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Call Center News
BPO Security: New Safety Measures - Times Now
December 28, 2006 :
The Pratibha murder was a wake up call for Bangalore's BPO industry as
most companies had to seriously look into employee security after the
gruesome incident. A year later, we give you a lowdown as to how safe do
BPO employees actually feel ?
The city of Bangalore -- the hub of the IT and the BPO industry -- has
number of employees working at odd hours, which has raised concerns of
employee security and their safe passage home especailly in the light of
increased crime in the city. A year after the gruesome murder of BPO
employee -- Pratibha Srikanthmurthy -- the safety of employees is still
a cause of worry for the IT industry in Bangalore.
When questioned on the kind of safety measure that is being undertaken
post the incident, Venkat Kedlaya, MD, Convergent Communications said:
"The industry has become sensitized, but its hard as everyone has their
own contractor, their own vehicles, they also drive rashly on the roads.
But we still have not acted enough."
Pratibha's death forced most companies to take strignent measures to
ensure safer travel for women employees. According to the new
guidelines:-
-- No woman employee would be picked up first or dropped off last.
-- In case of an emergency, a security guard was to accompany the
employee.
-- All employees were to be provided a Door- to-Door pick up and drop.
-- Tinted windows are not allowed in the cars.
-- Employees were encouraged to take self defense classes.
-- All drivers had to clear background checks.
-- GPRS systems were installed in all cars and emergency hotline numbers
were set up.
The measures not withstanding, the important question is how safe does
the average female employee really feel now?
When questioned, one of the BPO employee working night shift said:" The
issue got hyped for a few days after her death, however, subsequently,
everyone forgot about it. I also work in BPO, for few days, we saw lot
of police and security measures, however, things are now back to square
one."
Another employee reiterated:"It is frustrating as a Bangalorean that
safety of women is not considered important by the companies. BPO
workers are not safe and with so many murders and muggings, I really
feel bad."
Pratibha's murder was a wake up call for the entire IT and BPO industry
to pull up its socks when it came to employee safety, however, experts
and employees still feel that a lot more action needs to be taken to
create an integrated system for the entire industry so that women
workers are no longer nervous about night shifts.
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