf. You have posted a very burning issue. However, in a give-and-take situation, one who has greater control over the resources and less anxiety will have an edge over the other who has less control over resources and more anxiety. Can anything be done? Let us ponder.

Regards.

Hi Atomleaf,

As Dr. Ji said, it's a burning problem these days. Even I have many of my friends and colleagues having these kinds of problems. On ethics, yes, it does affect behavior.

I have heard them say, "We have to smoke because there is so much pressure, so much hard work, and then to stay awake at night, etc., etc., on asking them to avoid smoking."

Dips

Hello,

This is seen among most ITES employees. I think there can be some initiative from the organizations to help employees come out of it. Also, there is a tremendous effect on the physical health of the employees due to the so-called graveyard shifts. As this industry is booming and brings a lot of employment opportunities, these limitations need to be minimized to the extent possible.

Thanks for sharing valid information.

Regards,
Vyshnavi

Hi all,

I also agree with this. It's actually creating the problem of multiple personalities. At times, these guys forget that they are Indians and live in a fool's paradise thinking they are Americans. Even these poor chaps are not at fault; they work all night, sleep in the morning, and rush again at night.

They are paid hefty salaries, which leads them to overspend without realizing the money's importance. Earning 10-14k at the age of 20-21 without further qualifications makes a significant difference.

These guys party a lot; smoking and boasting are part of their life. They talk, dress up, think, and dream as if they are Americans. Something needs to be done to pull them out of this non-existent paradise.

With regards,
Promila

Namaskar Dr. ji,

Something, referring to some kind of counseling or parental guidance, has to be done so that they can come out of this situation.

Regards,
Promila

Namaskar Promila ji,

I am also very much in favor of constructive empowerment. However, the social climate of our time is greatly polluted. What can be done? Could you please review and respond to the following thread on our contemporary social climate: World social forum vs. World economic forum?

Regards

Good afternoon Dr. Ji,

Well, I guess there is no doubt that nowadays the world is polluted in many ways. Environmental pollution can be seen and felt, and we are all working to overcome it by planting trees, using CNG, and following environmental policies. We did this because there was awareness and a need to do so.

Similarly, we can perceive social problems, and we all need to join hands to eradicate them. The West definitely has the best aspects of their culture. Instead of focusing on the negative, we should strive to learn from the good in others.

You have raised the query of the world Social Forum vs. world Economic Forum.

We are all very close to each other and connected through emails, mobiles, etc. However, natural interactions are fading away. We often wear plastic smiles and pretend that we care, but in reality, the level of care is lacking. There are numerous divorces, parents in old age homes, as we tend to prioritize our own comfort. This is partly due to the high salaries we receive and our desire to flaunt them.

Therefore, it is essential that we maintain a balance between the two and develop mutual respect for all, caring for everyone.

Thanks and regards,

Promila