BPO Culture: Good or bad for Indian youth?

BPO or Business Process Outsourcing has become a common phenomenon in India. Targeting undergraduates and those who are in their late twenties, BPOs are currently one of the major sources of employment for the Indian youth. Even, I started my career as a customer care executive at a reputed BPO for US clients. While working there, I have always felt that BPOs provide a golden opportunity to all those young girls and boys who want to work for financing their future studies. An undergraduate working for a BPO today, earns quite a handsome salary to support his day-to-day expenses as well as studies. I personally know many youngsters who have come from small cities to establish themselves in a metropolitan city. They feel fortunate enough to be able to grab a decent job in a BPO, which allows them to feel financially independent for the time being. They no more need to ask their parents to send them money. But, this is the only positive side of the BPO culture.

Today I am no more working for BPOs. This is primarily because I was working in night shifts, as I had to serve US clients. Today, most of the BPOs are US based as companies there constantly look for an educated human force available at cheap rates. Such an opportunity is readily available in developing countries like India. As a result, most of these BPOs have to work in various odd shifts. In a recent study conducted, it has been established that prolonged night shifts can adversely affect our entire biological cycle resulting in many ailments. So, are we ready to get our young generation entrapped into an unhealthy work schedule? In addition to this, BPOs also bring with them a strong western culture which has made our youngsters accustomed to a lifestyle characterised by fast food, smoking, boozing, branded clothes, expensive gadgets and many more.

There is another crux in the whole matter concerning BPO culture. More and more youngsters are getting attracted to BPO jobs owing to a higher starting salary coupled with various perks and incentives that are not offered in any other industry. As a result, somewhere we are losing a workforce which could have been one of the most productive human resources for India by diverting them into engineering, medical science, economics, and other fields which are crucial for the development of the country.