LOVE OF LABOR: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY OF UNPAID OVERTIME EXPERIENCED BY BPO EMPLOYEES

Abstract

The present study investigated the unpaid overtime experienced by BPO rank-and-file employees and its effect on their career growth, well-being, and labor earnings. How unpaid overtime affects the morale and productivity of employees, and how responsive the organization's policies are to their needs.  The researchers have used a phenomenological approach to achieve the study's objectives of identifying the causes and effects of the pressing issues of unpaid overtime experienced by workers. Additionally, the researchers used key informant interviews and focus group discussions in gathering the data among the participants by using an unstructured interview questionnaire to collect information and responses based on their experience with the guide questions. As such, the study found that unpaid overtime detrimentally affects the overall productivity and morale of the employees concerning their work quality in performing their job; unpaid overtime has no direct correlation with career growth; however, it has significantly affected their labor earnings and affects the well-being of the employee, numerous labor violations have been discussed and identified including miscalculation of overtime pay or salary disputes, intimidation from superior to work forcefully with overtime, and decreasing the original incentives to be received to what has been agreed upon and compromised the interest of the employees in rendering unpaid overtime work.