Indian IT-BPO Worker-Absenteeism Up Due to Swine Flu Scare

Submitted by jcherian on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 16:00

Local media reports say that there is escalating fear that Indian software professionals commuting to work via cabs and buses could get infected. The IT-BPO firms in Pune have adjusted their attendance policy to enable employees to work from home. Some BPO firms say they are considering acquiring more laptops to facilitate telecommuting.

Approximately 150,000 software professionals work in Pune. Along with that figure, another 100,000 are employed in the IT-enabled and BPO services sector. The mode of transportation to work is cause for concern, since health officials have warned people to stay away from public places. The state of Maharashtra has been hit hard by the swine flu virus.

An employee for IBM told the Business Standard that the attendance levels have dwindled since Monday, August 10. He continued to say that the office administration has made a request to staffers to work from home when feasible. Although the employees from the IT services division need to work directly from workstations located at offices, product department personnel may work from home utilizing laptops.

According to another IBM executive, employees were advised to rest even if just a single family member had a cough, cold or fever. He added that the overall problem has resulted in decreased attendance.

Amdocs is presumably in the process of hiring laptops for workers who are not well equipped to work from their homes. According to one source, there is a distinct possibility that the company may rent laptops so that employees can work from home until the situtation is under control. Another employee with Coreobjects said employees have been instructed to stay home if symptoms are seen. Coreobjects however, has not seen a steep decline in attendance.

Vice Chariman and CEO of Zensar Technologies, Ganesh Natarajan said that the company does not have a 'work from home' system at Zensar. But, if staffers and their family have symptoms that resemble those of swine flu, they are allowed to work from their home. The company has also postponed or cancelled travel plans of employees.