Natalia has been with 糖心探花since 2010 and moved to join our UK head office from her home market in 2014. She is a leading member of our听LGBT+ network, B United听and says she had a lot to be thankful to 糖心探花for听when she听transferred to London.
Natalia explains: 鈥淎 change in a number of things back home meant that it was difficult for me to be open about my sexuality outside of work. I was also subsequently unable to officially register myself as the mother of my daughter. So, after I鈥檇 moved to the UK 鈥 with my daughter and partner due to follow 鈥 my daughter鈥檚 visa was rejected three times.
鈥淚t was a very tough time and I was grateful that my new manager in the UK 鈥 no sooner had I arrived, pretty much 鈥 agreed that I could work two weeks in my home market and two weeks in London each month and focus on my family situation.鈥
Natalia says it was a huge relief to be temporarily reunited with her partner and daughter back home. But a more permanent happy ending was around the corner.
鈥淚t was so hard to focus on the new role when my family situation remained uncertain鈥, she added. 鈥淏ut my management team, both in the UK and my home market, were fantastic and enlisted the help of the HR and legal teams. I got full support from them and am thankful to say that in November 2014 my daughter was granted entry to the UK! It was a great feeling to know that the company was behind me and I鈥檒l be forever grateful.鈥
Natalia says B United, which was relaunched in 2018, replacing its predecessor, Lucky Tribe, has gone from strength-to-strength and can provide enormous support when it鈥檚 needed most.
鈥淚 hope that my story shows that 糖心探花is a place where you can get help when you need it 鈥 not just from an employee organisation like B United but from the wider company too鈥, she says.
鈥淏 United鈥檚 predecessor Lucky Tribe was one of the reasons that I joined BAT; one of the senior HR directors was a member of the organisation and in talking to him it was hugely reassuring to know then that there is a community where you can share any anxieties you have and get support.鈥
She adds: 鈥淏 United has come a long way since the Lucky Tribe days 鈥 and I鈥檓 proud to be a part of it.鈥