Business and politics have always enjoyed a unique interrelationship.  While American businesses search for ways to bolster their bottom lines and stimulate growth in a dwindling economy, politicians are on the war path to get in the way of new initiatives.  Specifically, politicians have targeted businesses that are thriving as a direct result of business process outsourcing (BPO) relationships with countries like India and the Philippines.  Some of the dirty secrets that politicians don’t want you to know include the following:

• Politicians want to tax companies that use BPO.  It’s not just a simple matter of taxation in this situation.  It is a matter of politicians wanting to squelch the success and upward movement of American companies that have learned how to eliminate financial stressors and create jobs (both abroad and at home) with BPO.
• Politicians don’t want other countries to enjoy financial success. BPO not only helps American businesses save money, but create higher paying jobs at home and recover from the recession.  It also helps to stimulate the economy in other countries where BPO takes place.  For example, a large call center in the Philippines creates hundreds of jobs for relatively skilled laborers with few alternative options.  The BPO jobs pay above average wages and create opportunities for climbing the corporate ladder for Filipino citizens.  Politicians are against providing these great opportunities for aspiring professionals in other countries.
• Politicians don’t understand the relationship between offshoring and turning the economy around. It might not be completely obvious to the naked eye, but offshoring relationships are contributing to economic recovery in more ways than one.  It’s difficult for politicians to see how BPO is allowing American companies to dedicate more funds to core operations like research and development, green energy initiatives and providing benefits packages to domestic employees.  The overwhelming savings that BPO creates actually allows for economic stimulation in the United States.

The argument that BPO is detrimental to the United States will continue as long as politicians lack understanding and insight into the matter.  Fortunately, business professionals can take it upon themselves to learn about the benefits of BPO, how to protect their company’s reputation, and advocate for expansion globally.  It’s entirely possible for American companies to thrive, while also supporting domestic growth and BPO abroad.  All you need to do is set politics aside to see the reality of the economic stimulation and financial savings!

Related articles

• How Outsourcing to the Philippines Actually Stimulates the American Economy (trybpo.com)
• Offshoring at its Very Best: State-of-the-Art Call Centers (trybpo.com)
• Obama’s tax plan not seen hitting Indian outsourcing (taragana.com)