Kiezia:
Welcome to the cactus chat podcast. We’re now down to our last episode for this series, we’re going to interview our awardees for core values. And with me today is our largest guests. Irish, how are you?
Irish:
I’m good.
Kiezia:
Welcome to the show.
Irish:
Thank you.
Kiezia:
So she is our awardee for our core value, compassion, and very excited to talk about compassion, and also programs that Irish did on Pac Biz. So can you tell me about yourself?
Irish:
Hello, everyone, I’m so glad. And I’m here. And it’s actually a bit a little nervous. But I’m glad to be able to share what I’ve been doing here in Pac Biz. My name is Irish. And most of my colleagues call me mommy Irish. And I’ve been with Pacbiz for five years running six. And as I said, up until my retirement years, and of course, I’m a call taker here with one of our taxi accounts. And one of the highlights of my employment is actually the creation of our “Be a blessing charity,” which is mainly sponsored by Pacbiz
Kiezia:.
Yeah. And we will be talking more about that. How did you start working at Pacbiz?
Irish:
When I started with Pacbiz, it was just because my brother was working here. And he invited me to work here. And when I started, it was from sales, I was transferred to a lot of accounts, and then I was transferred to an E-commerce account. That’s where everything started. When I felt like I found my home.
Kiezia:
So you felt like you’re feeling you’re home at Pac Biz?
Irish:
Yes.
Kiezia:
Right. So what drew you to this?
Irish:
During that time, they have very good benefits, compensations? Yes, during the time, during when they started, they had these benefits that you cannot find in any other because I belong to top 100 agents. And I think some of the new agents are not aware that we were able to, we are free of some of the benefits like SSS, Philhealth, and I was one of the lucky ones. So aside from the fact that I felt like I found my home. It’s economically very helpful to me.
Kiezia:
Yeah, why Pacbiz is a home for you.?
Irish:
Because it’s a place where I really felt that I can be who I am. Because as people, we have changes in our moods and everything. Everyone accepts that. And they know, I think everyone is willing to understand and willing to give you chances, which I’m in. I’m not comparing that from my past experience. I never experienced that they will not, um, some companies would not allow you to like consider your family situations like that. So that’s why I stayed here.
Kiezia:
Yeah, that’s understanding and also doing something about this situation. So I think we do have compassion in Pac Biz and the core that we will be talking about today.
So how do you integrate compassion into your leadership as a leader of the BAB initiative?
Irish:
Initially, I just want to share that when “Be a Blessing” was created, it was just a simple thought of sharing, like a five sack of rice to someone because it was during the pandemic when a lot of people were posting on Facebook asking for help asking for diapers and asking for milk. But that person asked for anyone who needs a massage. He was a blind massage therapist. So right then he earned my respect because he belongs to the PWD but he’s trying his best to earn not begging for money. So I had this thought and shared that to my Colleague.
Kiezia:
Right. That was how be a blessing started during the pandemic.
Irish:
Yeah. So we’re four years now. Yeah, it was just as simple. And by that, when I shared it to my colleague, my teammates, one idea here comes another idea of adding canned goods and then an idea of surprising them and that’s where it all started. So the whole team was created. And we decided to do it every month.
Kiezia:
Can you share an example we’re showing compassion made a difference?
Irish:
For me, when our small charity was created, it has made a difference. Because our compassion is not just limited to all the employees of Pac Biz. But we are also reaching out to the community we have helped, not just within Dumaguete, we have helped outside Dumaguete like Tanjay, Ayungon, we went to Sibulan, we reached out to a lot of people. And it’s not just a small group, but as a company, we are continuing to do that. And we’re going to be four years old this year.
Kiezia:
Yeah. How did it make a difference in these communities? These people.
Irish:
As I have noticed, when we started after, like, a few a year or two, some companies are doing what we are doing as well. Yeah, although not entirely, we don’t have the same goals. Because sometimes when we give school supplies we give ayuda like rice. And sometimes we do feedings. But there are also some companies in Dumaguete, who are doing that. Aside from that, because in our company, we really cannot stop people from growing and I have colleagues, I have my teammates before who are now working from another company. But you know what, when they see some people who are struggling, they would mention me or they send me a message asking, maybe we can help these people. So they think that we have the capacity to help these people. Because whenever they see struggling people, they really tend to mention the team. And we also have people outside of the company who are supporting us. That’s one thing that we are so proud of, because aside from Pacbiz, we also have outside sponsors. That’s why we are able to help a lot of people.
Kiezia:
All right, so how do you show compassion to your colleagues during challenging times? Or have you encountered that?
Irish:
Yes, because we had a colleague before who met with an accident. And during that time, we we’re, it was just a small organization, it was just limited to us, our team. So we had this agreement that when the pay comes we are going to share some amounts so we can give it to our colleague. So that has happened not just once when we had that colleague.. So it has become a tradition that whenever someone is struggling, everyone really shares whatever they can.
Irish:
Yeah, can you share that story? There was something memorable about somebody that you helped?
Kiezia:
Yes, we have helped a child somewhere in Sibulan. And since we have limited funds by that time, what we did is we asked people to share not outside but within the company, we asked them to share whatever they can make diapers, vitamins, dress, food, and that really happened everyone was willing to give and there are even some that we did not ask for but they offered it here and foods that are not just the basic ones they wanted that girl to experience or to try something new the good food because she was they said that it was hydrocephalus.
Kiezia:
Yeah, yes, that child, I remember that. I think it was the first outreach that we did one of the first outreaches.
Okay, how do you believe a compassionate workplace positively affects overall productivity and well being?
Irish:
Personally, we cannot really stop that there are times in our shift that we tend to be stressed out, not just with colleagues, but it really happens. It’s not the nature of the work but really happens to ourselves, especially to me, I work from home. And I’m a mother whenever I have a call like I work from home, and I do a lot of multitasking. And I feel stressed out but before, each end of the month, there is always something, I always have this goal that at the end of the month, there is something that’s going to happen because of our monthly schedule for the group.
Kiezia:
Yeah, so you always look forward to the…
Irish:
We are looking forward to doing yes…
Kiezia:
Yes, actually, same here. I always look forward to “Be A Blessing” activity each month.
Did you feel that Pac Biz is a compassionate workplace?
Irish:
Yes. If not because of Pac Biz, that activity wouldn’t reach until its fourth year, especially because one of my, most of my teammates who created that with me is no longer here with us, they’re working for another company. So if I was not in Pac Biz, it was just like, it went away with the pandemic.
Kiezia:
Right. So, yeah, definitely. So what was your motivation to continue to the “Be A Blessing”?
Irish:
Mainly because I have sponsors.
Kiezia:
Like Pac Biz
Irish:
Yes, I have Pac Biz and their sponsorship really inspires me to continue when we have started way back 2020
Kiezia:
Were you always into doing outreaches even before?
Irish:
Growing up I wanted to help just like I think everyone else would think like, the term if I will get rich, I will really help. But then I realized there was a point in my life when I was sharing food to the street children. At the back of my mind, I was like, I am so grateful that I have this capacity to share even if I’m not yet rich. And I can only do that because of Pacbiz.
Kiezia:
Yeah, I think everybody can share even if, you don’t have to be rich. Everyone has something to share a little something to share doesn’t have to be grand or big.
Before we end this series, could you offer a piece of advice for listeners?
Irish:
Okay, um, just a piece of advice. Whenever we see not just struggling people, but anyone. Main thing that I always, it’s what I always do is what I would feel if I were in their shoe, and I am grateful that I am where I am. So I always have this gratefulness. And when you are thankful of what the smallest thing that you have, you’ll always feel blessed to be a blessing to other people.
Kiezia:
Nice, thank you. It’s been a pleasure to be chatting with you Irish and I really appreciate you for your contribution to Pacbiz and the community. Thank you so much for the listeners. So that concludes our series for this podcast on core values of practice. And see you next time!