TTEC workers file illegal dismissal complaint in Iloilo

By Juliane Judilla

More than 60 employees of TTEC, formerly known as TeleTech, under the Verizon account filed an illegal dismissal complaint before the National Labor Relations Commission Sub-Regional Arbitration Branch 6 in Iloilo City on May 4, alleging they were terminated without due process and for unjust reasons.

The workers were accompanied by the BPO Industry Employees Network, an independent organization that advocates for the rights and welfare of business process outsourcing employees.

Daily Guardian is still trying to get the side of TTEC.

According to BIEN, the affected workers were dismissed after being accused of “survey manipulation” through excessive appointment setting.

However, the organization said the company failed to provide clear details, explanations, or concrete evidence to support the allegations.

“After dedicating their hard work to hit company targets, these employees were suddenly terminated without clear details, explanation, or due process,” BIEN said in a statement.

The organization also alleged that the dismissed workers are now having difficulty securing new employment after their records were reportedly flagged with “fraud,” causing their job applications with other companies to remain pending.

“Worse, these workers now face employment blacklisting. Their applications with other companies are placed on ‘pending’ because TTEC flagged their profiles with ‘fraud,’ severely damaging their livelihoods and future careers,” BIEN added.

Several affected employees, whose identities are being withheld for their protection, shared their experiences and frustrations over the termination process.

Complainants Jen and Den said they were not given an opportunity to defend themselves against the allegations before being dismissed.

“Tinanggal kami sa trabaho without any prior or proper explanation,” Den said.

(We were removed from our jobs without any prior or proper explanation.)

Jen echoed the sentiment, saying the workers were denied due process.

“Hindi fair na walang prior notice kasi wala kaming chance na idefend yung sarili namin. After 30 days of preventive suspension, terminated na,” she said.

(It was unfair because we were not given prior notice and had no chance to defend ourselves. After 30 days of preventive suspension, we were already terminated.)

She added that the dismissal has made it difficult for them to secure new employment.

“Ang negative impact sa amin is naho-hold yung application namin. Hindi kami makapag-start ng new job. Gusto namin makahanap ng replacement,” she added.

(The negative impact on us is that our job applications are being put on hold. We are unable to start new jobs, and we just want to find replacement employment.)

Another employee, identified as Alex, said the allegations have negatively affected his job prospects.

He noted that he would have accepted the company’s decision had sufficient evidence been presented to support the accusations.

“Dapat pinadaan sa magandang proseso, hindi yung bigla-biglaan,” he said.

(The matter should have gone through a proper process instead of being handled so abruptly.)

“Maybe if the company can present sufficient data of my alleged violations, then that would be enough to consider. But the company has not issued a single piece of evidence to support its claims,” he added.

Alex also shared the financial challenges brought about by his dismissal.

“Nakakastress kasi may anak ako, eight months old. Siyempre wala akong income, saan ako kukuha ng panggatas?” he said.

(It is very stressful because I have an eight-month-old child. Of course, I have no income now, so where am I supposed to get money to buy milk?)

Piolo, who said he had worked for the company for five years, expressed disappointment over how the situation was handled.

“Gusto lang namin siguro na managot si TeleTech. Being in TeleTech for five years, parang unfair and unjust sa side namin na hindi nasagot yung allegations nila against us,” he said.

(We simply want TeleTech to be held accountable. After working at TeleTech for five years, it feels unfair and unjust on our part that the allegations against us were never properly addressed.)

Meanwhile, Ema said the company failed to provide assistance or remedies to the affected employees.

“Nakakainsulto lang kasi wala silang offer, wala silang remedy sa amin,” she said.

(It is insulting because they did not offer us any assistance or remedy.)

The workers are encouraging other employees who may have experienced similar circumstances to come forward and join their efforts as they seek accountability and pursue their labor claims against the company.

BIEN called on government agencies to uphold workers’ security of tenure and strengthen labor protections in the BPO industry.

“We urge the government to uphold the security of tenure and enforce stricter labor protections. Mass layoffs without due process must end. The BPO industry must stop treating hard-working employees as disposable numbers,” the group said.

The NLRC is the quasi-judicial agency that handles labor disputes, including illegal dismissal cases, while the BPO sector remains one of the country’s major employment generators.