Ups-and-downs about work and life in the Up!
The best conversations happen in the back seat. If GreenTrust’s Volkswagen Up! had ears during the many rides this loaner car took, our magazine would be fistfuls. We overheard a conversation between Jorick Messink and Annelies Wesselink about switching between the calls of work and children.
Annelies: “We started at GreenTrust with a lot of energy as fresh-faced twenty-somethings and are now in our early thirties with young children. That brought about a cultural shift. We used to sometimes work until about seven in the evening, now you see that among young parents the exodus starts at five o’clock to get the children from daycare.”
Jorick: “Because of the extra birth and parental leave that has been introduced by law, as a father I have more days off which gives me more time to care for my child in the first year. That’s ideal.”
Annelies: “These are tropical years for a while including exotic beaches that are sometimes hot and full of mosquitoes, but which are also beautiful and special to experience. Before I had three children, my work was very important. My children put that into perspective. I can let go of my work easier when I’m at home.”
Jorick: “I have that too. When I’m at home, I take care of my son. Since his arrival, I manage my time more efficiently.”
Annelies: “I have that too. I look at what purpose each meeting serves before I click accept.”
Jorick: “If someone calls me on my day off I only answer the call if it’s really urgent.”
Annelies: “I have agreed with my team that they can then always call me if they have an urgent question. Then they can also move on.”
Jorick: “My laptop stays closed unless something is really going on.”