Why Filipino VAs Disappear (and how to prevent it)

I hate to admit it, but some of us Filipino workers do have a habit of disappearing.

I don’t think it’s a uniquely Filipino trait, but it does seem more noticeable when a Filipino does it because it contradicts our usual work ethic. If you listen to people talk about Filipino workers abroad, we’re praised as some of the most reliable, hardworking people around. We’re everywhere, and we’re always there.

So why is it that some Filipino VAs have a tendency to disappear? There are a number of reasons:

1. They don’t know how to do something you’ve asked them to do.

2. When your employee feels underutilized

3. When there’s no regular feedback or communication

4. When a worker isn’t ready to handle the stress.

5. They’re worried if you’re going to be disappointed in their work.

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1. They don’t know how to do something you’ve asked them to do.

Some Filipino VAs feel trapped when they’re given a task they don’t know how to do. This usually happens when:

• They don’t understand the instructions.
• They were given a task that employers assumed they knew how to do but don’t.

How to prevent this from happening to you.

Remember, English isn’t the first language for most Filipinos. When giving instructions, NEVER ASSUME they understood it the first time. Always ask yourself if your instructions are clear. Then, ask them if there’s anything in the instructions they didn’t understand clearly.

For the second issue, this usually happens with inexperienced virtual assistants. They’re so eager to work that they ‘embellish’ their resumes. Training and a more rigorous hiring process can help you find more experienced virtual assistants.

What we’re doing to stop this from happening

How you manage workers makes all the difference. Requiring your applicants to use a certain number of Apply Points helps in screening out unqualified posts.

You can use our 4 pillars of managing Filipino workers to help you be more effective.

We also tweaked our ID Proof algorithm to consider workers’ reported skills when calculating their scores.

2. When your employee feels underutilized

Starting your VA with an easy task to test their skill and reliability is good. But only giving them easy tasks that are way below their skill level is bad.

Why? Because eventually, they’ll get bored. And when your virtual assistant gets bored, they’ll start looking for something challenging.

Why would your virtual assistant do that? Shouldn’t they be thankful that they have an easy job?

Filipino VAs are ambitious. We know that the more challenging the job, the better the pay.

• If we’re given an easy job that pays a pittance, we’ll get bored and find something better.
• If you pay us well for an easy job, we’ll feel guilty and quit out of principle.
• If you pay us well and give us tasks that challenge us, we’ll feel fulfilled and stay.

How to prevent this from happening to you.

Train your VA to do more challenging jobs. Training not only helps them, but it also helps your business by creating a highly skilled VA who’s tailor-fit to your needs. Then, raise their salary when they consistently meet your expectations.

What we’re doing to stop this from happening:

We understand that part of the problem is that Filipino workers are often afraid to speak up. That’s why when a worker signs up for an Onlinejobs.ph account, we orient them on what employers expect with resources that come with their account. They’re taught and encouraged to communicate with their employers. This way, you’ll know when your employee is getting bored and when to start training.

3. When there’s no regular feedback or communication

When employers give feedback, it shows that they care and are on top of things. If we don’t hear from employers, it gives us the impression that:

• You’ve already left, and we probably should just leave, too.
• You don’t care about our work, so why should we?

This isn’t just a Filipino thing. Any manager will tell you that they stay on top of things because when the cat’s away, the mice will play. Even CEOs visit their businesses regularly to make sure their managers are doing their jobs.

How to prevent this from happening to you.

Email your virtual assistant regularly. Taking just 5 minutes daily to check in on them is nothing compared to the hours you saved.

What we’re doing to stop this from happening.

Here at Onlinejobs.ph, we’ve integrated feedback into our system, and it’s been working well for years. Using Basecamp, it’s easier for us to monitor and keep track of what everyone is working on.

4. When a worker isn’t ready to handle the stress.

A lot of people, including Filipinos, tend to run away from stress. And some Filipino VAs disappear because they’re unprepared for the stress of online work.

There’s still a stigma associated with online work in the Philippines. Many people think it’s not a “real” job.

It also doesn’t help that there are a growing number of (paid) virtual assistant training courses that teach only the most basic lessons. This has encouraged many inexperienced workers to overestimate their abilities when marketing themselves.

So what happens when newbies realize they’ve bitten off more than they can chew? They cut their losses and run.

How to prevent this from happening to you.

Invest in training for your virtual assistant. Assume they only know the basics unless they can present you with a portfolio. If they have the right skills for the job, they should be able to handle the responsibilities you give them.

What we’re doing to stop this from happening.

We’re aware of this and have implemented several measures to address it (vetted worker, IDProof). We’ve also been involved in discussions with the Philippine government, and they’ve started developing a VA training program that’s regulated and better suited to employer needs.

5. They’re worried if you’re going to be disappointed in their work.

Filipinos are eager to please. They take pride in doing their job well. But when unsure about something, it’s easy for them to assume the worst.

There’s a common misconception that you can leave everything once you outsource, and it will run by itself. But if your employees don’t know they’re doing well, they might think you’ve abandoned them because they did something wrong.

This usually happens when there’s not enough constructive feedback or communication.

How to prevent this from happening to you:

Stay on top of things by communicating with your virtual assistants regularly. You can do this through your project management software or good old-fashioned email. And you don’t need to shower your VAs with praise every day. Just give them honest, sincere feedback that motivates them and helps them do their work better.

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About Julia Jasmine M. Sta Romana

Julia has been working for OnlineJobs.ph since 2012, first as a writer and now as its social media manager and content development specialist. She also founded the Davao Virtual Assistants Association, the biggest VA association in Davao City.

She’s a full-time wife and mom and volunteers her time as an internet rights advocate.

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