Miriam's story
To speak of equality is to speak of shared responsibility, of having equal opportunities. Miriam is the head of the Human Resources Department at IKEA Vallecas and one of the 51 women who, since 2010, have been promoted during their pregnancy or after resuming work following maternity leave.
I was promoted to my dream job while I was pregnant”
11 years ago Miriam stepped through the door of IKEA Vallecas. This already was a dream come true for her. She began as Head of Returns and Customer Service. She then became pregnant with her first daughter and after her maternity leave she resumed work as Head of the Purchasing Process Department.
After some time, her boss spoke with her. He mentioned that there was an upcoming vacancy as Head of Customer Service. “He asked me whether I planned to go for it, as he knew what my dream was. But I’d just found out that I was pregnant again”, explains Miriam. This was not a problem: “If your dream is to have that job, don’t think twice and go for it” her boss told her.
Miriam was chosen. “My company had chosen me despite being pregnant. I remember that when they told me, I immediately called my husband and my parents to tell them” she says. She began her new job as a manager in July. Her son was born in December.
Creating an inclusive and gender-equal workplace
IKEA has an equality plan with over 80 measures applied in everyday operations. “Diversity and inclusion are so deep within our essence that we are not aware of them, they are part of our DNA, starting with the selection process of a male or female applicant”, says Miriam.
As head of the Human Resources Department of IKEA Vallecas, she states that they always consider values and skills when recruiting someone. They would never dream of do so on the basis of gender, nationality or age.
And it is precisely in this diversity where the wealth of IKEA lies: being able to work with so many different people. People who have been chosen only for their skills, their talent. And nothing else.
Miriam would like to make discussing equality unnecessary.
Her greatest wish is that people (men and women) are able to achieve their professional dreams without the type of family they have wanted to create becoming a drawback. A request that is stated loud and clear so that it reaches as far as is necessary.
Working better with equality.