Work from Home: How to attract talents with home-based jobs

Filipinos’ work environment is no longer limited by their office location or 8-hour work window. With the changes brought by technological advancement, job seekers have more options to earn and started considering work from home opportunities. It keeps them away from congested roads during rush hours and allows them to work productively at home even in the midst of untoward situations.

Education is the most in-demand home-based job specialization with overall average salary of Php37,000 per month followed by Customer Service at Php42,000 average monthly salary and IT/Computer – Software at Php73,000 average monthly salary based on online job portal JobStreet.com database of top home-based job from 2019 to 2020.

Hiring home-based employees is a practical resource if a company is seeking cost-cutting methods. It can also help growing companies, especially startups, with no set revenue yet or those that need manpower but have yet to acquire a physical workplace. Its flexibility is also an advantage, allowing employees to have work-life balance while helping their companies achieve its business goals.  

Attracting full-time home-based workers 

JobStreet Philippines commissioned the world’s leading research agency KANTAR to conduct the survey “Laws of Attraction” which had more than 18,000 Filipino respondents from top 25 industries across the country. This survey revealed that salary or compensation, career development, and work-life balance are the top three drivers of attraction among Filipinos who prefer work from home opportunities. 

Majority of home-based opportunities are full-time with 77.3% share according to JobStreet.com’s database of homebased jobs in 2019 to 2020. 

Attracting full-time home-based job seekers is similar to pulling office-based full-time workers. They prefer work from home jobs that provide mandatory government benefits (95.5%), double pay during holidays (93.9%), and high base salary (85.8%). 

Aside from promotion opportunities (78.2%) and clear growth plans (70%), hirers can entice home-based candidates by offering skills development or coaching (57.3%) and mentoring programs (51.5%).

Although they are employees working at the comfort of their home, they still expect companies to compensate them for overtime work (82.6%), switch off from work on public holidays (71.4%) especially if they cater only to the local market, and provide cash equivalent to unused annual leaves (67.4%). 

Pulling the part-timers 

Home-based part-timers are also considering salary or compensation, career development, and work-life balance when applying for a job.  

More than getting offers with high base salary, LOA showed that part-time home-based job candidates look for employers that give mandatory government benefits (91.2%), health insurance for their family (88.9%), and double pay during holidays (87.1%).  

Promotion (72.9%) and clear growth plans (63.4%) are common demands for all types of employees, but it’s noticeable that even work from home workers want skill development, coaching (57.6%) and other self-development programs (56.5%). 

They also demand for overtime pay (81.7%), compulsory no work during holidays (69.2%), and flexible working hours (46.5%).

Just like any other employees, home-based workers should also be given the equal importance. And for employers to be able to pull out the best candidates, they should also bring their a-game to the table and strategize their recruitment processes according to the demands of their target job seekers. 

To discover more on Filipino workforce, visit JobStreet’s LOA portal on  https://www.jobstreet.com.ph/en/cms/employer/laws-of-attraction/.

IS IT SAFE TO DRINK FROM THE TAP?

If you are a millennial, belong to Gen Z, or born in the mid ‘90s, I’m quite certain that you’d answer with a quick and emphatic-- NO!

But for those who belong to my generation, we actually lived at a time when bottled water and mineral water stations were non-existent and we could just drink out of any water faucet anytime—without any hesitation.

To tell you honestly, though, even I couldn’t remember the last time I drank from the tap. Ever since mineral and bottled water were sold, drinking straight from the tap has become pretty unthinkable to most residents of Metro Manila. There was this general impression that the water isn’t safe for drinking that’s why a lot of people got rich selling water purifiers, filters and bottled water. For us, the water that comes out of the faucet is only good for taking a bath, washing clothes, doing the dishes and rinsing veggies and fruits.

That was until our recent Maynilad tour which led us to Angat Dam, Ipo Dam and Maynilad’s La Mesa Water Treatment Plant 2.

The first stop was the Angat Dam which has “Class A” water meaning it is the best and easiest type of water to treat because it has the least impurities.

Our 2nd stop was the Ipo Dam, which diverts water from Angat Dam to the Novaliches Portal. Maynilad’s share of the raw water thereafter flows to its La Mesa Water Treatment Plants in Quezon City.

3rd stop was at Maynilad’s La Mesa Treatment Plant 2, right where the raw water undergoes treatment and laboratory testing.

We learned that for the past several years, Maynilad has been spending billions of pesos to transform and improve the Manila water network and that the water they produce conforms to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water set by the Department of Health (DOH) and compliant with the World Health Organization.

Samples are gathered daily and tested in a laboratory to ensure that water supply adheres to those standards, and the DOH and MWSS also conduct independent sampling activities to verify Maynilad’s findings.

This means that the water provided by Maynilad is actually guaranteed potable—well, at least until the water reaches your meter. This is the tricky part, because then the quality of the water would change depending on the material and quality of your house’s internal pipes. Leaky pipes for example might get contaminated by soil or other foreign substances. For your water to be considered safe to drink, there shouldn't be any leaks or damage to your pipes since these can become entry points for contamination.

So how does Maynilad filter the water from the dams?

Raw water from Angat Dam goes through a multi-stage treatment process that includes:

Screening - Raw water passes through screens that prevent the entry of foreign objects such as grass, leaves and tree limbs and other large floatables. 

Rapid Mixing- Chemicals are added to the raw water so undesirable, tiny suspended solids form into clusters. Chlorine may also be added for pre-chlorination.

Flocculation - Raw water is gently stirred so the small clusters of suspended solids will collide and form into large particles called "flocs".

Sedimentation- Floc particles get heavier and settle to the bottom of the basin

Filtration- Water from sedimentation basins is filtered through dual-media filters.  These filters trap the flocs as water flows down through them.

Post treatment- Before leaving the treatment plants, lime and chlorine may be added to the treated water. Chlorine is added to disinfect water and ensure that it is safe for consumers. Lime is added to correct the PH or acidity levels of the water, thereby preventing corrosion of the pipes in the distribution system.

La Mesa Treatment Plant 1 was commissioned in 1982 while La Mesa Treatment Plant 2 began its operations in 1995. The former was designed by an American company while the latter was designed by a French Company.

This is the step-by-step process on how they treat raw water, turning it into safe drinking water. Whenever there are service interruptions, you might notice that the water may appear cloudy or muddy at first once service resumes. If you see this, Maynilad suggests to just let the water flow out briefly until it becomes clear.

Five Easy Steps to Treat your Child's Fever

Parents today have access to more health information than ever through the availability of online sources and e-consultation apps. But when your child comes down with a fever, you can’t help but panic and forget everything you know or have read. It may even be tempting to rush your child to the hospital for mild fevers.

In most cases, a fever is a healthy sign that your child’s immune system is at work¹. What’s important to know is how to manage it at its onset regardless of the cause.

According to Dr. Carmina A. delos Reyes, Pediatrician and Infectious Disease Specialist, fever has various causes. “It can be due to an infection, inflammation, allergies, or prolonged heat exposure. Its treatment depends on the underlying problem. While it is important to pursue diagnostic tests, fever management is still highly recommended to provide comfort to the sick child.”

To have a better grasp on how to manage your child’s fever effectively, here are five (5) easy steps:

Step 1: Recognize and identify fever and discomfort²

There are many ways to know if your child is feeling feverish. While older kids verbalize their symptoms or discomfort, younger ones such as toddlers and babies express themselves through behavior. Be keen on changes in action and attitude such as loss of interest in toys or playing, loss of appetite, and increased crying.

The best way to confirm a child’s fever is by measuring their temperature using a thermometer. The normal temperature range for children is 36.5°C- 37.5°C. When the number rises above 37.5°C, the child has a fever^1,3 and in need of treatment

Step 2: Give the right dose of paracetamol

Now that you’ve confirmed that your child has a fever, give him or her paracetamol as the first-line treatment. This action step is prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO)⁴.

Be sure to purchase the right paracetamol formulation for your child’s age group. Dose your child correctly by taking your child’s weight, and following the recommended dosage instructions for your child’s weight band. The information is usually found on product labels.

Age can also be used as an alternative to guide dosing based on package instructions.⁵

Step 3: Don’t forget to use the measuring device provided

Measuring medicine may sound like an easy task, but many parents are guilty of under-dosing their child.⁶ WHO recommends parents to use the measuring device provided with the product⁴ to avoid errors.

How about tablespoons and teaspoons? Although they seem harmless, using kitchenware can double the risk of dosing errors for children.⁷ It is best to stick to the dosing device provided.

If you’re confused by the markings and measurement abbreviations on the dosing devices, check with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.

Step 4: Monitor your child’s progress and help them feel better

Want to do more for your child, but don’t know how? Here are some other ways you can do to help your child recover quickly.

DOs:

●      Monitor the temperature and check regularly for rashes or fatigue

●      Check on the child’s fever at night

●      Ensure that the child drinks plenty of fluids

●      Have the child stay at home until the fever has gone down

DON’Ts

●      Do not give sponge or cool baths

●      Do not under-dress or over-dress a feverish child 

Step 5: If fever persists, give your child paracetamol again

If the fever does not subside immediately, give your child another dose of paracetamol (at 15 mg/kg) every 4-6 hours. Just be sure to not administer paracetamol more than four times in a 24-hour period.^8,9,10 Be tough against fever and gentle to your child with Calpol for Kids. It is clinically proven to relieve 6 types of pain and fever, and to start working on the fever in just 15 minutes.

Many parents may feel confused about how to handle their children’s fever alone. With these 5 easy steps, you can learn to build your confidence in fever management at home and aid your child’s speedy recovery.

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Do more than just watching videos with double data from PLDT Home Wifi

Studying or working from home, or mostly known as “telecommuting,” can be beneficial for families as it enables flexibility of work schedule, eliminates daily commute, increases productivity and promotes work-life balance. Technology and the internet now make it easier than ever to work and study from home, as there’s an app or website that can help. 

For parents working at home, there are also many ways to support your kids and enable them to have fun in their home-schooling. Here’s what you’ll need to successfully work from or study at home:

1.     Free apps for virtual meetings

You don’t need to be together in one place to have meetings! If you’re working from home, you would need a reliable online tool for your scheduled virtual meetings. Software like Google Hangouts, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and even Facebook Messenger allow you to hold meetings over the internet, with options to enable video, virtual presentation, and convenient file-sharing as well. 

2.     Free apps to help your productivity

There are also specific apps that are convenient and safe for file-sharing. You’ve got sites like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, WeTransfer, and Dropbox to easily share large and confidential documents. 

You can also take advantage of free apps for notetaking, calendar, timers, and to-do lists that you can conveniently sync on your laptops and mobile phones. These will help you be organized, improve your time management skills, and get more things done.

Using these apps will help you stay focused at work and lead a productive and balanced lifestyle for your family at home.

3.     Free access to important government and news sites

In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we need to stay updated and informed more than ever while working or studying at home. These sites are important for daily viewing to get the latest news and credible information: 

Government websites

·       COVID-19 Tracker (ncovtracker.doh.gov.ph)

·       National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (www.ndrrmc.gov.ph)

·       Philippine Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)

·       Department of Health (www.doh.gov.ph)

News outlets

·       ABS-CBN News (news.abs-cbn.com)

·       BusinessWorld (www.bworldonline.com)

·       CNN Philippines (cnnphilippines.com)

·       GMA News Online (www.gmanetwork.com/news)

·       News5 (news.tv5.com.ph)

·       Philippine Star (www.philstar.com)

What’s even better is that PLDT Home is providing its WiFi Prepaid and volume-based plans subscribers free access to these important government and news websites! That means you can access them whenever, regardless of the data status of your connection.

4.     Free educational tools at home 

Of course, the opportunity to learn, grow and discover new skills does not stop when working at home. Whether studying different languages, trying on new recipes, or learning how to make videos or graphics online, there are a lot of online resources that you can explore. 

YouTube is the best place to start, with billions of videos available on just about every topic, including tutorials for anything you want to know. You can also listen to your favorite podcasts online for free.

For families with kids who are home-schooling now, this is the best time to enjoy free audiobooks and ebooks online. Amazon-owned Audible is now offering free-to-listen catalogue of children’s stories including literary classics, fairy tales, and a lot more for pre-schoolers, elementary, tweens, and teens. All these are available in six different languages.  

You can also be creative with fun and educational activities for your kids. Now you can explore hundreds of museums around the world from the comfort of your home. Google Street View’s Arts and Culture section now offers free virtual tours and exhibits of different museums and galleries worldwide including Tour Eiffel in Paris, British Museum in London, Taj Mahal in India, and Lizares Mansion in Iloilo. The National Museum of the Philippines also offers a 360 degree virtual tour on their website.  

The best thing is that you can enjoy more than just videos and a wealth of educational tools online because PLDT Home is also extending its Double Data promo for Wifi Prepaid until April 30! That means PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid subscribers can still get twice the data allocations from their FamLoad packages.

Enjoy productivity at home with the strongest connections of PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid powered by Smart LTE, the mobile network with the fastest speed and widest 4G availability in the Philippines, as affirmed by global internet testing firms Ookla, OpenSignal, and umlaut.

For more updates and information, follow PLDT Home on Facebook at facebook.com/PLDTHome, or visit the website at pldthome.com.

Singer-composer Seth Dungca to release heartwarming single “Halika” on April 3

During times of uncertainty such as now, people seek assurance and comfort. But try as we might, the pervading sense of hopelessness makes peace of mind seem elusive for most of us. Just imagine then what people with mental health issues are grappling with.

Twenty-four-year-old Seth Dungca understands this challenge as he pursues his advocacy on mental health in the different roles he plays—as singer-composer, special education teacher, model and actor. 

As a singer-composer, for instance, Seth strives to uplift people’s spirits through the sweet melody—and calming lyrics—of his songs. His debut single, ‘Halika’ expresses his yearning to inspire and to cheer: “Sa mundong puno ng takot, na dilim ang bumabalot, hahanapin natin ang liwanag sa piling ng isa’t isa . . .” 

The song is consistent with what Seth says his “core” is—emotions. “I write about what I feel; I will never invalidate emotions. I want people to understand that mental health is real; you can’t keep going with the whole ‘huwag-mo-na-lang-isipin-iyan mentality’ because if you keep something in without processing it, it will only get heavier and heavier,” he intones. 

Seth’s various roles in life have shaped him into the mental health advocate that he is now. As a special education teacher, he lives his truth every day—making sure that his students know that their emotions are valid. 

“Being a special education teacher lets me write about emotions without the inclination to invalidate them. When dealing with students who are overwhelmed by their emotions, I stay with them until they feel better, instead of telling them not to cry,” he relates. 

Seth adds that being an actor helps as this allows him to feel and convey myriad emotions as he writes and composes his songs. Singing, for him, is “an outpouring of emotion and information—basically acting and teaching your message.” 

In fact, Seth discloses that he wrote “Halika” when he was in a bad place—and wanted to flee. “The song talks about me trying to find solace by going into some dream world where I could cry myself to sleep and wake up feeling a little better after my sadness.” 

Seth hopes that people who hear “Halika” will also allow themselves to feel their emotions—to escape their everyday routines and go where their hearts may lead them. 

Asked about his next goals, Seth shares his dreams and thanks his mentor—award-winning director, producer, and Public Relations expert, Chris Cahilig. “I am in the process of writing more songs because I am blessed with a supportive mentor like Sir Chris. Call me crazy, but I plan on pursuing my childhood dream of having an album.” 

And Seth says he will continue to write about validating emotions until it becomes the norm. “I imagine a day when our response to someone saying ‘Parang hindi ko na talaga kaya’ is no longer ‘Hindi, kakayanin mo iyan, go lang nang go,’ but ‘Pero habang hindi mo pa kaya, nandito lang ako, nakikinig sa tabi mo.’ ”  

Seth earnestly hopes that listening to his debut single will help hearts heal, especially in these times of anxiety and fear. 

"Halika" will be available on Spotify on April 3.