Brought to you by the Lead Network Ireland Chapter in partnership with Checkout, Luke Weaver, people function senior director, and Nuala O’Leary, regulatory affairs manager at PepsiCo, share their lived experiences
The stereotypical definition of a family unit has evolved.
Family structures are more diverse, including multi-generational households, single parents, same-sex couples, blended families etc.
As we think about gender parity and advancing female leaders in our industry, we need to ensure we have the right culture and have supporting policies/benefits in place for all employees.
This will ensure that we can care for our families while not compromising on our careers.
Adoption
Luke Weaver talks about his experience of growing his family through the gift of adoption and the support that PepsiCo provides as associates navigate the various life stages.
As a family, we have been through the adoption process twice, with our son (5) and daughter (2); both are our greatest joy.
From the outset of our relationship, my spouse and I knew we would grow our family through adoption.
We did not know what that meant, but we were determined, and we were fortunate to have a community of supporters to guide us through the journey.
Initially, it was about the process and the paperwork – twenty-three process steps, and fifty-three documents, to be exact.
At the time, we thought that navigating the process and paperwork was the challenging aspect.
There is a lot of paperwork, doctors’ visits, and interviews with social workers. Our adoption story also included travel for an extended period.
Supporting Both Work And Family
Having the support of Pepsico during this time, both in terms of a culture that allows you to talk about these challenges, as well as supporting with policies such as remote working arrangements and parental leave, was critical.
It allowed me to support both my work family and my growing family at home.
Exploring the world of adoption can introduce a mix of emotions, including our dreams of what could be, the realities of heartbreak, and the stress involved in navigating life’s most complex decisions.
It is about bringing three together into one: the adoptee, birth families, and adoptive families.
It is also about mountains of paperwork, as well as waiting, waiting, and more waiting.
When asked about my experience, I will answer – show me a family who adopts or fosters, and I will show you a family that can accomplish anything.
We have been fortunate to have the support and benefits of an employer who values and respects our personal priorities while we continue to thrive within the workplace.
Family Care
Nuala O’ Leary, regularity affairs manager at PepsiCo, speaks about her experience of becoming a carer for her Mum, the support PepsiCo gave her, and how her experience enabled her to be part of a team that created the PepsiCo Carers Network, which is supporting other colleagues who may be in similar positions.
Several years ago, I was in a caring capacity for my elderly Mum who battled Parkinson’s disease.
Mum lived with me for a short period of time, before entering permanent care in hospital.
While caring for Mum was sometimes challenging, it was important to me to be there for her unconditionally, as she was the best Mum I could ever have asked for.
I was also blessed with amazing siblings who supported me on my caring journey.
Becoming a carer is usually something we fall into rather than something we prepare for.
In my case, when my Mum developed Parkinson’s dementia, the reversal of roles whereby I became her primary carer was a great shock.
When she moved in with me, everything naturally had to revolve around her needs, which meant that, suddenly, my life had to change.
I must stress that this was a choice that I happily made and would do so again, but it was very hard, both emotionally and physically.
Not only did my formerly strong Mum become completely dependent on me, in many respects I too became dependent on others, something I was unprepared for.
Without the understanding and help from my siblings, friends and colleagues, I could not have given my Mum the support she deserved at the end of her life.
'No One Should Care Alone'
As part of the PepsiCo Diversity, Equity & Inclusion agenda, my colleagues and I (all carers) launched a network to support carers at our Cork campus.
Being carers helped us to pave that path, so our network evolved quite easily!
We have cultivated an inclusive environment to encourage and enable our hero carer colleagues.
We connect regularly, both in person and remotely, to discuss all aspects of caring, inclusive of emotional and practical support.
We also engage externally, inviting expert speakers to deliver bespoke talks on caring. Talks focus on family carer needs and caring for the care giver.
In tandem with building our strong network, we have also introduced our PepsiCo carers policy.
Our aim is to always make caring visible, as we believe no one should care alone.
Caring for a loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging, therefore, it is vitally important that we recognise the contribution and sacrifice that carers make.
It is also important to create awareness, and I can only advocate for all industries to implement a carers network.
To sign up to become a member of LEAD Network Ireland Chapter, and hear more about how we can drive gender equity, please visit https://leadnetworkmembers.net/signup
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