Women in the workplace: Margerette James
As we reflect back on National Women’s Month, we still have a few more insights to share with you from the women who work at PG Bison. In this post we chat to Margerette James, Admin Clerk at Woodline Poles.
Tell us a little bit about you, as well as your role at PG Bison.
I’m an admin clerk at Woodline. A lot of my work is about doing sales, office and receptionist work, handling customer queries, managing the petty cash, and helping out wherever I’m needed in admin.
I’ve been working for the PG Bison group for 17 years. Before that, I worked at a private company, as a general worker in the in the mill, picking up the offcut pieces of timber that were thrown down from the crosscut machine. One day, I heard that one of the office ladies was leaving because she was pregnant, and they were looking for someone in her place. I did the interview and got the job. I didn’t know anything about computers. We used to capture all the data into analysis books. But my boss sent me on a computer course and I worked really hard.
When that company closed down, I got a job at PG Bison as a creditors clerk at Thesen. After a few years, a job became available at Woodline and I was transferred.
I enjoy working here because we’re like a big family. I love working with customers and providing good customer service.
How do you feel about being a woman working in the manufacturing industry?
For me, I feel I’m privileged to work at Woodline. We’re only three women in the office, and the guys have a lot of respect for us. There is still more that can be done to see more women in the business. For example, all our supervisors are currently men.
What gets you up in the morning?
I love what I do. There are so many women and people who don’t have anything to look forward to. I’m grateful that I look forward to being here every day and that I can put food on the table for my family. I have a responsibility to them, and to PG Bison. And I know that if I’m not here, all my responsibilities will fall on someone else, so that motivates me and drives me. It’s by God’s grace that I am here.
What are your words of encouragement to all women in the workplace?
I feel that if my story can reach even one person and encourage them to want to do better, I’ll be happy. The son of one of the ladies who used to work with me at my first job is now a supervisor here. She told him my story and he said it’s one of the things that encouraged him that he could move to being a supervisor when he used to be a general worker.
My encouragement is, “Don’t be afraid when something comes your way. Just be the best that you can be. Always do your best even, if you’re given a small task, whether someone is looking or not. One day, somebody will notice you.”
We must reach out to one another as women and support each other. Sometimes, even a smile can brighten someone else’s day when they are struggling. We don’t always have to understand each other, but we can embrace each other and be there for each other.
