Sleep problems, work-stress and health complaints in call centers in Quezon City, Philippines

• Main Authors: Ho, Howell T., Ples, Michael B., Sia Su, Glenn L.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Sleep disorders > Quezon City (Philippines); Job stress > Quezon City (Philippines); Call centers > Quezon City (Philippines); Medicine and Health Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/12682
• Institution: De La Salle University

Background: Call centers in the Philippines provide customer service relations to companies and employ shift work. This study determined the common work-related health complaints and assessed problems relating with the complaints of inbound call center agents in Quezon City, Philippines. Methods: Copies of self-administered questionnaire were pre-tested and distributed to 96 randomly selected call center agents. Work-related health complaints were determined by correlation analysis. Results: Common complaints of respondents identified were eyestrain (35%), cough (29%), worsening eyesight (26%), and back pain (26%). Respondents identified work stress as the main reason for their health complaints. Stress, irritability, insomnia, sleepiness, and interrupted sleep were significantly related with the occurrence of the work-related health complaints (P < 0.05) among the workers. Conclusion: Call centers provide lucrative incomes but result in occupational health problems. Sleep problems and stress greatly influence workers' health..