Why do the american companies running call centres abroad insist on their employees assuming christian names?

Question

Is it very christian like to take away the persons very identity? Even if the person accepted christ why can't they retain their cultural name which their parents gave them? I know a lot of people who are very depressed with the odd hours of work, and loss of identity and the lying that these american companies ask these innocent people to do to sell stuff. They would be willing to go with their true names and location but the companies insist on it as policy. Is this good christian and business ethics?

By christian name i mean western names! If you spent 8-9 hours a day addressed as someone you are not you'd get a personality disorder!

Answer 1

I see what you mean. I know you mean its not religiously motivated and profit driven too. However it is not good for the employees health and wellbeing to work under an assumed identity,. perhaps why the turnover rate is so much too. It is possible only in india because the govt. of India is not protecting the work rights of individuals and also perhaps because there awareness about psychlogical damage from this is low or perhaps they don't care. I think the world should be willing to accept people as who they are instead of things that are easier to pronounce for them. Would you call an apple, orange if it was easier for you to pronounce orange. It's not at all good practice. Also, how will people learn about other cultures if they are not even willing to try and pronounce foreign names. I think the communication excuse is a sorry one.

Answer 2

I agree with rsantos' answer. Having been an employee in a call center (one, btw, that got closed down by the home office because it was more cost-effective to pay East Indians 85 cents hourly rather than pay us $8.50 hourly), it IS easier to remember & pronounce an Anglo name rather than an Hindu or Sikh name for us Anglos. After all, since not all East Indians have the privilege of British-run schools, some of their native accents are heavier than others, so communication with some are difficult at best at times.

As far as retaining a cultural name upon accepting Christ, that is up to them. However, just as Christian names reflect belief in the Judeo-Christian faiths, so do many names of other cultures reflect belief in other faiths.

Now, despite relating all of the above, to be honest with you, I always prefer, when permitted by their cultural etiquette, to call someone by their own name. I believe that the American-based policy of whitewashing cultural differences away is not a good one.

Answer 3

No idea what you are talking about or in what countries, what comanies or what context.

In the US the term Christian Name has little to do with actual religion and simply means the first name given to a person at birth or christening. How it would apply to non-christians would be that they are asking for a first and last name. In some cultures only one name is given to a person which would make it hard for a large corporation or organization to be able to differentiate or distinguish between individuals of the same name it employs or has contact with.

Answer 4

I think it's bad politics all around. Americans deserve those jobs.
Whatever will those companies do when the world runs out of cheap labor and they can't make millions off the backs of poor people? It's wrong, wrong, wrong to make someone assume a different name to satisfy those lying, cheating companies. The only people that come out on top in the end are the companies.
They make the millions and then lay off the workers and move to yet another country. For shame, for shame.

Answer 5

Jews for Jesus is a Christian evangelistic organization that focuses specifically on the conversion of Jews to Christianity. Christian Wiccans adhere to the polytheistic nature religion known as Wicca and profess belief in the teachings of Jesus. Christian Wicca is a particular denomination of the system of beliefs known as Christo-paganism. Common elements transplanted from Wicca include reincarnation and fertility; however, the key points of the divinity of Jehovah, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are retained from Christianity, often with a renewed emphasis on the latter two. as far as the Christian Muslims go. I have no idea

Answer 6

Not Christian names but western names. I know of HP who uses centers in India and i had spoke to a few of them pretending to be Americans with names like "Bob" and "Susan" but you can tell for their heavy accent they're native Indians., they just do it for the money, everyone needs to work and a place to live, so why not lye on behalf of super corporations from America who bring their mighty dollars to thier poor villages? And i'm not single out HP, but most of the computer, banking and credit card companies are outsourcing call centers to other countries.

Answer 7

Simply put, it isn't about "Christian" names, but names which are easy for English language speakers to use. In the US, I sometimes call a business and get, "hello, this is ______" with a name that cannot be easily written down in English letters. This leaves me sometimes unable to remember it and often unsure how to spell it should I have to send an email inquiry about the call.

Answer 8

It has nothing to do with religion.

Communication is a major part of phone-based assistance, and at the very least you should be able to pronounce and remember the names of the people who are working with you.

Dave, Bob, and Andy are easier for English speakers to remember than Gouthamasesh, Maruthanayangam, and Assapopolous.

Answer 9

With my name that you see in reply - do you think I stand a chance to win candidature for a small town in US/Europe. Companies want to win customers and they know it could be possible if the name of caller is culturally similar.

Answer 10

I wasn't aware that we had sunk to that level Dear god!!!! I often speak to these people on a daily basis thru sales tech support etc. I was never aware that our companies asked them to give up so much of themselves ......Is there anyway for this to be addressed? any resolution available?