Working away from home should be vision centric.

Working away from home should
Working away from home should

Have you ever worked away from your home city, family, Province or even Country? Statistics Canada reports on average, approximately 2 – 5% of Canadian employees do not live/work in their home province, a term known as – Interprovincial Employment.  But what is it really like to work remotely year after year as part of your career?

The trucking industry was founded and remains steeped in away from home for long periods of time. In some cases being on the road it is a full-time career, away from home.  Drivers typically stay out for 4-6 weeks at a time before coming home. However, there are drivers who prefer to stay out longer, or take “home time” somewhere other than their actual home. But the trucking industry is not always about drivers.  Management, support staff, warehouse workers logistics coordinators are also part of Interprovincial Employment.

Chances are at some point in your career you were asked to attend a meeting, conference, or trade show. Perhaps it was out of town or even out of Province. Some look forward to the break from their routine lives an escape from the norm.  The norm for thousands of away from home Canadian transportation employees is not what some might think.

Kim Evans of Jobs.net says “In many ways, being an OTR (over-the-road) or CDL driver is more a lifestyle than a job. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit what time you spend at home, thus impacting relationships with those around you. And because it may be two years before you can move into a regional driving position that allows for you to return home weekly, instead of once every three weeks, spouses or partners deserve some say in your deliberations before you decide if driving a truck for a living is for you”.

For some, working away from home is not an option as career advancement and financial obligations may not be easily met in your home town/city/province.

 5 Approaches to Surviving WORKING AWAY. 

  1. Be inclusive communicate your vision/dream/goal for the future…including Plan “B’s”
  2. Write out and share your strategy/plan as to how you are going to get there (with timetable)
  3. Ensure home base has support when you are not present. (Build a team.)
  4. Talk daily to your family/friends tell them what you have been doing. At work, talk about your family to colleagues.
  5. Mental well being is paramount.  Keep active after work hours. Volunteer!

3 WORK AWAY must haves for success…

 

  • Away residence: Make sure your accommodation incudes useful amenities- exercise space, cooking area and restaurants close by.  Ensure solid Wi-Fi / cell signal strength.
  • Good Diet: Prepare a meal plan and shop for it weekly. Include grains, fruits, and fiber. Limit alcohol consumption.
  • Exercise: This is a key component to a healthy living.  Ensure your have access to a gym (membership) or an exercise space in your accommodation. Run or walk take in the local streetscapes!

 

Working away from home – Cost can be more than financial

Working away from home will incur significantly higher costs – both financial and emotional. Financially, you will be paying for possibly 2 accommodations, your away home and family home. Phone home nightly and your telecoms bill will soar. Your car insurer may demand higher premiums if they know you are driving long distances to get home. Food and cooking costs will rise for both you and the family you leave behind, while quality of diet declines. People on their own, or single adults with children, tend to cook less and eat more ready meals. This may have long-term health implications; at the very least weight quickly gained is much harder to lose.  Emotionally, the costs may be far higher. How strong will your marriage be seeing your partner for just three days, four nights, a month? A voice on a phone for a few minutes is no substitute for sitting on the sofa together all evening. Sacrifice comes in many forms.  Plan your WORK AWAY then Work your plan in ways to realize your dreams.