Telus moves to keep talent

AMID the high attrition rate in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, TELUS International Philippines said it will implement a continuing education program that would enable selected employees a chance to get a college degree. In a briefing on Wednesday, company officials said TELUS will officially unveil on Sunday the so-called “TELUS International University,” wherein an initial 50 employees would be granted subsidized tuition when they enroll in partner universities to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the areas of economics, entrepreneurship, ma-nagement, information technology (IT) and even the humanities.

Jeffrey Puritt, TELUS International president, said that because of the hard times, some of their employees prioritize working over finishing their education.

“One of the unfortunate by-products of the explosion of the [BPO] industry is that more people are forced into the workforce sooner than they want to be,” he said.

Javier Infante, TELUS International Philippines president and chief executive officer (CEO), said about 40 percent of the company’s employees have yet to complete their college education.

Because of this, TELUS will partner with about five reputable Philippine universities, which would conduct classes within the company’s facilities in Cubao, Quezon City and at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Infante said the company would infuse “several millions of pesos” to shoulder about half of the tuition of the program participants, as well as other costs.

He said there would be no bond or contract that will prohibit an employee to quit working at TELUS after he has finished the degree.

But if an employee who has yet to complete the program resigns from TELUS and wants to continue his education, he would have to shoulder the expenses for the remaining semesters, Infante said.

Puritt said the first batch of students, who would go back to school starting November this year, will be chosen based on their tenure and work performance.

Also, they would have to pass the entrance examination of the university they want to enroll in.

Infante said the company expects some of those who would eventually get a college diploma through the program to find opportunities in other firms.

Still, Puritt said this project would create loyalty among beneficiaries, as well as encourage them to do their best at work as they enjoy the incentive.

“Our biggest challenge is keeping and retaining people and making them happy. We can do that by making them feel special,” he said.

He said some of the graduates may be promoted to middle or senior management positions.

Puritt said the local BPO industry lacks quality managers.

“The industry’s hyper-growth forced companies to promote people to management faster than usual . . .
So you end up with some managers who aren’t quite as qualified as you want them to be,” he said.

The company plans to enroll in this program up to a thousand employees in the next three years, as well as extend such assistance to siblings of its employees.

It also aims to offer a similar program for those who want to pursue a master’s degree.

TELUS has about 8,500 agents in its two sites in Ortigas, and in a facility each in Cubao and Market! Market!

Infante said the company is filling up another 800 seats at its Cubao center, and would put up another facility within Metro Manila next year.

He said a provincial site would likely be established by 2012. –BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA REPORTER, Manila Times