TeleTech Hiring 100 New Workers

The Packet & Times

By September, Orillia's TeleTech will have more employees than ever before, says Trevor Forrester, local site director.

In July 2009, the recession forced the call centre to cut 80% of its staff. Of the company's 591 employees, 470 were laid off.

The Hunter Valley Road call-centre has been growing and will hire 100 people by September to bring its workforce to 660.

"It's the highest we've ever been," Forrester said on Friday. "It's great news for TeleTech as a company and great news for the City of Orillia."

The layoff was a result of one of the Orillia facility's two clients shutting down.

TeleTech now has three major multi-year contracts.

The growth is due to program expansion and an influx in workload one of the centre's clients had expected, Forrester said.

"All three of our clients are growing incrementally, but one of them is seasonal growth."

Asked what the growth means for TeleTech, Forrester responded "It's always been our goal to remain strong and provide service out of the Orillia facility. It's achieving our goal."

The local workforce is to be credited for the company's achievement, he said.

"It really comes down to what we offer out of Orillia is a talented, educated workforce that is willing to come to work and do a good job for us," Forrester said. "That's why we want to stay here."

Dan Landry, the city's manager of economic development, says the boost in staff bodes well for Orillia and area.

"TeleTech fills a key role in what could be considered the middle of the economic hierarchy in our community."

According to Statistics Canada, the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo-Barrie area, which includes Orillia, had an average unemployment rate of 7.35 for July.

Landry mentioned how Leadbetter Foods will be expanding its workforce by about 60 employees this year.

TeleTech is looking for applicants with a customer service background and basic computer knowledge.

"And people willing to be committed to a job," Forrester added.
Those who were laid off in the past are being encouraged to apply to fill a new opening.

"If they want to come back, we are absolutely considering them to come back," Forrester said.

Those interested in applying can go to HirePoint.comor drop by TeleTech's office at 2 Hunter Valley Rd. in West Ridge.