Its beginning to look a lot like Xmas - Call Center style

Oh the weather outside is uhm colder..

At the hint of the first Christmas carol, come the most anticipated and dreaded at the same time Time of Year for us nocturnal professionals.

Pros
1.  13th month pay and all other bonuses
2.  Extravagant Xmas Parties
3.  Christmas Shopping

Con
1. Work on Holidays - Applicable for mostly Inbound Reps (Tech Supports, Customer Service) - Outbounds get better schedules as we follow American Holidays


More than anything, Our culture centers on family - Maybe one of the only few things i love about our culture - It is always imperative to be together especially during holidays.


One TV ad rings to mind, remember when the whole family chose to celebrate outside of their kins office on Christmas day? Never fails to bring me a tear.

In close to 5 years of my experience with Schmetel (you'd only be a fool to think this is not a code name) I have been blessed to work in Cebu, Libis, Makati and Alabang - the initial corners of the the Call Center world, and only being required to work on 1 Christmas in Cebu City.


December 23rd - Cebu - around 8:00 pm

Management Team were deliberating on what to do - to make the Christmas eve better or at the very least bearable for our agents - Sure buffet was ready but every family has their special treats at home - My boss was talking about how the previous year they showered the agents with candies and goodies strike of midnight, some of the agents were teary eyed - Confused I burst into laughter - and then they were all quiet - I replaced the laughter with another sarcastic ''Awww'' , they'd think it'd be tears of joy for candies? What are they 8? Some of these people are spending their first ever Christmas away from home - thats what their tears represent.

So who do you think was appointed to be in charge of the goodies? you guessed it - Me and my jaded little mouth - I ended up buying the best chocolate cupcakes I could find - I figured why not give the agents a little something to remember home -  Sadist was I? I thought it was sweet.

December 24th 11:58 pm

We started handing out the cupcakes - and then candies on the side - Okay so I gave in only because I believe we have to nurture our inner kids.

So it went well - Maybe not as well if they were home - but it didn't feel like my reps were as disappointed - after all its just another day.

In some ways I can relate to OFWs - missing the the holidays and all - how brave they are, and gained more respect for us Call Center employees.

We realize more than in any season why we are here - For our family and it makes more sense and less sadness - For we will endure everything for our family - even if it means missing the holidays.

Anyway its only a matter of hours. Advanced Happy Xmas!

Posted in: Call Center Life,Deo