Just to introduce myself…
In each new edition of De Veer we would like to introduce one or two members of the program office. The program office is a group of colleagues who help give form to the new program aimed at long-term employability. Why exactly do they find long-term employability important and what drives them? In this edition we talk to Tim Wester
Tim Wester
Function(s): Mechanical Design Engineer
Years in service: 15+
Why did you join the Marel Healthy Together program office?
Good health is one of the most important things in life. Unfortunately not everyone has their health entirely in their own hands. It is true for most of us that we spend a lot of our time at work. How can we survive this time ‘healthily?’ My drive in this is to challenge Marel to be busy with the right things so that every employee, young and old, can finally retire healthy and full of energy.
What does employable long term mean for you? And for Marel?
Being employable long term means for me that I have a good balance between my work and my private life, that I go to work healthy and that I can keep on developing. I think that this will ensure that I am always full of positive energy and can contribute added value to Marel. At the end of the day, for Marel this means committed employees who enjoy going to work and can deliver their added value.
How do you yourself ensure that you stay employable long term?
Honestly? In any case my wife ensures that I eat well and healthily and have a varied diet. I also try to do sport three to four times a week, running and swimming. Twice a week I am at a football pitch as a trainer/coach for my son’s team. It is good to play outside with the kids! I also try to keep on developing myself with training courses and by reading books (too few actually!). I talk frequently to my manager about my future.
Which of the four themes is the most important for you (at this moment)? Why?
At this moment, the most important theme for me is hitting a good balance between work and my private life. My home situation is that I am married and have two young enthusiastic children full of energy. What I often say is that 80% of the time you spend with your children is spent before their 12thbirthday. I want to be a real participant, not just a father who comes home in the evening to carve the meat. Parental leave, for example, is a perfect fit with my wishes.
What do you think of the new Marel program focused on long-term employability?
I think Marel is making sure we can remain a special company. This new program is one of the points contributing to this. How can we make sure that we are all healthy and full of energy, that we enjoy going to work and can make a good contribution? What struck me was that Marel is doing a lot for long-term employability but that it is nowhere in the shop window, which is a pity. With this new program we are dressing it all up in new clothes and putting it in the shop window. We are setting the bar as low as possible for people to get to work on long-term employability.
What is your wish for Marel employees with this new program?
My wish is that this new program opens the door for everyone and that long-term employability is a topic of conversation all the time. Everyone has his or her own interests and needs (both employee and employer). I think that starting the conversation and keeping it going is the most important. Alas, we need to be patient for a little longer but I will be on the lookout for when we will be able to roll the program out!
