Due to nature of work especially at night shift, the BPO employees finding it difficult to commute alone during wee hours alongwith a driver. Such incidents can be averted if the employees use mass transport system. Otherwise, the companies need to provide luxury mini buses or tempo travelers so that their safety can better ensure. The cost of transportation on individual employees can also be saved. It is not practical to employ security personnel in a car and again it leads to more problems. It will create more insecurity among women employee who is traveling alone with 2 unknown men. On the other hand, it will ensure not only safety and security of the women employee, but this ride is lots of advantage like mingle and know each other. Other solution is to allow male employees to travel with women employee. The above services should not be women specific. The male employees also facing various threats which needs to be addressed to before such an untoward happened. A background check needed for both employee as well as driver, whether it is a cab driver or tempo travelers. Strict discipline should follow by driver by wearing uniform, displaying their badges and other necessary information, companys they represent for, their mobile No. and residence No., easy and immediate access to vehicle owner etc. Speed governance should be provided on this vehicle and only well experienced driver with good behaviour and a good track record should be employed. The BPO employees should provide 3 days training to the drivers regarding road safety, keeping basic discipline while driving, some dos and dont, avoid loose talk with employees etc. and certificate should be obtained from the BPO centre in tie up with elite traffic police dept. for attending such a training camp. A nominal fee of Rs.500/- can be charged. This will improve their servitude towards the employee. A new dress code should be put in place for all BPO employees. Wearing Jens and tee shirts, shorts and other seductive dresses should be discouraged especially on duty and traveling. BPO employers collectively need to start a 4 digit toll free helpline No. especially for BPO employees to ask for emergency help, so that they can immediately contact police/ employer/ appropriate authorities as and when required.
The growing use of drugs and alcoholic elements are the major challenges in the BPO industry. It also affect the health as well as the safety of the employees, which also need to be addressed to through counseling and other in-house method.
The BPO sector need not press the panic button for one or two incidents, instead they need adopt immediately above stated manner and methods for the safety and security of BPO employees. BPO sectors take collective decision on this issue so that such incidents can be averted. It is just a wake up call. Act now.