Research shows companies who invest in creating diverse workplaces achieve greater innovation, increased creativity, higher employee engagement and faster problem-solving. However getting the balance right across all our teams – especially in our workshop and warehouse teams, is challenging as many of these roles are traditionally perceived as being “better suited” to men.
In recent months, we’ve tried to close the gender gap and recruiting more inspiring young women to join our Warehouse team has certainly helped. We caught up with our female Warehouse contingent: Katie, Marnie, Stacey, Klyne and Hailey, to find out why these ladies have chosen a hi-vis career.
What do you love most about the work you do?
“The diversity in the role; no day is the same and there is always an opportunity for us to learn new skills, like getting our forklift license,” says Klyne. “There is also a real sense of achievement and teamwork,” adds Stacey. “We love hearing feedback from customers about how the product we’ve helped get out the door has made a difference in their lives.”
What are your goals?
“My focus right now is to take all the opportunities on offer here and continue to learn as much as I can,” says Stacey. “It’s important that everyone in the Warehouse team is as versatile as possible and understands how the whole process works. There are always areas we can improve on.” Outside of work, the ladies’ goals are based on saving for a house, travel and inspiring their kids.
What motivates you each day?
“My family inspires me and my goal of buying a house, but I think we’re also motivated by the team around us – our workmates in the Warehouse and in other teams as well,” says Marnie. “For me,” says Hailey, “it’s cool to have such a positive and inclusive place to work. Everyone is willing to help and provide support to each other. This gives me the ‘get up and go’ I need each day.”
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
“Our team mates are really supportive and that helps us all to switch off when we leave work,” says Stacey. “I find sport is a great way to release stress and to achieve balance,” says Katie. “I make the most of the range of time-saving innovations on offer today, like click-and-collect at the supermarket. This gives me more time to spend with my family,” adds Hailey.
What are the most important lessons you have learnt in your career?
“To be responsible and accountable, and the ability to deal with different personality types by understanding other people’s situations,” says Hailey. Katie also adds, “Knowing how much you can take on and taking breaks when you can helps ensure you are emotionally and physically ready when it gets busy.”
How can we encourage more women to get into similar roles?
“I don’t think any of us needed extra encouragement to apply for our roles as we all like practical and more physical work. However it does make it a lot easier having other women to work alongside,” says Hailey. Stacey adds, “I think what would help more women enter these kinds of roles is having workplaces who are happy to invest in training and upskilling. It’s also great having employers with family values, who understand that I have a daughter to care for and are supportive of my role as a mother and an employee.”
I’d encourage women to give a Warehouse job a go and see what it’s like for themselves.” — Katie