b'VIRTUAL WORKIt takes a lot of tech to make a virtual system work. Replacing the traditional office means setting up employees with the ability to teleconference with their teams, share files, access online training and resources, and collaborate in real-time. This has given rise to both video conferencing platforms (e.g., Ciscos Webex, Zoom, Google Meets) and virtual office plat-forms like Microsoft Teams. These technologies may have existed before COVID, but with the remote work revolution they have become nothing short of critical.While it all sounds wonderful on paper, technological barriers are keeping some First Nations communities from fully partic-ipating in the dynamic new digital workforce. Keeping teams connected and productive requires access to strong and reli-able Internetsomething that is far from guaranteed in many remote Indigenous locations.If you dont have access to decent Internet, you cant work remotely. Its as simple as that, says Philippe Landry, corporate social responsibility manager with Cisco Systems. There are First Nations communities that dont have that access, and that poses a significant challenge for local workers and businesses that dont have access to their regular place of work right now.Cybersecurity is another concern. By taking communications and operations online, organizations risk exposing them-selves to data thefts, privacy hacks and other digital crimes.Ashley Robin, Executive Assistant to CCABs President & CEO, Cybersecurity is an important consideration right now becausetaking part in the organizations Step Challenge, which saw 27 staff workforces are dispersed, employees are using their ownmembers accumulate over six million steps in February as part of a devices, and a lot of sensitive information is being shared online,team-building effortsays Landry, who also heads Ciscos Networking Academy Program. It can be difficult to make sure everyone has access to what they need online while at the same time keeping all that data safe and confidential. WORK-LIFE IMBALANCEThere can be no water cooler talk if there is no water cooler, and its this lack of office interaction and in-person teamworkCOME GROW WITH US!that can make the work-from-home revolution feel a little cold.Whether youre starting your career or looking Having a meeting over Zoom is not the same as having a genuinefor a change, youll find diverse employment conversation with someone in person. Live, human connectionsopportunities at Gardewine. Positions range are underrated and taken for granted, offers Warren. Digitalfrom drivers to customer service, sales staff, communications can leave people feeling lonely, isolated andmechanics, and more. craving that energetic exchange that can only be achievedJobs at Gardewine offer competitive through live social interaction. Over time, this can result in asalaries,excellent benefits and lack of motivation, lower pride in oneself, self-esteem issuesa path for advancement.and depression.Working in isolation can also impact creativity and the ability toGARDEWINE IS innovate. You miss that informal problem solving you mightA TRANSPORTATION have if you run into someone in the hall or printer room. YouSERVICE LEADER WITH lose out on that spontaneous brainstorming, which you nowA NETWORK OF OVER have to create consciously online, says Isaac. 30 TERMINALS IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT Yet another caution to virtual work is its negative impact onONTARIO AND MANITOBA work-life balance. Gone are the healthy barriers between officeSERVING MORE THAN time and family time, and the resulting imbalance can take3500 COMMUNITIESits toll. Being from an Indigenous culture, I can say home-life balance is very important, offers Drouin. Its one thingFind out more about current opportunities at to work all your life, but you need to have a good balance toWWW.GARDEWINE.COM maintain your mental health. The feeling of isolation becomes1.800.282.8000extremely difficult, especially for people in the Indigenous community who are more community oriented.15029-GW-RecruitmentAd[3.375x4.625] Jun2020-FNL.indd 1 2020-06-17 4:37 PMAboriginal BUSINESS REPORT53'