There are no differences in the team

In conversation with Sandy Cardoso Fankhauser and Klementina Varadi

What do you like about your work in the cutting plant?

Sandy: When I started here, I thought: it’s a good way to earn money. Over time, though, I realised that I really enjoy working in the butcher’s shop. I’ve already worked with different types of meat and learnt how to cut them up. It was a long journey. What I particularly like is that we are a team and help each other.

Klementina: I also really like my job. It’s great to work with people from different countries and get to know them better. I also get a lot of exercise here at work. That’s good for my health. So I don’t have to go to the gym.

Do you need a lot of strength in your work?

Klementina: Yes, and we have a lot of strength. But even more important is the technology. Finding your own way of working quickly and easily is essential for everyone. You learn that over time. Everything is much easier for me today than it was when I started. Now I’m almost «playing» with the meat.

Are there also stressful situations?

Sandy: It is normal in a butcher’s shop that there is a lot of time stress. Nevertheless, you must complete your work without making any mistakes. Because it’s not just about speed, but also about quality – and I’m a perfectionist, that’s very important to me. I think I would really miss the stress of working in a butcher’s shop if I were doing something else.

You have 30 men and 4 women working for you. What is working together like?

Klementina: Everyone has to complete their tasks and work very independently. It doesn’t matter whether it’s men or women. But what I think is good is that our male colleagues have respect for us as women.

Sandy: I also see no problems with men and women working together. I always say that when I’m here at work, I’m a man and not a woman.

Do men and women take on different tasks in your organisation?

Sandy: Only the men do the boning. That really does take a lot of strength. Everyone takes on the remaining tasks.

Klementina (laughs): We actually have as much strength as the men. But I think that a woman has more feeling in her hand than a man. That’s one advantage we have over men.

Do you pass on your experiences to others?

Sandy: Yes, when new colleagues arrive, I show them how I do it. Then I observe how they work. If someone is not doing too well, I help him or her. Because it all has to work. 

Would you like to work in a company where there are a lot of women?

Klementina: No, I wouldn’t think it would be great to only work with women. In a previous job, I found that there are more problems with women working together. We have good and friendly contacts here, which I really like.