As a mother of two young girls, I have often experienced Tesco’s family-friendly and people-oriented approach. When my children were born, my priorities in life shifted, and the company was there to support me every step of the way.
I’ve been with Tesco for over 10 years now, always in the procurement field but in various different roles. Even my maternity leave wasn’t a break in my career, as upon my return, the company not only offered me a position that aligned with my knowledge and experience, but also provided all the necessary support to help me reintegrate. For instance, I was responsible for the toy acquisitions of the Central European region for two years, which was a great fit. Since then, I have taken another important step: I was promoted to Head of Wholesale. Thanks to the fantastic team I’m part of, and the supportive atmosphere throughout the community, the transitions have been virtually seamless.
Flexibility has become even more important to me since having children. Being able to work from home is great, but it’s even better that I can manage my own time: I can pick up the kids from kindergarten and school, do the shopping during the day if I know I won’t have time for it in the evening, and stay home without any problems if one of the girls gets sick. We are a close-knit community with our colleagues. We think as a team, and we’re always there to help each other and cover for one another when needed. Recently, I was even able to take a to three-month sabbatical to travel around Northern Europe with my family. I had discussed my intention to take a break with my supervisors and co-workers well in advance, and I received their full support, even though I had only been in my new position for about six months at the time. This experience was incredibly valuable for both me and my children, as it allowed us to step away a little from our everyday routine and return to work and school in the fall feeling completely refreshed.