OFW Speak

With my almost 3 years of experience working online, I take pride in saying that not even once did I AWOL or disappear without prior notice from my job. I do have known tons of workmates who disappeared from work after few days of being hired leaving my boss and team mate not only headaches because of the courtesy of leaving us behind without prior notice, but also headaches because of the job tails that were left hanging.

I also had experienced talking to some online friends who happened to have experienced AWOLing in their jobs after few days being hired. And below are the major causes why Filipinos, in particular, disappear from their jobs.

1. Unmet salary expectations. I think this is the most common reason so far. When being interviewd, Filipinos, including me, have this habit of NOT ASKING about the compensation, and so leaving us clueless of the pay rate. Now the disappointment comes after receiving the first salary, and before you know it, their IM's are unreachable, they have unfriended you in Facebook, and no response to your emails anymore.

2. Unsettled Work Issues. I should say, Filipinos are very very tight-lipped people when it comes to conveying their grievances to their foreign bosses. When their boss reprimanded them, I included, take it hard and seriously. The end result, they better leave you and the team right away than feel bad of themselves.

3. Under Pressure. I would say some for this one, cause I personally love challenge and pressure(no boast). When employees are challenged and put under pressure, some just might duck and remain strained, the result? A conclusion of leaving the company for good, since they already have the idea of 'i can not do it' mentality at the back of their brain.

I should say, may it be a lesson to all my fellow Filipino online workers that hiring someone is not an easy job. I had been on the 'hiring-man' position before, and it is extremely difficult to choose from a pool of talented individuals and see potential in them.

The moment you are chosen and hired, it only means, people who hired you saw a potential. Do not throw it all away in just a snap. Speak up and let them know your grievances. After all communication is the key to a successful working relationship online.

Keep in touch all the time even if its a senseless matter. You see, seeing you communicate frequently online gives your foreign bosses a sense of security that you are interested enough to work. It might soud crazy but yes, since you are working online. And it's way different from working in a traditional office where chit-chatting is sometimes intolerable during work hours.

Give yourself a sense of dignity too, if you felt that you are not receiving the proper pay, then make sure your boss knows your feelings about it. Email him if you can't talk to him online. It's easier that way.

And lastly, putting you under pressure is a way of telling mediocre from solid worker. That's how things are done, even diamonds can't shine without harsh polishing. So if you think you are up for something better, then prove it. Don't just jerk when things go terribly wrong or you are put under cold waters.