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CTA
members tell their stories: Part 7
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Words
of praise fail Punjab e-Marketer
& Technical Writer.
Well, my experience is something NEW in this part of
the world where TELEWORK is a rare thing. I enjoyed my time
with my daughter, wife and above all, MYSELF. One simply
forgets him/herself during working on somebody else' place.
But when you work at your own home and you add a great value
to a company as well... this gives you a great feeling of
achievement and peace of mind as well. Can't advocate telework
as much as I don't have enough words to praise about this type
of a great way to WORK! Amir
Ali Tayyab Advanced Communications, Punjab, Pakistan
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Developer
telework but sometimes finds it a bit lonely
I developed and support the ABE (Adult Basic Education)
database (FileMaker Pro based, desktop, not web-based) for the
ABE Learning Centres in the state of Wyoming, USA. I also
developed a companion TimeKeeper program. I
started working on this project 4 years ago, while still
living in Wyoming. We immigrated to Canada in March 2000, and
I continued work on the project, and am now mostly
"keeping it up" and looking for ways to expand or
continue in this line of work. The best
part is that I can work at home (no extra transportation,
clothing, food costs), in my own time. As for the worst part,
the same things that make it the "best" make it also
the "worst": being at home all the time, working
alone, being tied to the job. I make an effort to keep regular
times, I get dressed for the job, and I try to turn off the
computer at the end of the day, and I enjoy the arrangement
for the most part, but sometimes I miss being with other
people. That's it! Thanks, Ursula
Abresch, Ottawa Ontario
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Quebecer
loved telework but lacked the self discipline: I
teleworked for Raytron for about a year, then became an
in-house consultant; but I'd consider telework opportunities
in the future. Teleworking was fun, but I lacked sufficient
discipline to stay productive long term, and often needed to
go to Raytron to do lab work, anyhow. The biggest stumbling
block in teleworking I found was my computer monitor's size
(17 inch). I will buy the best 22 inch money can buy (Philips)
if or when I telework again. Daniel
Watkins, Daniel, Raytheon, St. Laurent, Quebec.
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Initially
skeptical, Montrealer now loves telework. Montreal
teleworker was skeptical, but now Begrudgingly I accepted a
sales position with a Quebec publisher who preferred having
their representatives work out of their homes to save costs to
them. As part of my territory was the U.S. it stood to reason
that much of the business I did was over the internet or on
the phone. I sort of fought (with myself) to maintain an
office with everyone else as I did not think I would like to
be isolated from everyone. At the same time my company is
French speaking and I enjoyed interacting in French with my
colleagues not something I could do with the American contacts
I was making. After a year or so the publisher decided to let
me go after a reorganization and I was able to replace the
income with two other positions. One as a representative for
another publisher, Nelson Thomson, who needed a Quebec
presence and a company who does business plans for every
industry through the Elance internet site. Now I don't think I
could go back to having to report to an office, and I have!
learned how to manage my time so I am not always sitting at
the computer and I can close the door when I have finished my
work. What I really learned to appreciate is the flexibility
working from home has given me. Self determination,
responsibility and balance. Not to mention I don't have to
deal with the Montreal rush hour traffic. Gail
Woolrich, Par Excellence Business Services Inc. Montreal,
Quebec
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Toronto
Airport worker a relative newcomer to the world of teleworking.
Just finding my feet. I work at the office 2 to 3 days a week
and in my home office the rest. Despite the obvious
temptations of being at home, I find the peace and quiet so
much more conducive to my noisy desk at work. Much of my work
involves writing, editing and web related work (technical
author). I have a connection into the network at work and so
have access to all my info stored on the intranet.
Experiencing some degree of resistance from my
"boss". He feeling more comfortable now that I send
him a things to do list in the morning and a status report at
the end of the day. Very happy to have stumbled upon your
organization. Pure luck! Off to explore the site now! Paul
Roberts, Greater Toronto Airports Authority
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Federal
project manager from Vancouver sees bright future for
telework. I am not presently teleworking, but of
course, I am very interested in the social scientific theory
and application of Telework. I believe that with the improving
telecommunications industry and costs of transportation
(energy, pollution, and personal time), there is more
justification to establish smart telework centres. I am in
fact driving a potential Satellite Office Project that will
evolve from a collaboration of Private Sector and Public
Sector. It is just a matter of time. There will be growth, but
we must make it smarter and try to meet Kyoto objectives or
less pollution through commute. William
H.F.Christie, Project Manager - Architect/Economist,
Public Works & Government Services Canada, Vancouver BC.
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Hamilton
editor/journalist reduces commute by some 2-3 hours a day:
My company offers writing, editing and market promotion
services to business publications and high-tech companies. My
primary client is a magazine, Canadian Facility Management
& Design, which is run almost as a virtual corporation.
The publisher is in Etobicoke, the art director in Markham,
circulation management is in North Toronto and I, as the
editor, am in Hamilton. I started in publishing in a large
firm where everyone was in the same building, except for the
printer with whom we communicated by courier. It took a month
to get each issue of the monthly magazine together, partly
because of the delays in getting proofs back from the printer,
and six weeks from final proofs to publication. Now, I send
final pages to Markham via e-mail in seconds, and visit the
publisher for lunch. If I still worked for the publishing firm
in Toronto where I was for 22 years, I would spend 2 to 3
hours travelling. Now, I simply descend three flights of
stairs and make a detour to the kitchen on the way. Telework
works. Tom Kelly,
Editor/journalist
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Calgary
mother loves her telework. Upon returning from
maternity leave, I found working full time did not allow me
enough time to spend with my little one. As a result, I
approached my manager about working 3 days a week. This notion
did not receive much enthusiasm as it was not enough hours. My
compromise was to work 3 days a week from home so I could work
more hours. Instead of commuting for 2 hrs a day, I now work
those hours. I work Mon - Wed from 7:00 am (when my family
leaves) - 5:30 pm (when they come home). I am more productive
at home and I spend more time with my family. I love it!
Darcie Gosling
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Dramatic
benefits with telework I was hired by VCR in the
fall of 2001. One of the compelling aspects of the job offer
was that I would telework. The company purchased a notebook
computer, phone, fax and printer so that I could easily work
from home, or anywhere for that matter. The president of VCR,
Bob Flemington, had been working from his home since July 2001
and understood the benefits of doing so. It has dramatically
reduced the stress on my family, car costs and greenhouse gas
emissions after commutting from Guelph to Scarborough for 14
years! Evan Jones,
Guelph Ontario
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Telework
not for everyone. Have teleworked full time since
1995, for Janpar initially then Nortel and Computer Sciences
Corp. Was laid off from CSC in Nov 2002 due to cutbacks at
Nortel. No really interesting stories to
tell. Started teleworking to cut back on commute time, and to
be 'closer' to my family and community. Has certainly changed
my life, I have become a more rounded person, am more involved
with kids and community than I was when I was commuting.
Telework is not for everyone, must be a fairly
'strong' person who can get what you 'need'. Larry
Watt, Havelock, Quebec
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Ontario-based
CEO writes about his virtual organization! Centre
for Sustainable Transportation has no offices and operates as
a 'virtual' organization. We have no offices. Staff members
work out of their private residences. Meetings are almost
entirely via conference calls. Al
Cormier, President and CEO of the Centre
for Sustainable Transportation
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Self
employed from Hungary seeks Canadian computer job via
telework: I don't have a husband, but I have a
daughter. She is 12 years old. I work all day by computers. I
have a lot of free time. I would like to get more money, so I
could live more better with my child. First of all I would
like to work with datasetting. I'm still learning the English.
I reason I would like to work is because I work quick and
good, and when at Canada it's morning, I'm done with the work
(because of the time collapsing). Andrea
Pilisné Nagy, Budapest, Hungary
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Telework
helps balance work and family. I
am a believer in telework and it is more than amply suited for
my line of work. I work as a freelance writer/researcher and
have the flexibility to take care of my family. Chakrabarty
Moushumi Mississauga, Ontario
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Kemptville
Ontario employee loves the
benefits of telework. I began teleworking in Jan
2000. It has been wonderful. I no longer dread the 45 minute
drive to and from work - nor do I have to endure the stormy
winter weather. I love being able to be at work in a split
second and work in the comfort of my own home. Both my
employer and my family have benefited from this arrangement. Daina
Warren
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See dozens of other telework
stories in our telework
story archives
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