“My manager saw my potential and did everything to encourage it "

In 2008, having recently graduated from York University, Emma dreamed of one day working at Elior. “I drove by their building every day, and it looked like it would be a great place to work!”. At just 21, she joined the Human Resources department and climbed the career ladder very quickly. “I’ve always felt that Elior puts talent first. My manager saw my potential and did everything to encourage it.”

I didn’t feel like being on maternity leave was any barrier to me applying, and it clearly wasn’t a problem for anyone else, since I got the job. 

When Emma was on maternity leave in 2018 and her manager’s role fell vacant, she applied immediately. “I didn’t feel like being on maternity leave was any barrier to me applying, and it clearly wasn’t a problem for anyone else, since I got the job.” Then came the pandemic. “The department was restructured, and I was asked to expand the scope of my responsibilities. That was in August 2020 when I was on maternity leave again with my second child! So when I went back to work for the second time, maternity leave once again coincided with a promotion.”

Another important aspect of well-being for this executive is the ability to spend alternate Fridays with her children. “If I hadn’t had these professional opportunities and work/life support, I might not have stayed. So it speaks volumes about how well I’ve been treated.”