Top Seven Illnesses Encounter Working in a Call Center
Facing irate customer’s everyday are the common scenarios encounter by any customer service representatives agents working as front liner or as part of the technical staffs.
cing irate customer’s everyday are the common scenarios encounter by any call center customer service representatives agents working as front liner or as part of the technical staffs. Because of the pressure of the work many health hazards beset customer’s service representatives. Among the top illnesses on the list are high blood pressure, respiratory problems, ear infection, voice problems, anemia, and carpal’s tunnels syndrome.
1. High blood pressure/ Hypertension
Many customer services representatives as young as 20-26 years old old and above already have this kind of diseases after subduing themselves in heated verbal conversation with erring customers. Most have a blood pressures of 160/120, 190/100 and other alarming Bps. Contributing factors are the lifestyles of most call center agents where trace from the stress brought by work, smoking, unhealthy habits and lack of exercises.
2. Respiratory problems
Most respiratory problems encounter by call center agents are due to bronchitis, pneumonia, Asthma and allergic reactions. It may be due partly with the environment of the call center itself being subdued for longer working hours in centralized air conditioned, carpeted floors, and proximity of each agent’s to each others are the breeding grounds for any communicable diseases.
3. Anemia
Studies show that bone marrow produces more blood at night and working during graveyard shift in a call center resulting in anemic body. Thus, many call center agent are more prone to iron deficiency anemia. Many women also collapse or faint due to deprivation of oxygen in the body.
4. Ear Infection/ Acoustic Shock
According to the Call Centre Management Association (CCMA) the basic cause of acoustic shock is a sudden, unexpected noise, often delivered at a very intense frequency. Call center operators subject to this noise from a variety of sources. Telephone equipment used in call centers produces electrical feedback, latent sonic energy spikes, together with faulty telephone lines, non compliant switchboards, turrets, and headsets. Obvious causes are the caller’s abuses such as screaming, shouting, blowing, whistles, background interferences at the caller location, or ambient noise in the operator’s location
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carissimi | Aug 5, 2010 | Reply
good to know
Aileen Tecson | Aug 5, 2010 | Reply
hi carissimi,
thanks for your comments
giftarist | Aug 5, 2010 | Reply
A very helpful reminder for call center agents. Great share, friend.
yes me | Aug 5, 2010 | Reply
Glad I don’t have the call, for that kind of calling…. cheers Aileen
PARAM | Aug 6, 2010 | Reply
Great work….interesting one.
Aileen Tecson | Aug 6, 2010 | Reply
@giftarist
Thanks for dropping by
@yes me
thank you
@psingh,
thank you finding it useful
LCM Linda | Aug 6, 2010 | Reply
Helpful post. Many people cannot stand the stress and quit job fast.
wonder | Aug 6, 2010 | Reply
Very true, one must be careful and alert.
Anuradha Ramkumar | Aug 6, 2010 | Reply
Gr8 share. I’ve worked in a call center and I know how true these are.
Aileen Tecson | Aug 6, 2010 | Reply
@linda,
thanks a lot
@wonder,
It pays big but the long term effect is not tolerable! thanks
@anuradha,
You;re a living testament. thanks
Aileen Tecson | Aug 6, 2010 | Reply
@linda
thanks a lot
@wonder,
for own good that is a watchful signs!
@anuradha,
your a living testament. thanks
Videomark | Aug 10, 2010 | Reply
I hate dealing with irate people on the phone. I’m sure a call center would be stressful.
Blackbeauty | Aug 13, 2010 | Reply
Great article! I worked in a call center for almost 10 years and totally agree with what you present here. Nice video for CSR’s needing a little stress relief from exercise. Keep the great articles coming…
Aileen Tecson | Aug 13, 2010 | Reply
@videomark,
I am very grateful for your visit. thanks
@blackbeauty,
that worth a lot of experience. thanks
SharifaMcFarlane | Aug 16, 2010 | Reply
Call centers are not a pleasant place to work. The employers sometimes make it even more unpleasant with unreasonable demands.
Well researched article Aileen.
Aileen Tecson | Aug 17, 2010 | Reply
sharifa,
the job is a tedious work to do and when is not adapt to the stressful lifestyle it lead more to miserable situation. thanks.
Jswana | Aug 23, 2010 | Reply
No doubt that bad situations and people can make you sick. As the saying goes to some people “You make me sick”…it can be true. Thanks for sharing.
anythingAnytime | Aug 26, 2010 | Reply
I’m thankful that i’m not working in a call centre.
Aileen Tecson | Aug 27, 2010 | Reply
Good for you anythinganywhere.
stressed | Sep 2, 2010 | Reply
i agree with # 1 High blood pressure/ Hypertension-very stressful
ishinimrod | Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
This is nice. Thank you my friend
regards,
ishinimrod
clandestinef | Sep 7, 2010 | Reply
Useful tips for me especially I am working in a BPO industry. Thanks for this post.
mysocalledlife | Sep 9, 2010 | Reply
i pity the call center agents! but nice share, very informative!
Aileen Tecson | Sep 9, 2010 | Reply
@stress, @ishi, @clandestinef and mysocalledlife,
thanks for your lovely comments
cherry | Oct 2, 2010 | Reply
lot of complications good thing I am not even working during night..a very exhaustive job..
JULIO | Dec 22, 2010 | Reply
I’VE WORKED FOR A CALL CENTER FOR TWO YEARS. i LOVED IT AT FIRST. I STILL ENJOY THE FACT THAT IT IS AN EASY SALES JOB. BUT MY HEALTH IS THE WORST EVER IN MYLIFE… i’VE HAD A SINUS INFECTION/SEVERE FATIGUE AND CHEST PAINS FOR OVER 8 MONTHS NOW… i DONT KNOW IF I CAN CONTINUE NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE MONEY IS…
Teresa Lindsey | Apr 19, 2011 | Reply
Hello I have worked for a call center for a leading telecommunication network in Georgia. I have had health issues for the 12 years I have worked for this organization. It started with weight gain, high blood pressure, upper respiratory problems(sinus infections every other month), stress(taking meds for depression) and finally a heart attack all before the age of 45. Our jobs should not kill us! Also employers should allow doctors excuses and all should have sick days. Big companies who can deny or approve you because they’re paying them to say “Oh no thats not a valid illness” they could work is a bunch of crock when you are paying to go the dr and paying for your meds! The price working Americans pay for trying to pay their bills and maintain some sense of balance in LIFE!
Rylene | May 4, 2011 | Reply
I have worked as a call center agent for more 4years and 3 months now. I’ve been in and out of the clinic because of allergies, migraine attack, insomia and now a mild hearing loss because of a perforated left eardrum. I am also a candidate for ear infection
Aileen Tecson | Jun 16, 2011 | Reply
@cherry, julio, teresa and rylene,
yes those symptoms are very scary and earlier intervention should be mad before it worsen and kindly visit your physician for earliest diagnosis and pprevention. thank you