Edith and Jasmin: family at work, and beyond

Edith has been working as a cleaner at Vebego Zorgservice for three years now. "I got this job through a former colleague at another company. I didn't want to work for a while and wanted to be at home with the children. I am married to a Dutch man. He works for an offshore company, which is how I met him years ago. He was in Nicaragua for work, and that's where I'm from. Nicaragua is my country. We fell in love, but I had two daughters there. And we were still very young: he was 20 and I was 21. I saw right away that this man was kind, caring and reliable. So I ended up coming to the Netherlands for love. But it was a few years later, because I didn't want to leave my children yet. I finally arrived in the Netherlands when I was 25. My Dutch husband and I also had two daughters. So I have four daughters in total, of very different ages: 27, 24, 17 and 10 years old. And because I had another surprise 10 years ago, I wanted to work less again.

A job that fits my life
Edith ended up at Vebego through a former colleague. ‘It was perfect: working from 9 to 12, during school hours, and close to my daughters' school. Five days a week, and occasionally a toilet round at the weekend. That was doable.’ For Edith, it was more than just practical. ‘I work in elderly care. I really enjoy working with people.’

Her daughter Jasmin also ended up at Vebego through her mother.
‘I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. My mother asked me if I wanted to work at Vebego as a holiday worker. I ended up enjoying it so much that I continued to do it for several summers.’

Jasmin is now studying Marketing & Communication. She lives in Vlissingen, works two days a week at Vebego Cleaning Services, does an internship two days a week and goes to school one day a week. ‘It's quite busy, but easy to combine.’

Mother and daughter worked together for a while. Edith even trained Jasmin. ‘At work, we were just colleagues,’ says Edith. ‘I didn't boss her around. We listened to each other and helped each other. It worked.’
Jasmin agrees:
‘If my mother wasn't finished, I would help out. That was perfectly acceptable. We did the same work at the same company. Together, we finished faster.’

People at work often noticed the connection between Edith and Jasmin. ‘People would sometimes say, “Are you Edith's daughter? She's always so cheerful and friendly,”’ says Jasmin. ‘I really liked hearing that. And honestly, if my mother gets along well with someone, I'm almost certain I will too. We're quite similar – although she's even more sociable.’ Edith smiles: ‘I really learned to be sociable in the hospitality industry. I enjoy working with people.’

Being seen as a person
What does Edith appreciate most about Vebego? Her answer is unequivocal. ‘Here, you are seen. I worked for my previous employer for twelve years. At Christmas, you received a card, and that was it. Here, it's completely different.’ She talks about coordinators who drop by for a cup of tea, sometimes with homemade cake. About chocolates, interest after holidays, genuine attention. ‘You may not need it, but you feel appreciated. Here, you belong. Like a family. Compared to this, I used to feel like an orphan.’

Jasmin also recognises that family feeling. ‘During the pandemic, picking up the Christmas hamper was quite an experience. A drive-thru with stops, drinks, dancing snowmen, chocolates... it was quite a show.’ She laughs at the memory: ‘I was just sitting in the car with my mother, celebrating Christmas.’

The Christmas hampers are unpacked at home together. With the whole family. ‘Then I think: this is nice for my sister, this for my mother. My grandmother got a lamp from my Vebego hamper. She still says: “That's from my little Jasmini.”’

Growing, also as a person
At Vebego, it's not just about work, but also about development. Edith saw that up close. ‘A colleague, Emilia, joined who only spoke English. I offered to teach her Dutch. When Vebego heard about that, she was offered Dutch lessons. Every Thursday. Now she speaks Dutch well. I think that's so wonderful: they really want to help you here.’

Small ideas, big impact
Edith is known for her creativity. For example, she wears T-shirts with the day of the week printed on them. ‘Clients in elderly care often ask what day it is. Now they just have to look at my shirt. Recently, a gentleman said he had been waiting for me to find out what day it was.’ The days are written in Spanish on the back. ‘That way, they learn a little bit too,’ she laughs.

Jasmin looks ahead. ‘I don't know exactly what my job will be like when I finish my studies. But Vebego is a big company. Maybe in marketing or communications... who knows.’

One thing is certain: the family feeling that Edith and Jasmin experience at home is also present at work. At Vebego, they are not just colleagues. They belong.