Local firms employ innovative means to beat traffic crisis

Many jobs can be performed just as well outside of the work­place with the aid of technolo­gy, such as in the employee’s home, that employers and em­ployees can explore together and agree on to address traf­fic and work-life balance is­sues, said a labor executive.

Mary Grace Riguer, OIC-executive director of the Institute for Labor Studies, an attached agency of the De­partment of Labor and Em­ployment (DOLE), said some employers in the Philippines have begun adopting flexible work arrangements (FWAs), such practices now enabled by technological breakthroughs.

“In the Philippines there are some players already [engag­ing in FWAs] and we noted that some of the industries can en­gage workers in telecommuting,” said Riguer, who recently gave a talk on FWAs in a forum orga­nized by the Employers Con­federation of the Philippines.

Some of these include Met­ro Pacific Investments which implements flexi time and work from home arrangements, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures which has adopted flexi time and ear­lier-shift schedules, she added.

Meralco is now also im­plementing telecommuting, launching its pilot last year and currently planning to ex­pand the coverage of the pro­gram, said Paola Verayo, an HR business partner at the company, in her presenta­tion in the same gathering. Riguer said some fields in the services sector are a partic­ularly good fit for FWAs.

These include industries engaged in medical health, computer and IT, marketing, commu­nications, customer service, sales, administration, educa­tion and training, and finance.

Meanwhile, among jobs or occupations that may adapt well to FWAs are online teaching, customer support, web and soft­ware development, administra­tion, sales and marketing, engi­neering, design and multimedia, mobile development, writing, ac­counting and bookkeeping, net­working, and business services.

As long as the work or some aspects of work will be using technology, it is pos­sible for the employee to be allowed to work from the house or anywhere outside of work premises, said Riguer.

Interest in telecommuting and other forms of flexible work practices is rising amid the ter­rible road congestion in Metro Manila and the growing desire of workers for a more equitable work-life balance.