Where do you work?
I work at IKEA Brno.
What’s your position?
Press operator in the Warehouse and Logistics department.
How long have you been with IKEA?
About six years.
What do you like most about IKEA as an employer?
What I most value at IKEA is the tolerance — especially when it comes to my health status. If I go through a demanding time and my health worsens, or I have to be hospitalized, my employer always tries to accommodate and support me. I also value the corporate culture and the team. People are friendly and respectful; they don’t back-stab each other.
What about your schedule? Do you like it?
My schedule is flexible, which is what I like the best. I work a shortened schedule, and I’m always three days on and three days off. I start early in the morning, but my biorhythm has gotten used to it. On the other hand, thanks to that I’m at work just five to six hours, and then I can relax at h.ome.
How do you get along with your co-workers? What is the team like?
On the team we communicate openly and aren’t scared to give each other feedback. If I don’t like something, I can tell my supervisor and discuss everything. For example, once when there was more work than usual, he arranged for employees from an outside company to take up some of the load. Thanks to that, everything went like it was supposed to
What were you most worried about when you came on board?
I wasn’t worried about anything. I was excited to come to IKEA. I started in a job replenishing goods. But the team supported me when I did something wrong, told me immediately, and showed me how to do it, so that I’d remember. So, nobody complained if someone didn’t do something right. Generally, however, I felt I wouldn’t keep up with the pace and individual tasks, because the nature of my handicap complicated the work. Then the supervisor got my position changed, and it was excellent. Now I don’t have to think things over as much, I can organize my time and work better, and I’ve got less stress.
What advice would you give to someone with a health issue who is thinking about working for IKEA or is getting ready to apply?
Don’t be afraid. There’s a great team waiting for you. It’s all about the agreement. You shouldn’t be afraid to say what you need, and that’s important. Moreover, everybody accepts me as I am, including my illness. They know I can have it tough for a day or a longer period, but also they can tell me if something is wrong.