Today, May 15th, is the International Day of the Family. Balancing family life and career is not always easy. That’s why it is even more important to have a work environment that makes both possible. Today, colleagues share how they manage to balance both – and how Pepperl+Fuchs supports them in doing so.
Nicolas, Pepperl+Fuchs in Germany
„The birth of the first child is a significant event, bringing major changes to a parent’s professional life. I had this experience myself when our first daughter was born in 2017. I feel all the more fortunate to be with Pepperl+Fuchs – in a double of sense, as part of a “family business”. Since then, I’ve been able to adjust my weekly working hours twice in a very uncomplicated way within the framework of the company or collective bargaining regulations. My wife also works, and we are able to care for our now two daughters in a balanced way. Due to remote work and the very flexible flexitime model, working outside of classic “9-to 5 models” has also become the norm for me in recent years. Both sides benefit: while employees in other companies often have to significantly reduce their weekly hours in favor of their children, here the good conditions mean that I no longer have to choose between children and career – at Pepperl+Fuchs, both can successfully combined.”
Michelle and Tanja, Pepperl+Fuchs in Germany
„We have been working together as colleagues in HR for more than 10 years. In order to balance family and career, we both decided to work part-time after the birth of our children. At first, we were concerned whether it would be possible to work as HR business partners again with recduced working hours, as the position requires, among other things, a certain amount of time availability. Fortunately, the idea of an „HR tandem“ was born. We presented this „pilot project“ to the departments to be supervised in a meeting and were very grateful for the openness and support we received from our colleagues. Thus, we now share a full-time position and thus have the opportunity to take on responsible tasks despite reduced working hours. This was very important to us, because after returning from parental leave, we realized that there is still a long way to go before women are truly equal in society.”
Fernanda, Pepperl+Fuchs in Brazil
“The hybrid model that Pepperl+Fuchs offers makes all the difference to my routine. Having the flexibility to work from home on some days helps me a lot to maintain a balance between work and personal life. I can organize my time better and even include other activities after work. What’s more, living close to the company is a privilege on in-person days, the commute time is minimal, which makes everything more practical. This shows how much the company trusts us as employees and really cares about our well-being.”
Krisztina, Pepperl+Fuchs in Hungary
“Pepperl+Fuchs helps me to balance my professional and family life by giving me the opportunity to work one shift instead of three and, if necessary, part-time.”
Aranzazú, Pepperl+Fuchs in Mexico
“Pepperl+Fuchs has made it easier for me to work three days from home. In my case this translates into less travel time (office-home) and more time with my family, friends, and doing extra activities. Additionally, the homeoffice days help me plan any family events and be more aware of my parents’ needs. As an added bonus, I participate in my neighborhood religious community and having free time after work helps me participate in and organize appropriate events.”
Balancing career and family
Lisa, Pepperl+Fuchs in Germany
„I work part-time – in a model that fits my life perfectly. Four full working days per week, with the fifth day off. This allows me to consciously schedule time for family and relaxation. Since working from home is no problem at Pepperl+Fuchs, I can start working at my computer in the morning while my little one is still asleep. Not having to commute to the office makes it much easier for me to balance work and family life. What’s especially important to me: I’m not seen as a “half employee” just because I don’t work full-time. My colleagues and supervisors fully appreciate my performance and contribution, regardless of the working time model.”
Adriana, Pepperl+Fuchs in Brazil
“Pepperl+Fuchs is a company that is increasingly concerned about the quality of life of its employees, through internal actions, talks and meetings to listen to our opinions, demonstrating that this is a genuine concern for the company. It has helped a lot that the company has kept the hybrid working model, even after the pandemic. This gives me more flexibility to organize my routine, be more present at home when I need to be and still maintain productivity at work. It’s important to feel that the company understands that quality of life also has an impact on one’s performance.”
Jacqueline, Pepperl+Fuchs in Singapur
“I’m Jacqueline, currently working as a Talent Acquisition Executive at Pepperl+Fuchs Asia in Singapore. I’m happy to share that this coming October will mark my 8th year with Pepperl+Fuchs. 😊 Working from home became mandatory when/during COVID-19 struck, and since then, Pepperl+Fuchs has decided to make it a part of our ongoing work arrangement. In Singapore, we spend an average of 1 to 2 hours commuting daily. Homeoffice eliminates this, allowing us more time for work, rest, and, most importantly, family.
I’m truly grateful that Pepperl+Fuchs embraced the home office model—it has allowed me to be present for my children and witness each of their milestones. I became a mother in 2021, and as a first-time mum, I became especially concerned about my baby’s health. Being physically present made a world of difference. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to spend more time with my children and do more activities with them. On top of that, home-cooked meals are not only more affordable than dining out but also healthier. The flexibility of working from home has also helped me balance my responsibilities at home. It’s much easier to care for both young children and elderly family members when you have control over your schedule.”
Cover picture: Adobe Stock
