Happy New Year to everyone!
Now that's got off my chest here's what I have to say about 2004, it is such a turbulent year or at least to the last part of this year. Not only to the country but to my personal life as well.
I had just quit my job in Manila and had gotten home, adjusting to the fact that I am unemployed. I was in my 2nd month studying caregiver and so far I like the feeling of studying again. I even thought the idea of leaving the country is appealing. So most of the year was spent on studying.
I saw an ad in the local paper about a call center job. Actually, my sister showed it to me and I thought that they are looking for people in Baguio to work for their call center in Manila. But I was wrong, it turns out that they are opening a call center in Baguio. I decided to apply even if I was still studying then. I did and what happened was they put me on active file. That left me really depressed, realizing that I regretted quitting my previous job.
By July 2004 after finishing my competency exam in caregiving, I got a call from that particular call center asking me if I wanted to drop by and take an exam by Monday. After dropping by at the EPZA admin building (the building wasn't completed then), the exam was fine and so was the final interview. By Friday we were already signing our contracts.
So my life as a Technical Support began. The training was fun at first but after that it was real hard work. I contemplated quitting my job a lot of times and I still do because of the way they treat their employees. I know we need money but this is ridiculous.
So I will welcome 2005 answering calls from idiotic customers since we are queing.
What a life.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Sunday, December 26, 2004
miscommunication my ass
For some strange reason the holiday season is not that bad. I had fun with my nieces and renewed my bonds with my friends on the phone (I was only going to be in Manila for a few days and meeting them is not that practical). I developed an attachment to my baby niece named Mary Elizabeth. She is so adorable (especially if she sleeps) even if she is crying she is so cute, and even if she drools she is so wonderful. Funny thing is she shuts up when I carry her. Must be because I look like her mother, who is also my sister.
But this is not about what I did during the holidays but what had happened that ruined my Christmas. I just woke up real late and was not able to go to the early morning mass. That was fine, but while there was chaos in the house, my father handed me my celphone and said that it is my coach/supervisor on the other line.
At first I was happy to hear from him since I thought that the reason he called was to wish me happy holidays. It wasn't. Though he greeted me Merry Christmas and all that, the real reason why he called is because he is asking me to go to work at midnight on the 26th or today. Ok, fine that would be ok but at the same time I would have to report to work at 11 pm on the same time. Double shift my dear. And I just got out from one last week. We already worked for nine straight days so that we'll be able to have a break on Christmas.
But another double schedule on the 26th?! No way! What happened was a miscommunication between agents and our coach. Out of 15 agents 7 of us were absent. I was in Manila for crying out loud! Going home on a Christmas day is possible but difficult since all bus stations are filled with people and all trips are fully-booked.
When I got back home this afternoon and got to work tonight the entire team received a lecture from our coach. Sure he is not mad at the ones who were gone last night but he sure is disappointed in us. He sounded like my mother yapping away about sacrificing his family for us achoo-choo-choo and all that bullshit.
Family comes first, not my job. I didn't want to come to a point that I would have to choose between my family and my job. That's bad.
I have nothing against my coach and I appreciate his concern and the way he cares for our team but what happened afterwards was outrageous.
As punishment, he gave us a 2-day rest day OT leaving us without any restday.
After that I was already thinking on when to resign after he sent me a YM (Yahoo Messenger) saying that I have to work for seven days. Patayan kaya kami. Then later on he sent me another YM saying that he changed his mind and decided to let me and six other agents work one rest day OT by the 28th.
Despite of that, I lost my trust and confidence towards my coach and it just made me angrier.
Miscommunication my ass.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
really, really, pissed off
I am soooooo mad right now. What reason? I just heard my coach saying that we have to render one hour OT. I hate people forcing me to do something that I don't want to do. Overtime is one of them. I mean I will render OT when I want to (which is never) so don't force me.
I used to go for OT, heck I volunteered for a 6-hour OT (that is 12noon to 6pm) and the fun thing about it is that I never got any calls because in the US that's early morning or in Filipino madaling araw. And for that one time I felt normal going to work when the sun is up ang going home when the evening comes.
Unfortunately, when payday came my supposed 6 hours OT has become 3.5 hours, where did the 2.5 hours went? It was fixed eventually but I got traumatized after that. I avoided OT's whenever I can.
But they keep on coming. Sometimes it pays off (my coach makes it a point to do so) but the dread of doing OT is still there.
Yesterday I turned down an OT request from one of the managers on duty. He was pleading already but I said no in a firm and edged voice. Thank goodness he gave up.
OT is a way for one to get promoted but being forced to do one is unreasonable.
In my former job whenever there is a request for OT it is the operations who are turning down agents who want to do overtime because we are too many. In my current job WE are the ones who are turning the management down for overtime.
They better fix their accounting or the resignation rate would go up, up and away!
I used to go for OT, heck I volunteered for a 6-hour OT (that is 12noon to 6pm) and the fun thing about it is that I never got any calls because in the US that's early morning or in Filipino madaling araw. And for that one time I felt normal going to work when the sun is up ang going home when the evening comes.
Unfortunately, when payday came my supposed 6 hours OT has become 3.5 hours, where did the 2.5 hours went? It was fixed eventually but I got traumatized after that. I avoided OT's whenever I can.
But they keep on coming. Sometimes it pays off (my coach makes it a point to do so) but the dread of doing OT is still there.
Yesterday I turned down an OT request from one of the managers on duty. He was pleading already but I said no in a firm and edged voice. Thank goodness he gave up.
OT is a way for one to get promoted but being forced to do one is unreasonable.
In my former job whenever there is a request for OT it is the operations who are turning down agents who want to do overtime because we are too many. In my current job WE are the ones who are turning the management down for overtime.
They better fix their accounting or the resignation rate would go up, up and away!
Monday, December 20, 2004
holiday ramblings...
How many days before Christmas? Almost 4 days right?
As a child I love Christmas and always look forward to it. The decorations at our house may be old but who cares, they're beautiful to me. Then there's the cold air and Baguio has plenty of those chilly breezes that turn my cheeks to a bright red color. There are also the gifts that I can't wait to open on Christmas day and the money I received from my relatives and to my relatives' relatives.
But the best part is...the fact that you have your family and friends around you. The sense of togetherness is there and strong. It makes things more fun. I remember my brother before he was married and the way he goofs around and mother's cousin who makes people laugh with his lively stories about his boyhood or family anecdotes. Even if everyone is sleepy from the night before, there is a certain vitality in the air especially from the children dropping by the house in Malabon to visit our aunts who are their godmothers.
That was then. This is now. I hate Christmas.
Why?
I just got older, that's why.
I don't know how it began but suddenly Christmas is not much of a big deal anymore. Hell, I much prefer New Year. It's much more sacred and the anticipation of the new year is more exciting than waiting for Santa Claus.
People say that the essence of Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Sure that's true though December 25 is a pagan holiday which is the day of the sun. Jesus was born sometime August not December. But hey, it's all Constatine's fault.
The togetherness is gone. My brother who is married and has two daughters left the country 6 years ago and his wife and kids joined him afterwards. It is bleak in Malabon and for me, the children visiting the house is now annoying instead of fun. I spend Christmas day lying on a papag and sleeping. My sister does the same thing.
Hmm, have you ever noticed how our country is going from bad to bad to worse to worse? It climaxed only this December. After the typhoon Yoyong, which left so many people dead, homeless and debating on the total log ban, FPJ died though this is not a big deal to me...hello he's no Mother Theresa or Princess Diana. He's just an action star turned politician (or almost became one), then former House Speaker Jose de Venecia's youngest daughter died on a fire cause by overheating of the Christmas lights in their house. Why is it the I have this feeling that this is karma on his part?
Anyway, we are going out of context here. This is supposed to be a personal issue not the country's.
But I still go to Manila with my family on Chritsmas just like any other routine in my life like waking up from bed, going to the bathroom and going to work.
There was once where I spent Christmas in Baguio and I was alone. And I hate it. This new year I will end up doing the same thing since I am at my blasted job. Customer service...yarghh!
I wonder if I would always be lonely during holidays?
As a child I love Christmas and always look forward to it. The decorations at our house may be old but who cares, they're beautiful to me. Then there's the cold air and Baguio has plenty of those chilly breezes that turn my cheeks to a bright red color. There are also the gifts that I can't wait to open on Christmas day and the money I received from my relatives and to my relatives' relatives.
But the best part is...the fact that you have your family and friends around you. The sense of togetherness is there and strong. It makes things more fun. I remember my brother before he was married and the way he goofs around and mother's cousin who makes people laugh with his lively stories about his boyhood or family anecdotes. Even if everyone is sleepy from the night before, there is a certain vitality in the air especially from the children dropping by the house in Malabon to visit our aunts who are their godmothers.
That was then. This is now. I hate Christmas.
Why?
I just got older, that's why.
I don't know how it began but suddenly Christmas is not much of a big deal anymore. Hell, I much prefer New Year. It's much more sacred and the anticipation of the new year is more exciting than waiting for Santa Claus.
People say that the essence of Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Sure that's true though December 25 is a pagan holiday which is the day of the sun. Jesus was born sometime August not December. But hey, it's all Constatine's fault.
The togetherness is gone. My brother who is married and has two daughters left the country 6 years ago and his wife and kids joined him afterwards. It is bleak in Malabon and for me, the children visiting the house is now annoying instead of fun. I spend Christmas day lying on a papag and sleeping. My sister does the same thing.
Hmm, have you ever noticed how our country is going from bad to bad to worse to worse? It climaxed only this December. After the typhoon Yoyong, which left so many people dead, homeless and debating on the total log ban, FPJ died though this is not a big deal to me...hello he's no Mother Theresa or Princess Diana. He's just an action star turned politician (or almost became one), then former House Speaker Jose de Venecia's youngest daughter died on a fire cause by overheating of the Christmas lights in their house. Why is it the I have this feeling that this is karma on his part?
Anyway, we are going out of context here. This is supposed to be a personal issue not the country's.
But I still go to Manila with my family on Chritsmas just like any other routine in my life like waking up from bed, going to the bathroom and going to work.
There was once where I spent Christmas in Baguio and I was alone. And I hate it. This new year I will end up doing the same thing since I am at my blasted job. Customer service...yarghh!
I wonder if I would always be lonely during holidays?
Thursday, December 16, 2004
to resign or not to resign
Working in a call center is tough and draining physically, mentally, psychologically and emotionally. But somehow I survived.
How much longer would I stay on?
For the past five months I am contemplating if I should stay on with my current job or just stuff a resgination letter in my coach's throat, nah, I'd rather chuck it in the MOD's throat. In Filipino, mabigat na dugo ko sa kanila. They have done three things to me that left me very angry at them.
Why? First, they called me up on my celphone asking if I could report to work at 2 am. That would be fine except that it's my day-off at the same time I was in Manila with a friend. Even if I am at home I wouldn't go to work on my day-off even if their lives depend on it. This is unreasonable already.
Second, I had asthma and called in to report my absence. After that they asked: "Can you report to work?" What the #@%$ is wrong with these people?! The reason why I called in because I CAN'T report to work then they have to ask such a stupid question?! This happened to me twice and I nearly wanted to quit because of that.
The third one was worse, my sister was hospitalized because we had no idea what she was sick of (later we found out it was malaria) and I decided not to go to work because I was at the hospital since 1 in the afternoon and hasn't gotten any sleep (if I did it was only for 4 hrs) plus I don't think I'm in the condition to work with my emotions churning inside me. Hello, my sister was sick for a week and we were taking turns on keeping an eye on her. Plus, there was a typhoon in the country.
So I called and said I am not coming to work. What happened instead was they picked me up from the hospital. Good thing we didn't get ourselves killed along the way.
Now here I am feeling like a martyr and contemplating if I should stay or should I go. One reason I can't leave is the fact that I have nowhere to go after I quit. Jobs are hard to find these days lalo na kung nasa Pilipinas ka or maybe anywhere in the world. The other reasons would be obvious: no money to spend on myself and give to my family, debts would be unpaid (like my sister's), no work and I won't be able to see my crush...ok this is really shallow.
The real reason why I don't want to leave is because I might end up regretting it afterwards. I did with my previous job and I lasted for almost a year (almost 10 months). Wala pang six months in my new job and I am going to leave again. I feel like I don't have a permanent timeframe in one job. Be it three months, ten months, six months...I don't last for a year.
Call centers have very unusual schedules especially customer service-oriented call centers but what my company's scheduling is outrageous! Weekly changes on the schedule is not cute! The schedules I don't mind (just don't give me a 4am-1pm schedule) but the number of times they are changing their schedule is unreasonable not to mention unstable. One thing I can say about my company I am working for is:$@#& you! And don't they dare use the excuse that this is a call center. Bullshit. I know what a call center is because I used to work with one and they don't give this kind of schedule. Maybe it's because it's an outbound center that deals with sales for small businesses so the schedule there is much more stable.
But the hell with that, my question is still unanswered.
Should I stay or should I go?
How much longer would I stay on?
For the past five months I am contemplating if I should stay on with my current job or just stuff a resgination letter in my coach's throat, nah, I'd rather chuck it in the MOD's throat. In Filipino, mabigat na dugo ko sa kanila. They have done three things to me that left me very angry at them.
Why? First, they called me up on my celphone asking if I could report to work at 2 am. That would be fine except that it's my day-off at the same time I was in Manila with a friend. Even if I am at home I wouldn't go to work on my day-off even if their lives depend on it. This is unreasonable already.
Second, I had asthma and called in to report my absence. After that they asked: "Can you report to work?" What the #@%$ is wrong with these people?! The reason why I called in because I CAN'T report to work then they have to ask such a stupid question?! This happened to me twice and I nearly wanted to quit because of that.
The third one was worse, my sister was hospitalized because we had no idea what she was sick of (later we found out it was malaria) and I decided not to go to work because I was at the hospital since 1 in the afternoon and hasn't gotten any sleep (if I did it was only for 4 hrs) plus I don't think I'm in the condition to work with my emotions churning inside me. Hello, my sister was sick for a week and we were taking turns on keeping an eye on her. Plus, there was a typhoon in the country.
So I called and said I am not coming to work. What happened instead was they picked me up from the hospital. Good thing we didn't get ourselves killed along the way.
Now here I am feeling like a martyr and contemplating if I should stay or should I go. One reason I can't leave is the fact that I have nowhere to go after I quit. Jobs are hard to find these days lalo na kung nasa Pilipinas ka or maybe anywhere in the world. The other reasons would be obvious: no money to spend on myself and give to my family, debts would be unpaid (like my sister's), no work and I won't be able to see my crush...ok this is really shallow.
The real reason why I don't want to leave is because I might end up regretting it afterwards. I did with my previous job and I lasted for almost a year (almost 10 months). Wala pang six months in my new job and I am going to leave again. I feel like I don't have a permanent timeframe in one job. Be it three months, ten months, six months...I don't last for a year.
Call centers have very unusual schedules especially customer service-oriented call centers but what my company's scheduling is outrageous! Weekly changes on the schedule is not cute! The schedules I don't mind (just don't give me a 4am-1pm schedule) but the number of times they are changing their schedule is unreasonable not to mention unstable. One thing I can say about my company I am working for is:$@#& you! And don't they dare use the excuse that this is a call center. Bullshit. I know what a call center is because I used to work with one and they don't give this kind of schedule. Maybe it's because it's an outbound center that deals with sales for small businesses so the schedule there is much more stable.
But the hell with that, my question is still unanswered.
Should I stay or should I go?
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