Participants

● Identifying your participants

The selected participants chosen to participate in this study are the LGBTQ+ BPO
employees in Metro Manila which are individuals that are a part of the LGBTQ+
community that work in the Business Process Outsourcing Industry which include tasks
like information technology, call center services, customer services, accounting and many
more. The relevance of the chosen participants are due to their substantial role in the BPO
industry therefore,the study of the inclusion, professional development, mental health and
other challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ BPO employees is important. In addition, the
respondents are stationed in Metro Manila or NCR.

● Illustrate their Characteristics

The participants selected are individuals who consider themselves part of the men
side of the LGBTQ+ community such as gays, trans men, bisexuals, and many more who
fit the category, ages in between 18 to 45 as stories from different generations might vary.
Working for the industry for at least 6 months for the participant to be knowledgeable of
what is happening around them, and has a general understanding on how the system
works within their company. Aside from the standard employees, the researchers hope to
be able to get someone who is from the upper management to get a deeper understanding
on the situation, and how the issue of discrimination against LGTBQ+ members in BPO
are being handled.

● Justification on choosing them

As the researchers found that there are a low amount of papers, articles, studies,
and many more that were about the male side of the LGBTQ+ community, as most
research are focused on lesbians and trans women, it led them to focus on the male side
of the community to gain additional knowledge about their situation, and for their story to
be known. To ensure beneficial information as well, the researchers decided that with at
least 6 months of experience in BPO is a good candidate for the research so that the
participant have a better general understanding in the workforce, as well as those who are
in the wide age range between 18 to 45 as experience varies from different generations as
some may have experience better or worse than others.

Metro Manila being the region with the most businesses in the country, it’s only
sensible that the research is focused within that area. It allows for more participants, a
more diverse group of people, and a better understanding of the situation within a BPO
industry as it is where one of the biggest BPO Industries, Cocentrix, in the Philippines is
located with Cocentrix having an estimate of around 90,000 employees (Statistica, 2022).
In addition, due to the lack of resources, the researchers are forced to make do with the
BPO industries in the National Capital Region of the country. .
 BPO being one of the country’s biggest employers for having an estimated
amount of 1.3 million Filipinos with a growing percentage of 8 - 10% (Talmage-Roston,
2023), and contributor to the economy by contributing around 2.4% and 5.4% to the
economy (Outsource Accelerator, 2023), it is safe to say that due to its significance that
researching the issues will bring light on what the company needs to address and fix. As
having gender equality is said to contribute towards efficiency (Kasan et al2016), and
with that as a factor, it would improve BPO’s contribution to the country’s economy and
overall reaping benefits such as more employees due to a result of a more inclusive
workspace.

Interview Guide Questions (10)

1. How do you feel about working as an LGBTQ employee in a BPO company?
2. Have you experienced any form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace
because of your sexual orientation or gender identity? If so, please elaborate and how do
you deal with it?.
3. As an LGBTQ employee, how has the company supported you?
4. Is your company offering any training or resources to help with diversity and inclusion?
5. Do you feel comfortable revealing your sexual orientation at work?
6. Have you encountered any challenges as a result of being open about your identity at
work?
7. How do you think BPO firms can improve their inclusiveness and support for the LGBT
community?
8. Have you ever felt compelled to conceal or suppress your sexual orientation at work? If
so, why?
9. Have you ever encountered any challenges or obstacles in your career due to your sexual
orientation?
10. Do the higher-ups make efforts to make the workplace more inclusive to people in your
community?
 References

EXTENT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER EQUALITY POLICY AT BRADY

PHILIPPINES CORPORATION: BASIS FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Usop

Kasan. (2016, September 3). Lyceum of the Philippines Laguna.

http://lpulaguna.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Extent-pf-Implementation-of-Gende

r-Equality-Policy-at-Brady-Philippines-Corporation-Basis-for-Continuous-Improvement.

pdf

5 incredible reasons to work in the BPO industry. (2023, February 28). Outsource Accelerator.

https://www.outsourceaccelerator.com/articles/5-incredible-reasons-work-bpo-industry/

Philippines: estimated number of employees of biggest BPO firms 2022. (2022, December 15).

Statista.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1330028/philippines-estimated-number-of-employees-

of-biggest-bpo-firms/

Talmage, M. (2023, February 15). Future Of BPO Industry in The Philippines 2023. Nexford

University.

https://www.nexford.org/insights/the-future-of-bpos-in-the-philippines-and-growth-oppor

tunities