The Philippines has become one of the most popular destinations for foreign companies seeking new talent. Filipino workers account for 15% of the global BPO industry and is expected to grow, making the country an enticing option to fulfill hiring needs.
However, while companies are excited about the prospects of working with Filipinos, there are concerns about what to expect.
In this article, we demystify some common misconceptions about working with Filipinos.
Myth No. 1: Filipino Workers Can’t Adapt To Different Cultures
The first myth that employers encounter when hiring Filipinos is that the latter are not able to adapt to a foreign client’s culture. The myth mostly stems from the notion that being from a developing country, most Filipinos have not yet been exposed to different cultures.
There is also the matter that Filipino culture can be vastly different from other cultures. This can be noticeable even when compared with countries like the US, which the Philippines already has a strong tie to.
This myth has led to concerns about how well Filipino outsourced staff jive with their foreign teammates. Companies are worried that this might create barriers between the company and the outsourced remote teams.
But is it the case?
The Reality
As it turns out, Filipinos are more adaptable to different cultures than one may think. The 2.3 million overseas Filipino workers in over a hundred countries are already a testament to this. Filipinos have thrived in each country they settled in, embracing their respective cultures.
The same is also true with Filipinos working as outsourced remote team members in the Philippines. These outsourced team members contribute to the success of different companies from different countries and cultures. This is proof that Filipinos can adapt to various work cultures and customs.
This ability to adapt to different cultures can be traced in the country’s history.
The Philippines has been a colony of Spain and the United States for a long time. As such, it has embraced a lot of Western work practices.
On the other hand, the country also has a long history of interaction with countries in Asia, including China, Japan, and the nations in the Middle East. This has created a unique mix of East and West and enabled Filipino outsourced workers to better fit with international clients.
Myth No. 2: Hiring Filipino Workers Is Just About Getting Cheap Labor
This is another long-standing myth surrounding outsourced work. However, it has become particularly attached to Filipinos mainly due to their strong presence in the outsourcing scene.
So, where does this come from? The notion can be traced back to the idea that Filipinos are more than willing to accept low-wage jobs to make ends meet.
On the other hand, this myth also perpetuates the idea that companies only get low-quality workers when outsourcing to the Philippines. This hinders companies from hiring outsourced staff from the country due to worries about getting good workers who can produce excellent output.
The Reality
In reality, the Philippines has one of the richest talent pools in the outsourcing field. With over 500,000 business-ready college graduates yearly, companies have plenty of fresh talents they can hone. The outsourcing industry, in particular, employs over 1.57 million Filipinos. .
And these are by no means low-level positions. There is a sizable section of the Philippine outsourced workforce employed in technical sectors like engineering and healthcare. This highlights a diverse set of talents companies can tap.
Understanding Pay Differences
Companies also need to look into the reasons behind the pay differences, particularly between Western countries and the Philippines. The main one is the difference in the cost of living.
In the case of the United States, for instance, the cost of living is 124% higher than in the Philippines. This means that even a lower salary in the US would be enough to meet Filipino workers’ needs as long as they are within the Philippines’ cost of living.
However, that doesn’t mean companies are free to lowball Filipino workers.
Myth no. 3: Filipinos Accept Only Service-Oriented Jobs
The presence of OFWs has also created another persistent myth around Filipino workers: That they take only service-oriented jobs. The most common stereotype is of them as domestic help, call center agents, nurses, or other blue-collar jobs.
This is not without merit, as these service jobs comprise a large section of the country’s labor force. Domestic workers alone make up about 25% of the total number of OFWs. Meanwhile, there are 240,000 Filipino nurses around the globe.
While this is no issue in its own right, the myth can create the wrong impression among companies that there is not a lot of diversity in the country’s talent pool. Thus, they would pass on to other countries.
The Reality
As with any other national workforce, the reality of the situation is a lot different than what those stereotypes indicate. In the case of outsourcing, it is not just about call center agents.
According to the latest statistics, the most common jobs outsourced to the Philippines are:
- Customer service
- Web development and design
- Human resources
- Finance and Accounting
- Graphic design
- Content creation
The diversity of these industries demonstrates Filipino workers’ adaptability to different job categories. These industries are also very technical, highlighting the capabilities of those hired in these positions.
Myth No. 4: Filipino Workers Are Not Professionals
The last myth about Filipino workers is an interesting one, as it is more rooted in culture. Here, the notion that Filipinos are unprofessional stems from different factors.
The first one of these factors is the notion that Filipinos are too laid back. This can be traced to the difference between Filipino work culture and the West. For instance, Filipinos typically celebrate more holidays and this can come across as them taking more breaks.
Additionally, Filipinos love to participate in small talk with colleagues. For some employers, this can come as a disruption in the workflow. As such, they may view the practice negatively.
Another reason why Filipinos may seem unprofessional is the impression that they are unmotivated. This comes from the observation that they tend to follow the floor most of the time.
The Reality
The biggest thing that dispels this myth is the success of the OFW and outsourcing scenes. And as seen above, these successes extend throughout all industries, highlighting the professionalism of Filipinos.
Contributing to that success is the willingness of Filipino workers to go the extra mile to help customers and their colleagues. This is coveted by employers around the world, as it lets them deliver great services to clients.
Dispel The Myths And Discover Great Filipino Talents
While these myths don’t hamper the success of the Filipino workforce, they can affect employer perception. This can lead them to miss out on great talent.
Virtua Solutions is here to help companies find the truth behind these myths. With our years of experience hiring and deploying Filipino outsourced agents, we know well what they have to offer to companies.
Break the myths and discover great Filipino talents for your business.
We are ready to help you out.