MicroSourcing - June 2010

ISSUE

JUNE2010

04 M ICROS OURCERER MicroSourcing Quarterly Newsletter

The

In this issue:

Opens New OfficeMicroSourcing

This is an exciting time for MicroSourcing as we opened a new and bigger office at the

6th floor of 1880 Avenue building, also in Eastwood City.

The new office is 30 percent bigger than the company’s office at the 9th floor of

eCommerce Plaza. It has about 500 project workstations and 50 management seats.

Other features are the recruitment hub, locker rooms, a clinic, and storage rooms.

Design-wise, we kept the look and feel of our current office but there will be nice

surprises for those who will come to work for the first time at 1880!

There are a number of issues at the eCommerce office that we have taken into

account in the new office. The first major change is that the work floor is now divided

into project spaces of varying sizes. In this way, we can provide more privacy to our

project teams. Another thing is the shortage of training and meeting rooms and the

new office will have a total of five (5) conference rooms and an 18-seater training room.

We have also expanded the recreation spaces and the new office will have a very nice

living room with TV and video games. The new MS Cafe will be a 100-seater

restaurant. It will be big enough to be used for meetings and social events.

We are confident that our company will continue to grow and that we will have those

seats filled within a few months and hopefully we will be adding the remaining 900sqm

by the end of the year. If we do that, it will definitely be enough to serve as our HQ in

Quezon City. All in all, this new office is definitely another great milestone in

MicroSourcing history. - Philip Kooijman, CEO

MicroSourcing Beats the Heat at Summer Survivor

Race to Summer Winners Announced

ManCom Conducts Strategic Planning

Session in Tagaytay

MicroSourcing Managed Projects

Featured Department - MIT: Men of IT

Loan Application FAQs

Do you want to be a GREAT member?

Photo Galler: Off-site Strategic Planning Sessions

(HCSDG, Finance)

Rafael Verheij: MicroSourcing’s

Business Development Manager

How to Handle Stress

Healthy Eating Choices

Office Romance

How to Deal with Corporate Buzz

Are you a gleek?

Editor’s Note

Survey Wall

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MicroSourcing Newsletter - June Issue 2010

MicroSourcing hosted the company outing with the theme “Summer Survivor” at Aguas

Azules, Eastridge, Binangonan, Rizal last May 22.

Employees, members of the management team, and clients were welcomed with bracelets

fit for the occasion. After the opening remarks from Operations Manager Maricel Salao, the

outing kicked off with the company’s version of the Amazing Race. Five teams had to stop

at stations and do tasks including bucket filling, human knot, neck and knee race, toxic

river, and obstacle course. Team 1 came out victorious as they were the fastest to finish

eight wet and wild tasks. The winning team received Php 4000 plus gift packs.

Best Dressed awards were handed to Jack Arafat (MMP) and Tamera Szijarto (MMP). Gift

packs were also given to employees who entertained guests with their videoke

performances. Of course, a MicroSourcing party would not be complete without

free-flowing beer and The Bar courtesy of Emperador Distillers.

After the race and closing remarks from Ramie Rosima Jr., manager of Human Capital

Strategy and Delivery Group (HCSDG), most party guests took the plunge and slid their

way through huge swimming pools of the resort, while the others relaxed, drank beer in

cabanas, and mingled with employees from other projects and departments.

Senior Software Developer Paulo Cabantog (MMP)

won the Summer Survivor Photo Contest with his entry

entitled "Super Ryan to the Rescue". He received a

cash prize of Php 2000.

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Race to Summer Winners Announced

ManCom Conducts Strategic Planning Session in Tagaytay

After about two months of finding skilled individuals and referring them to MicroSourcing,

John Benedick Cabang (individual category) and Team Maren Lacanilao (team category)

were named as the winners of Race to Summer in an awarding ceremony held last May 19.

Mr. Cabang received Php 10,000 while Team Maren got Php 50,000.

Facilitated by the Manpower Acquisition Department, Race to Summer was a special

referral program for Yell Adworks, one of MicroSourcing’s fast-growing clients. Its goal was

to find excellent candidates through recommendations of Yell employees. From March 3 to

April 30, the program was able to gather a total of 44 successful referrals out of 346

recommendations.

According to Back Office Team Leader Michelle Sacramento, a referral program like Race

to Summer is an effective recruitment tool. “Compared to giving out signing bonuses to new

employees, Race to Summer turned out to be more cost-effective and a better strategy in

finding good talents. The program is not just a good tool in finding qualified candidates. It

also helps hype up a work environment which is a good way to retain employees.”

Aside from the cash prizes, gift certificates from various establishments were also given to

10 Yell employees daily (1 referral = 1 GC).

Ms. Sacramento said the department plans to facilitate more programs like this in which all

MicroSourcing employees will be encouraged to participate.

The Management Committee (ManCom) conducted an off-site strategic planning session

last April 6 in Tagaytay Highlands in order to set strategic goals, ensure that department

plans are all aligned with the long-term vision of MicroSourcing, and discuss the future of

the company.

The session kicked off with the 2010 Strategic Directions and Expectations report by

CEO Philip Kooijman, tackling the company’s long-term vision and goals this year. This

was followed by presentations of strategic plans per department.

“Some of our main goals for the year will be to increase customer and employee

satisfaction, focus even more on the quality of our services and the value for money our

clients are getting, and in line with this, continue to climb the value chain and offer more

higher added value services,” said Mr. Kooijman.

Organizational Development / Employee Relations (OD/ER) Manager Regina Lomotan

said through this session, ManCom members were able to clarify important and strategic

concerns that affect operations. It also gave them time to bond with other managers, as

conducting the session off-site enabled them to do leisure activities such as bowling (in

which Mr. Kooijman bowled a 207 - an all-time personal best). “This offsite strategic

planning session helped strengthen team spirit and camaraderie among members of the

management team and communicate department plans for 2010.”4


Pablo BarcelinoWindows Server Administrator

Handles Windows server issues and

debugging problems; patches servers and

monitors the entire network; creates virtual

machines for the development teams

Gwen Llana Web Researcher and Team Lead

Gathers information about a movie; data entry

and image upload; promotes featured movies on

social networking sites; checks research and

publicity submitted by researchers

Julius RecioTranscriptionist

Checks and verifies accuracy of information on

system, and makes necessary changes;

transcribes content of voice messages or

recordings and comment cards from clients

Marlon MesticaWeb Developer

Develops website applications and data

reports system

Mark BandilloTeam Lead

Ensures that the team successfully delivers

the client's software development projects

MicroSourcing Managed Projects (MMP)Formerly known as Small Projects, MMP is now the official name of different projects with no dedicated project managers. Many of these projects started with

one to five employees but eventually grow into a team consisting of up to 100 individuals. Twenty (20) projects, with 111 employees, are currently being handled

at MMP.

MMP is managed by the Operations Group of MicroSourcing, headed by Operations Manager Maricel Salao and supervisors namely Michael Aguila, Erika

Nazario, Ezer Basilio, and Moses Linsangan. According to Ms. Salao, the term Small Projects no longer applies to the group, and “we do not want people to think

that because of the term ‘small’, they will be considered less important than other projects.”

MMP’s MicroSourcerers

The Operations Group chooses a MicroSourcerer of the Month to recognize exemplary work performance and attitude of an employee from MMP. Since

December 2009, Ms. Salao holds a monthly meeting with the supervisors to discuss and select the employee who comes in on time every day, has no call-in,

and no Code of Conduct violations. Client feedback also plays a big role in the selection process. Best in Attendance awards are also given every month.

Congratulations!

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Featured DepartmentMIT: Men of ITThe IT Department is responsible for two major functions: business solutions and service

delivery. It deals with IT and infrastructure requirements of new employees and clients and

ensures that IT-related services (Internet access, email, desktop deployment, etc.) are provided.

There are two (2) IT Support Specialists per shift from Monday to Friday and one from Thursday

until Sunday. IT Manager Rommel Natividad said this type of schedule was created to

accommodate higher volume of requests during weekdays compared to weekends wherein

there are less support requests.

ICT Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

According to Mr. Natividad, the ICT Acceptable Use Policy is a set of rules on how the

MicroSourcing's network, facilities, and computer systems may be used. The AUP's goal is not

just to restrict but to protect the company's network resources, employees, clients and partners

from illegal or damaging actions by any entity. “We believe that the success of the AUP does

not rely solely on our team's implementation but also with the cooperation of every

MicroSourcing employee.”

IT RequestIf you need assistance from the IT Department,

just send a request to [email protected]

using the following format:

Date and Time of Request:Name of Requestor:No. of Users affected:Brief description of Problem/Request:Error Message(s) received (if any):Severity (Low, Medium or High):

Rommel Natividad

IT Manager

Role(s): Oversees the overall IT operations.

Harry Ignacio

Technical Support Manager

Role(s): Ensures 24/7 support by organizing a

monthly schedule for the IT Support Specialists;

determines and initiates the procurement process

of the company's hardware and software needs.

Adam Jamis

Network Engineer

Role(s): Ensures that the network and Internet

connectivity have 99.9% uptime; duties include

deployment, configuration, maintenance, and

monitoring of network equipment.

IT Support Specialists:

Daniel Fresco

Elixir Francisco

Ronald Ian Melencio

Mark Leodones

Ronald Ramos

Role(s): Provide direct technical assistance to

MicroSourcing employees/clients; support includes,

but not limited to, computer setup,

hardware/software installation, troubleshooting

hardware/software problems, and resolving Internet

/ network connectivity problems.

The Men of IT


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Do you want to be a GREAT member?by: Mia Espinosa

Q: Do I need to personally file my loan application to the SSS office?

A: You may personally go to the SSS office to file your loan application, though

HCSDG- Benefits can do it for you. Just make sure that you have submitted

the necessary documents.

Q: What are the requirements in filing for the SSS loan?

A: Fill out an ISL-101 form using only black ink. You can get the form from an

HR Associate. Do make sure to legibly write your SS number at the

acknowledgment receipt.

Provide photocopy of two valid IDs: passport, postal, TIN card, voter’s ID, etc.

in lieu of SSS digitized ID. Sign thrice on the sheet. Make sure to sign with your

full name. Submit it to HCSDG- Benefits and we’ll do the processing for you.

Q: Upon the approval of my application, how long will it take for SSS to release

the check?

A: Current SSS practice takes at least a week for the check to be generated

and then snail mail to the applicant through its sponsoring company after a

month. Changes in such practices will be communicated to you by HCSDG as

they occur.

Q: I don’t have an SSS electronic ID yet. Where can I apply for one?

A: Not all SSS branches have facilities for the electronic ID. The branches

where you could only avail it from are in Diliman, Novaliches, and Caloocan.

Q: Can the company file for it on my behalf?

A: No, the company cannot file on the employee’s behalf since SSS will

immediately obtain your personal data (i.e. your fingerprints, facial image,

signature, and personal identification number will be electronically recorded)

for transfer to your new ID card. The ID card will be mailed to the address you

specified on your Form E-6.

Q: I don’t have a PAG-IBIG number yet. Can I still apply for a loan?

A: PAG-IBIG will still accommodate you even if you don’t have a number yet

for a multi-purpose loan, though it is advisable that you get an ID number from

a PAG-IBIG branch.

PAG-IBIG is also generating IDs/ barcodes for future transactions with them.

These are only given to company representatives. Individuals cannot get their

own.

Q: What can the company file, on my behalf, for any PAG-IBIG benefit?

A: PAG-IBIG allows your present employer to file a multi-purpose loan for you,

as long as you have accomplished the application form correctly. Also, submit

it with a photocopy of your company ID and another valid ID, and a month’s

payslip. Note: If the current month is May, submit your payslip for March or

April.

Q: How will I know if the check is already generated?

A: You can check it at the on-site database of PAG-IBIG or call 724-4244.

Unlike SSS, PAG-IBIG doesn’t send the check to the address you have stated

in your application if you haven’t picked it up yet.

If you have other questions,

please send an email to [email protected].

SSS Loan Application

PAG-IBIG Loan Application

MicroSourcing’s GREAT (Group that Recognizes Effort, Achievements and

Talent) is an organization which is composed of dynamic individuals who

support the endeavors of the Employee Relations (ER) Team.

GREAT aims to make MicroSourcing a fun working environment for each

and every employee by organizing events and activities that promote

retention and boost morale. In this light, GREAT members function as

liaison officers between the ER Team and their respective programs.

This organization aims to provide a venue to train and hone employees in

accordance with the company values and standards. Committees, which are

formed under the organization, will focus on various functions that will allow

each member to excel and explore his or her talents and capabilities.

If you are interested to be part of GREAT, please send an email to:

[email protected].

Loan Application FAQs by: Ayza Quintinita


Photo Gallery

Off-site Strategic Planning SessionFinance DepartmentApril 16-18, 2010Grande Island, Subic

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Off-site Strategic Planning SessionHCSDGMarch 19-21, 2010Blue Bay Waters Resort, Quezon

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Rafael Verheij: MicroSourcing’sBusiness Development Manager With MicroSourcing’s continuous growth, there comes a need to formally establish

the Business Development (BD) Department that is solely dedicated to sales, online

marketing, and implementation of strategic steps to get new clients and further

promote MicroSourcing as a premier outsourcing solutions provider. This

department will be spearheaded by Mr. Rafael Verheij.

Mr. Verheij is the founder and acting CEO of O&OC, an offshoring and outsourcing

consultancy firm. He has nearly a decade of experience in Offshoring & Outsourcing,

business development, cost savings and tactics, market entries,

mergers/acquisitions/divestitures, risks identification and mitigation, economics

analysis and trade-offs, as well as streamlining business processes.

“I am mainly responsible for developing and enacting very aggressive business

growth objectives for MicroSourcing’s portfolio of services. I will work with

stakeholders and the management team to define and develop business strategy

and understand core markets upon where MicroSourcing can leverage a set of core

competencies and capabilities to create sustainable value,” Mr. Verheij said.

As the Business Development Department Manager, his priorities include creation

of a business development plan, establishment of sales strategies and capabilities

that successfully achieve revenue goals set across existing services and product

lines, improvement in the quality of sales pipeline and increase the conversion rate,

and evaluation of new and existing sales and (online) marketing efforts that

hopefully result in significant annual revenue growth. The BD Department will

analyze the competitive landscape and strategically develop and lead a sales

strategy that aims to consistently beat the competition. “Our marketing effort will

focus on the MicroSourcing brand to achieve optimal market penetration and be

recognized as a dominant Philippine provider of choice by key brokers, decision

makers, and buyers.”

Mr. Verheij aims to spearhead the following initiatives:

He believes in the potential of the virtual captive model. This service

focuses on setting up larger-scale, more complex offshore operations

requiring a high level of working environment customization and

operations management to meet the very specific needs of a single client.

“It is a clear differentiator and the value proposition is well-defined, though

it will require a lot of marketing effort to explain the concept. Besides this,

going vertical with process specialization (expand in winning verticals;

high growth, attractive margins) is another area that we should focus on.”

Part of the Business Development Department is Rita Enciso as the

Sales Lead who will manage two associates. Karen Cayamanda recently

joined the department - she serves as the Online Marketing Lead and will

manage a small group of writers.

Build an effective and efficient BD team that pursues multiple channels of sales

and marketing campaigns

Identify, analyze, evaluate, and recommend new services and products

(verticals), along with building the business case and strategy for entering

these new markets. For example, we see rising demand in continental Europe

for offshoring solutions and we will explore how to best respond to client needs

by expanding our capabilities to allow us to better serve clients in various

European locations (partnerships, overseas sales presence, etc.).

Focus on what to pursue, but equally important is to concentrate on what NOT

to pursue10


As people go along and meet the demands of society, they encounter several conflicts in their lives. If these are not taken into account, things

will fall apart, resulting to stress that will eventually lead to physical and psychological problems such as hypertension, depression, frustration,

adjustment issues, and more. The severity of the impact would signify that the awareness on stress management is very important.

Stress is any form of physical, mental, and emotional tension that causes people to feel frustrated and disturbed. It is a condition wherein

you can no longer control a particular situation. Stress can affect the quality of people’s lives, their work, career, and even their family. It is

also said that 90 percent of diseases originate from stress. Furthermore, everybody is prone to it, even the most organized and successful

person.

Know how to handle stress. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Develop a positive outlook. You sometimes get stressed out of small difficulties and you tend to magnify the severity of the

situation. You don’t usually see its positive side. Developing a positive outlook would mean weighing the positive and

negative sides of the situation. Relax - hold on to the positive aspects to overcome the negative impact of that stressful

situation.

Stop staying away from risk. Life is indeed full of risks, and whatever you do, expect that there are things that will be taken

from you because a person can never have exactly the same experience as what others have. Make a gamble, but don’t

take foolish risks.

Amplify your signature strength. People sometimes do something that does not really interest them. This can cause stress.

Try to focus on your strength and you will be a stress-free individual. Be conscious of it. How? If you make mistakes and

feel challenged instead of stressed out, then you are most likely working in the area of your strengths. If your mistakes

make you feel tensed and anxious, you are probably working in an area of your weakness.

Engage yourself in physical activity. Various researches confirm that physical activities or exercise could help a lot in

alleviating stress. Try to immerse yourself in bodily activities such as sports; this can also serve as a reward to yourself.

Get off the path of overwork. People always strive to do and be the best. They tend to overwork to the extent that they carry

a lot on themselves. Sometimes you have to give up what is merely good in order to do what is best. Get some time to

unwind and pamper yourself. Overworking is one of the major stressors.

Look for an amusing way to let go of stress. Stressors are everywhere, they are usually inevitable, but through appropriate

management and mindset, you can get rid of them and beat them with a smile and a different way of looking at things or

situations. To do this, look for activities that could engage yourself into in a healthy and fun way. Find time to go and eat

out with your family and friends. Talk and laugh with them! This is indeed a way to detoxify and relax.

Remember that life without stress is not exciting! We cannot live without it. However, too much stress can lead you into more complicated

situations. Deal and cope with stress in a healthy and positive manner.

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How to Handle Stress by: Marilou Soriano

Marilou Soriano is a Web Researcher from

MMP.11

Lunch out? Wait… why don’t you pause for a while and read this. I know

everybody loves eating in restaurants and fast foods. However, living healthy is

a matter of eating healthy. Now, are you getting your money’s worth in every

munch that you do?

Studies show that the most common cause of illnesses is not eating what is right.

Examples of these illnesses are high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.

This is because food from some restaurants contains too much fat, salt, and

sugar. Here are some healthier choices according to Women’s Health.org for

you to enjoy the convenience of eating out:

1. Choose foods that are broiled over fried such as a chicken sandwich instead

of fried chicken or chicken nuggets. The meat preserves the nutrients in it when

it is broiled and not fried; which makes it healthier to eat.

2. Choose soups that are not cream-based. Cream is a dairy product that has

very high content of butterfat. Remember, the lesser the cream, the lesser the fat.

3. Have low-fat salad dressing instead of the full-fat kind. It’s healthier because

of the reduced fat. It’s oil-free, sodium-free, and it contains very low calories.

Low-fat salad dressings usually have condiments such as soy sauce and

vinegar as the base ingredient.

4. Have a salad or soup instead of fries. Fries contain too much fat and oil.

Salads and soups are healthier because they are usually fat-free and oil-free as

well.

5. Use mustard or ketchup instead of mayonnaise. This is because mayonnaise

is made of eggs and these contain too much cholesterol and fat, while mustard

and ketchup are made from healthier stuff and recommended for everyone’s diet.

6. Order smaller entrée portions. For example: instead of a large sub, try a small

one with side salad or a piece of fruit. Moderation is the key to a healthy body. No

food is considered as “off limits”, you just need to take it in small portions for you

to get what your body needs.

Healthy Eating Choices Are we getting the value for our money and are we eating right? by: Andrea de los Santos


7. Drink water, low-fat milk, and/or diet sodas instead of regular sodas, fruit

drinks, milkshakes, or whole milk. Too much consumption of soda may lead

to diabetes, dental cavities, and low nutrient levels, while milk-based drinks

may contain too much fat and calories. Drink water, because it helps

cleanse the body from impurities and at the same time, it sustains the need

for H2O.

8. When ordering pizza, add veggies instead of meat, and get thin crust

instead of deep dish. You know the rule, the more colorful your food is, the

better. Never forget to fill up your dishes with fruits and veggies. They are

low in calories but dense in nutrients. These also protect you from diseases.

Remember the big picture. Try these tips. If you want to order in a restaurant,

make sure that you had an extra healthy meal earlier that day. Moderation

is the key to a healthier you. Don’t rush - chew your food because it takes

time for your body to register that you are full. Always maintain good

nutrition habits for you to enjoy more dining out experiences without the guilt.

Happy eating!

Andrea de los Santos is a Web Researcher

from MMP.12

Office Romance by: Katrina Bagabagon

Years ago, dating a co-worker was a puckered-brow for many people. Not

everyone was (actually, up until now) quite comfortable to see two of their

officemates holding hands or having peck-on-the-cheek early in the morning. In

the profusion of many sexual harassment cases, some companies actually

have stipulated strict policies to impede intimate relationships from budding.

Nowadays, considering how much time employees spend at the office, people

are becoming more and more indulgent of the fact that officemates sometimes

get attracted to each other, date, fall in love, and in some cases, even end up

tying the knot.

The management recognizes the possibility of the development of love affairs

in the office, though relationships between two employees under the same

team, most especially supervisor and subordinate, are not encouraged to

prevent conflict of interest and ensure professionalism is not jeopardized.

Office romance is, to a certain extent, bound to flourish. It’s natural to find

yourself attracted to someone you closely work with on a daily basis and this

type of attraction can eventually lead to an intimate relationship. Many

employees end up getting struck by the Cupid’s arrow because specific work

projects stimulate not only intellectual contribution but also emotional

involvement. In some cases, office love connections are developed through

social activities such as having lunch together, occasional night outs, or

engaging in sports that both of you love to do.

Getting involved with your co-worker can be very exciting but before you make

any drastic decisions, I suggest that you weigh the pros and cons first.

The BenefitsYou feel inspired all day. You have another good reason to wake up early in the

morning and endure the heavy traffic. You can’t wait to see her/him all dressed

up, complete with that captivating smile when she/he passes by your work

station.

Companionship. What used to be an ordinary lunch can magically turn into an

intimate lunch date.

Confidante. You have someone to share your work-related problems with in the

same way that you can be there when he/she needs someone to talk to.

Good working relationship. If you share good working chemistry, you’ll work well

in groups.

The DrawbacksWorkplace Perception. You have to deal with the fact that your co-workers

will have varying perceptions once your secret dating is out.

The Culprit. Well, this is more for the guys: If she’s having a bad day,

nobody else is there to blame. How much more if you broke up? Pray that

you won’t bump into her friends… you’re screwed!

Office Tweets. Gossips, dudes! While this is more predominant in smaller

companies, you’d be surprised and annoyed that too many people have

their two cents worth about your relationship. I’m sure you can tolerate it but

not until it destroys your chance to get promoted.

The petty quarrels. When there’s too much stress in your work, the last thing

you need is the tension stemming from clashes between you and your

partner, who just happens to be your officemate. Those cold gestures, foul

text messages, and fuming stare are all trigger factors that can worsen the

chaos inside your mind. What’s worse is you can’t let anyone notice.

The Breakup. Reality affirms that not all relationships work out like they do

in movies. One day, you might realize that this one isn’t simply working out.

However, even if you decided to call it quits, you will still have to work, talk,

and interact as co-workers. One of the quick fixes after a breakup is to

refrain from seeing each other until hard feelings subside, but apparently, it

is not possible in your case.

Just work on this principle: Be professional. This doesn’t mean you need to

deprive yourself from going out on a date with your officemate or getting

intimately involved with your co-worker, but make it clear (by your actions

and behavior) that you are, first and foremost, a professional - that you take

your job seriously and you are in the office to accomplish your work.

Office romance may bring about negative implications but it can also

improve your work performance. The romantic bliss can actually add

dynamism and energy that will manifest in your work output and office

morale. Soon enough, this will prove that employers will generally benefit

from happier, inspired, and productive employees.


Katrina Bagabagon is a Copywriter from MMP.

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How to Deal with Corporate Buzz by: Gwen Llana

As part of the workforce, you’ve certainly had a taste of the intriguing form of

workplace hostility called gossip. Regardless of its gravity, gossip is a source of

trouble that’s common in all organizations. During lunch breaks or through

email conversations, you probably have experienced being either the energetic

host or the captive audience of your corporate version of “The Buzz”.

Gossip is a story passed from one person to another, which may either be true

or not. According to sociologist Tomatsu Shibutani, gossips take place because

of the absence of concrete information. When you see your married officemate

dining out with an unknown girl, you come up with speculations to fill the

missing information about his mysterious companion. This can be the start of a

series of spicy workplace gossips, which may negatively affect everyone

involved.

Gossiping in the workplace not only ruins people’s reputation but also

decreases employee productivity. So whether you are its source or its receiver,

you need to know how to deal with these hearsays.

What started the fire?

Mary Gormandy White, a human resource expert, suggests that you should

understand first what triggers the gossip. You cannot defend yourself from

workplace chit chat if you don’t exactly know what it is. Analyze its possible

causes. It might be your behaviour in the office, your previous statement in a

meeting or recent changes in your lifestyle. It is also important to know the

severity of the gossip. Tell whether it’s a malicious one or just a one-time joke

among your colleagues.

What’s the game plan?

Once you have a hint of where the rumor is coming from, it will be easy for you

to determine how to handle it. If it is too serious to ignore then it’s time you act

as your own PR person. Strategize on how to respond to the issue. Think of the

right words to use in explaining yourself. Pick the right persons to talk to - your

manager and/or the people involved in the issue. Consider timing. You don’t

just confront a suspected gossiper while he’s lining up to buy lunch in the

cafeteria. Remember that there is always a professional venue in raising an

office concern.

Whatcha say?

Implement your plan through communication. A closed-door meeting with your

superior and the persons involved is a good chance to get a better view of the

picture. Through this, points from all sides may be heard. If the rumor affects

the entire company, Emory Mulling of the The Atlanta Business Journal

recommends that managers call a staff meeting to address the issue. People

in authority must offer sufficient information to eliminate confusion among

employees.

What should be done?

Correcting rumors and implementing preventive measures must be your next

plan. According to Heidi Burgess and Michelle Maiese, directors of Conflict

Information Consortium of the University of Colorado, if there is no truth

behind a gossip then it must be corrected. Managers and intermediaries

should initiate a plan to effectively communicate the truth to everyone in the

organization. Clarifying issues can be done through calling a staff meeting,

sending emails or publishing an open letter.

Labour relations consultants Bob Summerhurst and J. Talbott suggest that the

employer must carry out schemes that discourage workplace gossips. These

may be as stern as giving penalties to those who are spreading gossips or as

mild as reminding employees of the negative effects of gossips during

counselling or staff evaluation.

So the next time you are tempted to host “The Buzz” during coffee break with

your colleagues, better bite that tongue. The steps you have to go through to

deal with gossips aren’t as enjoyable as spreading those office tales.


Gwen Llana is a Web Researcher and Team Leader

from MMP.

14

In American movies and TV shows, you can rarely see high school football

players or cheerleaders getting along well with the unpopular ones. Glee is an

exception, well at least during rehearsals and performances of the major

characters. It’s a musical comedy/drama series that revolves around the glee

club called New Directions and the joys and pains of being in high school. The

group is composed of students with very diverse personalities and superb

talents. It’s a mix of young singers and dancers who struggle to be not just a

face in the crowd at a school where members of the football team and

cheerleading squad get all the attention and take it upon themselves to bully

just because they can, and the so-called losers who have to endure whatever

the popular students throw at them, including cold, sugary drinks.

Music has the power to bring people together. When the Glee club is in

session, the “outcast” and the “popular” set their differences aside and

perform as if there’s no tomorrow. It has become the outlet of their insecurities

and frustrations, and the only place where they feel that they really belong no

matter who they are or what other people think of them. It’s a distinct

manifestation that yes, being in high school, or getting through life in general,

is hard. People get boxed in as either popular or loser - but everyone has the

right to be respected and be part of something great.

I watch the show if only for Sue Sylvester, the Cheerios coach who considers

the day wasted if she’s not able to annoy Will, the persistent and

hard-working teacher of Glee club, and to constantly make the club members

feel like they’re on the losing side as they struggle to bring back the club’s

glory. She will go to great lengths to sabotage the club members and prove

that they have no right whatsoever to be recognized or even exist in school.

What’s so striking about Sue is that even though she treats people who are not

part of the cheering squad like vermin, she has a very soft spot for her sister.

You’ll see a very different Sue when they’re together. Here’s what some

MicroSourcing employees have to say about their favorite Glee characters:

“Puck - because there's a deep story behind his character, and Rachel Berry

- she has tremendous talent, although she can be a bit annoying.”

- Chris Calaguio (Manpower Acquisition Dept.)

“Sue. She reminds me of one of my old teachers who scared me so much -

but loved going to class still, she just said the best things.”

- Mikky Arce (CSG)

“My favorite character in Glee is Quinn Fabray. I like her because aside from

being gorgeous, she chose Glee club over Cheerios which made her

discover her hidden talent.”

- Mitch Sacramento (Manpower Acquisition Dept.)

“I like Brittany because she’s very beautiful, sexy, and she’s a great dancer.”

- Elvis Garcia (CSG)

“Puck. He’s a good acoustic guitar player and he looks cool with his sporty /

bad boy image.”

-Rey-an Garcia (EV)

“Hands down, my favorite Glee character is Kurt's dad. He's not part of the

major cast but for me, he plays a very crucial role because he's an exceptional

dad to Kurt and he loves him unconditionally which inspires Kurt to step out of

the shadow and become the talented and confident diva that he is.”

- Krissy Cabiling (Manpower Acquisition Dept.)


Editor’s Note by: Karen Cayamanda

A lot of newsworthy things have happened in the last three months - off-site strategic planning sessions of different departments, a recruitment program for Yell,

initiatives from OD/ER, and of course, the company outing last May.

The most significant of it all is the move to a new and bigger office space at 1880. With new and improved features/facilities such as partition walls to provide

more privacy to different projects, bigger conference rooms, MS Café with 100-seater capacity, and storage/locker rooms, the new office is a great venue to

boost employees’ productivity and promote good working relationships. Undoubtedly, this stands as proof of the continuous growth of MicroSourcing.

In behalf of the newsletter committee, I want to thank Stephen Paolo Peña for the layout, as well as Katrina Bagabagon, Gwen Llana, Andrea de los Santos, and

Marilou Soriano from MMP for their feature articles in this issue.

We welcome any comments and suggestions that will make our newsletter a lot better and more informative. If you have topics that you want to be covered in

the next issue, please send me an email at [email protected]. Thank you very much!

15

MicroSourcing - June 2010

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