Monday, April 6, 2009
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The web is more a social creation than a technical one. I designed it for a social effect — to help people work together — and not as a technical toy. The ultimate goal of the Web is to support and improve our weblike existence in the world. We clump into families, associations, and companies. We develop trust across the miles and distrust around the corner.
—Tim Berners-Lee, Weaving The Web
Friday, June 15, 2007
Ideas for developing the Trailing Spouse Network
When someone is heading to a particular city as a Trailing Spouse, they ideally want to ‘tap into’ all available networks in that city/region. Not just internet sites but networks of people. We can all do that using the broader internet to find resources related to the city or region but as you know this can be extremely daunting and time consuming, with no guarantee that you will discover all of the available resources. The idea of a map based portal that takes you to a place that has all the things you need is worthy goal but most sites I’ve seen that attempt this fall short. Have you seen this site? http://www.expatwomen.com
I have seen articles on the subject of US based Trailing Spouses but I’ve noticed the same expat flavor to most information. I’m not sure why. I’ve heard comments that the TS issue has been around for many years however it has only become recognized since male spouses have entered the fold. There maybe some truth to that but still the majority (93%) of Trailing Spouses are female. In a detailed study of Trailing Spouses conducted between 2001 – 2004 the Dual Career issue is cited as the biggest challenge. Most spouses work, or want to work (many need to work) so having to leave a job to relocate is a major obstacle. This is a greater challenge for overseas moves for several reasons compared with a US based move. Relatively speaking, it’s easier to get a job in Anywhere USA than it is to find one overseas where language, culture, work-permits and a multitude of other issues add to the woes. I’m not at all under stating the difficulties of a Trailing Spouse move within the USA but I’m just thinking as I type, trying to understand why this issue is much more prominent in the expat world.
To your last point; How much do I wish to encompass? My goal is to create a network of people that can provide peer assistance. Take the situation where someone is moving out of one city to another. Firstly this may create a job opportunity for someone else who maybe considering moving there. With a dynamic network (of people) in place you can reach-out to the network in the region you are moving to. In turn this network is supported by the web site and detailing other resources. Although I’ve limited my subject matter to work and employment, all parts of the puzzle are important. I think the discussions and resources on work aspects however need to be kept separate from the family aspects but there is certainly a place for them.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Telework Exchange Launches Telework Eligibility Tool
Telework Exchange, a public-private partnership focused on increasing telework in the federal government, said that it has launched a new quiz-based calculator designed to help employees determine whether they're eligible to work over the Internet either from home or a nearby office.
The organization said that its Online Telework Eligibility Gizmo, available at the link below, is designed to cut through the "confusing array of telework eligibility policies and eligibility criteria." It also provides employees with the opportunity to present a telework business case to management. The Telework Exchange said that 81% of telework-eligible employees are not teleworking, yet 79% of federal employees would telework if given the option.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Trailing Spouse Network
The challenge of finding work in foreign locations without support networks and knowledge of the local situation can be costly, frustrating and time consuming.
This blog is intended to gather thoughts and ideas on the issues facing Traling Spouses.
The multitude of talents, skills, abilities and experience of Trailing Spouses is limitless, Ive held for a long time that a cohesive network of people in this unique situation can serve to assist each and all of us in finding and conducting satisfying work wherever we happen to be in the world.
We need to network amongst ourselves to find ways to; Develop portable careers, identify and to develop employment and business opportunities.
This blog supports the main web portal for the Trailing Spouse Network: