Lisette
Warehouse Worker
“There is little difference between working with men or women.”
- Name: Lisette Van Echelpoel
- Age: 56
- Studies: Elderly Care
- Job title: Warehouse worker
Lisette Van Echelpoel is a warehouse worker at IZEN, the brand of VINCI Energies in Belgium that focuses on 100% smart energy. Her daily tasks include taking care of customer orders, loading and unloading, transporting solar panels and preparing the necessary materials.
How did you become a warehouse worker?
Lisette: As a young girl, I wanted to be a singer. I was always in the front row in the choir. Unfortunately, that profession was unacceptable to my parents. But now I regularly sing along with the music in the warehouse. So you see, childhood dreams can still partly come true. I was trained as a carer for the elderly and ended up in the logistics sector. I have been working at IZEN for almost 12 years and hope to stay here until my retirement.
Do you sometimes feel like an exception in the sector?
Lisette: It is true that I am the only woman in the warehouse. I work together with four male colleagues but they never give me the feeling that I don’t belong here. I do notice that some of them treat me differently, although it is not because I am a woman. They often ask for advice because of my experience and expertise. I have been working here for a long time and know all the tricks of the trade. In this way, I always enjoy showing younger colleagues the ropes. They always come to me when they need help. I certainly take that as a compliment and the proof that I am appreciated and accepted.
Is it sometimes difficult to work only with men?
Lisette: No. For me, there is little difference between working with men or women. I am very sociable by nature and I feel equally comfortable with both. At VINCI Energies, no distinction is made, as it should be. Outsiders sometimes find it strange that I am a warehouse worker, but I don’t care. From a very young age, I have mainly worked with male colleagues and I am very happy about that. I also have a lot of contact with the women in the office. I also get along well with them. I would never want to change places with them, because sitting behind a desk is not my thing. I’d rather have a varied job where I’m moving around a lot. Of course, it is physically demanding, but I will continue to work with passion as long as my body allows me to.
