FL jubilæumsbog EN 101123 web - Flipbook - Side 32
HELEN
YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE
Helen Knudsen
Some young people deliver newspapers to earn money in their spare
time. Others sort the empty boles
in a supermarket. In Hørning, lots of
schoolchildren have part-time jobs
at Frode Laursen’s logistics centre.
“They come during the holidays
and at weekends and earn some
money. We have about 40 young
workers, who I see as my ‘children.’
They’re here with me and I love
them more than anything.”
These warm words come from
warehuse employee Helen Knudsen. She
explains that many older children start working
when they are 13, and most of them continue
until they get a ‘proper’ job or start education.
“Of course, a 13-year-old can’t li heavy
things, but we find some place where they fit in.
We quickly find out who fits in where.”
MONEY FOR SCHOOL TRIPS
The young people with part-time jobs work
permanently in the warehouse in their free
time. Others only come for a weekend or two.
“There are school teams who come to earn
a bit of money for a school trip or suchlike.
Around 30 or 40 of them will come in together
with their parents, who can be all kinds of people: office workers, carpenters, directors. Some
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FRoDe LAURsen’s MoVe oUt oF VItten
of my young workers come in with me to help
out on such weekends. They’re allowed to be a
bit bossy on these occasions. They seem to have
an enjoyable time.”
Helen says that the atmosphere is friendly
and relaxed, and there’s time to eat cake in
between. But jobs need doing as well.
“It’s important that they don’t just hang
about. They have to do the tasks we have agreed
to get their money.”
NO ONE CAN DO EVERYTHING
Helen started at the packing plant in Hørning
in 2005. Although she still works in the same
place, the job has evolved ‘like crazy,’ as she
puts it. Together with two colleagues, Helen is
the only permanent employee in the packing
department, which uses temporary staff since
the volume of work varies so much.
“We get all the orders for the week on
Monday, and then manage the rest ourselves.
We work out how it will all run, so everyone has
something to do – but no one has too much. You
also have to take care of your people. No one
can do everything.”
When Helen stands on the floor in the hall
in the middle of her group and sees everyone
busy working and everything running as it
should, she is in her element.
“There’s no doubt that I love my work.”
