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CTA
members tell their stories: Part 12
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Florida
pharmacist links pharmacy with telework.
With the shortage of pharmacists
in Canada , I believe that telework can resolve certain issues
and create more opportunities for pharmacists. Especially that
pharmaceuticals are becoming more and more complex and
technicians will cover the dispensing aspects of the profession.
Pharmacy will tend to become a knowledge-based profession where
frontiers will not be an issue.
Alain Vincent,
Florida |
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Long-time
teleworker still hanging in there. Thanks as ever
Bob. I'm still hanging in here, now teleworking for a full ten
years, initially part time and for the past 8 full time. Still
with Workopolis - now for more than 5 years. Hope you are well,
I just wanted to say that I read every newsletter and really
enjoy what you are doing for us all out there. Interesting about
the change in decision by HP. Makes no sense to me. It always
strikes me as a basic insecurity on the part of the manager
making the decision and the inability to accept that trust works
both ways. but hey what do I know eh!
Carolyn Poulter,
Marmora, Ontario, Canada |
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Small
software design and consulting firm works out of President's
home. We are a small software design and consulting
firm, we specialize in working with utilities and utilities
contractors. We work out of home (my home) and there are four of
us. We could work out of our individual homes, but prefer being
in an invironment where we can chat and loosely interact. On the
other hand, we love being able to connect to 150+ computers
remotely and service and support our customers without having to
leave our comfortable desks.
Hans Peters, President,
ComPeters, Inc. |
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Telus
Manager manages mobile team of teleworkers. I support
a team of call centre employees who work from home. I myself
work in the office although I am able to work a few days per
month from home. My team comes into the office once to twice a
month and I go out twice a year to visit them at home.
Tonya Archer, Team
Manager, Telus Mobility |
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Telework
helps Navy girlfriend keep home fires burning. I
think teleworking is a great idea, I would love to continue to
work and start a family at home. My boyfriend is in the Navy and
he's not always around, so this is the perfect answer to keep
income flowing while being able to enjoy time with each other!
Nikki Matheson,
Victoria, BC |
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Telework
would be a wonderful solution for this CT job seeker who has no
access to commuting. I am interested in
starting telework because it is the best solution for my current
situation. I am currently unemployed, have no transportation and
live in a town that provides no public transportation (we don't
even have any local cab companies.)
Robyn Fountain,
Plainfield, CT |
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Proud new
Canadian values telecommuting and life balance. My
story well is about most importantly being a mom (I have three
children). I am from Pakistan and now a proud Canadian. I have
done Electrical engineering and have around fifteen years of
experience in Project management. Five out these fifteen years
as telecommuter ( a term unheard of in Pakistan!!). Well
to make the long story short I personally give great value to
putting balance in life without losing my own identity or
usefulness, so whenever i became a mom of new born i took an
year break to telecommute. I was given permission to work from
home with occasional visits to office to conduct weekly meeting
etc. I consider myself
lucky to have this break due to the background of employers (a
multinational group) and thanks to them I was able to give
quality time to my home and family ; and also exceptional
project management skills to complete rather difficult projects
on time. I appreciate you people to stand up on a forum for
telecommuters which in the long term benefit the employer and
employee. Here as support I would like to volunteer my
services in any respect as administrative or any other capacity.
Would be glad to be supporter of this portal.
Samina, Toronto, ON |
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Telework
like being at the office without taking up office space.
I worked for Polaroid Corporation from 2000 - 2004 in Waltham,
MA mainly in the R&D group. Since my family and I wanted to move
back home to New Brunswick, I interviewed at a company in
Fredericton, NB in December of 2004. I was offered a position at
this company and gave Polaroid my notice. Polaroid did not want
me to leave so I suggested a telecommuting arrangement. Polaroid
agreed and I have been telecommuting since March of 2005. My
duties involve writing software for engineers and scientists in
the R&D group, who are developing a new digital printing method.
I stay connected to the office using tools like Cisco VPN,
Outlook, Google Talk and Windows XP's Remote Assistance feature
so I can connect to users PCs and see their desktops. Using
Google Talk, speakers and a microphone, I can talk to my
co-workers without having to pay a large phone bill. It is like
I am at the office but I do not take up office space.
Jason Brogan
Polaroid Corp. New Brunswick, Canada |
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Teleworking saves time and travel for Nortel Manager.
I began teleworking because I found that I could more
efficiently from home than at the office during the winter. I
would save time traveling to and from work and that time could
be spent working instead of waiting in traffic. Once I began
setting up myself at home (i.e. hi-speed internet, printer and
fax) I saw no need to be at the office except to attend local
meetings. Since I work and manage with a global team most of my
meetings could be held via conference calls.
M. De Fanti, Manager
Real Estate Finance, Nortel Networks |
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Motivated
and disciplined small business teleworker from Hamilton just
loves working at home. I've been operating Quick-Type
for over 13 years and like Bob Fortier my computer is opposite a
wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor window looking out on my garden
and a family of cardinals. I love what I do (transcription for
medical specialists) and I'm a highly motivated and disciplined
person and I don't transcribe in my nightgown although I could.
Working at home is of benefit to my clients. I can work 5:00 am
to 5:00 pm ++ if I need to ... and often do. Many times I'll put
in a couple hours of work on the computer following a 3-4 hour
hike. I don't feel lonely working here because I'm a
well-rounded social individual when the office door closes. I
only wish more of the medical profession would understand the
benefits I can offer as opposed to working at their location. My
productivity is beyond belief. I don't find they're as receptive
to teleworking as one would think. I've had the capability of
receiving their files digitally which would reduce the
turnaround time of the transcription considerably.
On a humerous note. One of my clients is a forensic
psychiatrist, who often quotes verbatim some of the
conversations with an in-mate. Needless to say (and this of
course is confidential) when it is dictated to you 'out of the
blue' it can be hilarious and "fall-off-your-chair"
gut-wrenching funny. I started teleworking because I could see
the efficiency of it. I wish more employers would see the
benefits. Sincerely,
Shirley Bailey, Owner,
Quick-Type Secretarial
Service |
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Flexibility key for this teleworker researcher. My
husband's job requires that he travel to different countries,
sometimes for extended periods of time. The nature of my job
enables me to work wherever there is access to the internet and
a telephone. I have teleworked from my bedroom dresser in Hong
Kong to Internet Cafes in the UK to my colleague's kitchen in
New Zealand. The most humorous thing that has happened during
those telework experiences is getting e-mails from colleagues
who say that they are on their way to my office in Canada to
talk to me...but I am actually across the world! In particular I
am interested in how other people use telework as a transition
to retirement. Gillian
Joseph, Researcher, Centre for Families, Work & Well-Being,
University of Guelph. |
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TeleRepsathome, fully supports telework.
TeleRepsathome was founded out of the need to help individuals
find real jobs; they can do from the comfort of their home
office. As the founder of TeleRepsathome I have researched jobs
that can be done from home for 12 years, I understand that
trying to find a company that allows you to telework can be a
long hard journey, especially when you are just an average
person with no specialized training. Now that major Call Centers
are making the move from building to home and small business are
following... I knew this would create telework opportunities for
many who may not be highly skilled. I have used my experience to
locate as many reputable telework opportunities as possible,
skilled and unskilled. Like my members I also telework, because
TeleRepsathome is a company run from my home office and my staff
enjoy the same benefits. My mission is that TeleRepsathome will
help many people reap the rewards of telework. Tara, Founder Of
www.telerepsathome.com
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Our
company recently decided that they were closing the plant where
my office is located. They offered to move me to
corporate headquarters in Mississauga, but I'm not keen on
living in the Toronto area. I decided that I had to find a way
to keep my job. So, after hours of research, various drafts, I
put forth a proposal for Teleworking and my company accepted my
proposal! It starts in October and I'm so excited about it I can
hardly wait until then! I'm very proud of my accomplishment and
have to thank you for putting so much information at my finger
tips! Renee Rochefort, ConAgra Foods Canada Inc, Niagara
Falls, ON |
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Gatineau
(Quebec) web designer feels Canada could do more. My
telework activities started as soon as I connected to Internet
in 1998. At that time my two brothers and I were convinced to
find more Internet job in USA than here in Canada "because the
Americans have everything". After three months of self-training,
and posting my URL and CV to as many B2B and job sites as
possible, a New York ISP emailed me and offered us to start
building Web sites. We did about 30 small Web sites each in our
own studio. But I never could find that many jobs here in
Canada. So I started to take Government jobs with Ottawa
agencies. Today in 2005, I still wonder where are the telework
recruiters. Maybe that's the reason why you have this Note "We
cannot find telework jobs..." here on this page... You can
surf my Portfolio to see on or two jobs still on display. Most
of my US jobs have been updated by other gurus since.
Mike Tremblay |
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North
York teleworker urges business and government to do more
Starting about 10 years ago, I trained in Multimedia
Development, Web Design and basically everything
computer-related, as part of our curriculum we explored how to
efficiently telework. I am no stranger to the scene, in theory.
I have yet to find any job that uses my skills and teleworking.
I worked in-house for many years in different fields and
different jobs. Now I find myself at home caring for my two
young children and looking more intently at the prospects
involving telework. I cannot believe that more employers have
not discovered the benefits of teleworkers, both for their
business and the environment. I would really like to see Canada
move into the age of teleworking and become a world leader in
cost-efficiency and positive environmental impacts. The Canadian
Government should offer more information and incentives to big
businesses about teleworking and how it can favorably impact our
economy and the environment. As for me, I am still plugging away
at finding my place in the world as a teleworker and spreading
the information on to all I meet. Hooray for IVC for bringing
telework to the minds of so many people and I hope that you have
more publicity in the coming years.
Nora Gill, North York,
Ontario |
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North
York teleworker urges business and government to do more
Starting about 10 years ago, I trained in Multimedia
Development, Web Design and basically everything
computer-related, as part of our curriculum we explored how to
efficiently telework. I am no stranger to the scene, in theory.
I have yet to find any job that uses my skills and teleworking.
I worked in-house for many years in different fields and
different jobs. Now I find myself at home caring for my two
young children and looking more intently at the prospects
involving telework. I cannot believe that more employers have
not discovered the benefits of teleworkers, both for their
business and the environment. I would really like to see Canada
move into the age of teleworking and become a world leader in
cost-efficiency and positive environmental impacts. The Canadian
Government should offer more information and incentives to big
businesses about teleworking and how it can favorably impact our
economy and the environment. As for me, I am still plugging away
at finding my place in the world as a teleworker and spreading
the information on to all I meet. Hooray for IVC for bringing
telework to the minds of so many people and I hope that you have
more publicity in the coming years.
Nora Gill, North York,
Ontario |
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Canadian
company Catecs helps other companies lower the cost of
compliance. When I started my business, a very
good friend had let me use office space in downtown Montreal for
free, at least until the business started to generate sales.
Days spent drinking cafe lattes while planning out the business
in open air bars on Crescent and St. Catherine street were, of
course, great. Alas to save money we, meaning my wife and son,
had to move out of our cozy upper duplex in NDG, and relocate to
our modest, but paid for cottage in the Laurentians.
Though we sadly lack DSL or cable services here, both my
photographer wife and I are now running virtual businesses from
the cottage, and we couldn't be happier. The school bus stops in
front of our door, and with a mail-in DVD service, even our
teenage son is happy. The business I had started in the city had
to be redesigned to be virtual. What has emerged is Catecs,
which is short for Compliance Assistance Technologies. The idea
for this business originated while I was working at Canada
Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) on an e-government project.
Catecs in a nutshell: Every company needs to comply with rules
and regulations. Now name one company with the mission of
lowering the cost of compliance. If you can think of one, please
tell me! If you can't, let me introduce you to Catecs! We have a
compliance framework, a process and supporting tools that allows
our clients to lower the cost of compliance with any set of
regulations (according to their 'compliance profile'). Our
overall focus is on compliance with international standards and
best practices for quality, environmental, information security
and records management. Catecs partners with freelance writers
and application specialists, and uses its virtual office to
manage workflow. Operating as a network of home office-based
professionals allows Catecs to expand to any city. Richard
Howlett, Managing Director, Compliance Assistance Technologies (Catecs),
(450) 533-6030 |
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Hamilton
Ontario business completely virtual and supports telework.
Raymond Services supports full teleworking. All of our
employees work entirely from home, and are also trained at home.
We rarely meet any of them. However, our customers are met
face-to-face, initially, then our relationship is continue
remotely. Although teleworking certainly does present it's
challenges, overall we have found that we can normally work
around them. Raymond Services came into being almost four years
ago, and met the issues of homeworkers from its inception. There
are still areas of business life that need constant attention
due to employees occupying a home office, but we are determined
to maintain the status quo. Some business prospects remain
uncertain of the viability of our decision, but we are hopeful
that the future will convince them that we can overcome some the
problems situations they are claiming are insurmountable.,
Raymond McIntyre,
Owner / operator, Raymond Services |
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Florida
College professor thinks telework is just fine:
I've worked as a freelance writer online in the past, both
teleworking online as well as at a physical location. The
physical setting was more dependable in terms of workload and
more consistent. David
Somerfleck, West Palm Beach |
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Markham,
ON. Account Manager for Delphi Corp loves his telework.
I work mostly on the area that I live in, which is about 75 km.
from the office of the company that I work for. In my home
office I have a High Speed Internet connection, a fax machine, a
laptop computer as well as an Internet Protocol (IP) phone. The
IP phone is a godsend. It gives me direct access to our
corporate PBX though the public Internet. The people I talk to
on the phone have no idea that I’m not actually in the office. I
can start my workday bright and early without having to deal
with traffic.
Together with my cellular phone, I have access to virtually all
of the resources available to me at the head office. I can go
directly from home to visit customers most days and I can often
beat the traffic home to finish up any paperwork by days’ end
and still get supper going before my wife gets home from work.
Our company is in the business of supplying our customers with
the means to equip their own employees with the means to
telework, and in so doing gain the considerable benefits for all
concerned. Guy
Couture, Strategic Account Manager,
Delphi
Solutions Corp. |
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Saskatoon-based freelance contract writer enjoys working from
home I have been working from home full time since
1999 as a freelance/contract writer. Most of my work from 1999
to 2004 was with a U.S. investment research firm. As a reporter,
and later editor, I participated with and led international
teams of reporters who interviewed people in a variety of
industries and then wrote reports about the industry and
companies. Institutional investors used these reports to make
investment decisions. My primary area of expertise is in
electronics, data communications and industrial instrumentation.
Currently I focus on writing technical user and training
manuals, whitepapers, business plans, articles and web content,
especially in my areas of expertise.
Prior to teleworking I was an electronics and instrumentation
instructor at a couple of large technical colleges. I wrote
articles as a sideline. My opportunity to go full time came
after a U.S. investment research firm found my website which
contained information on how to buy a self-published book I had
written. They purchased and read the book, contacted me by phone
and asked me to try my had at their research reports.
Working from home may not be ideal for everyone, but I enjoying
working from home, as long as I can get out of the office for
coffee with friends a few times a week. I have found that
telephone, email and instant messaging are key 'lifelines' that
make telework possible but clear communications is the key.
Also, in my experience to this point, there are not many
companies that understand how telework can work effectively and
therefore many are reluctant to try it.
Ron Johnson,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
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Canadian
Fed manager 'from another age' for resisting telework.
I work from home for a few years quite successfully being
connected to the office computer with a phone line. I thereby
saved time, money and found it less tiresome and more productive
than to work in 'standardized' government buildings. At the same
time, I was conscious that I was reducing congestion costs and
pollution. Unfortunately, I was recently prohibited doing so by
a new manager that came from an other age.
René Durand,
Gatineau, Quebec |
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