"We are the lucky ones to have you!"

Martine Leseigne, Human Resources Officer at Caritas Luxembourg, is retiring at the end of this month after a long career. Before leaving us, she agreed to answer some of our questions.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WORK IN HUMAN RESOURCES?

It was purely by chance that I entered the profession. I was initially looking for an administrative position and it was in a headhunting firm that I arrived.  I started in human resources through recruitment and I was lucky to be supported by my boss at the time who allowed me to train and who trusted me. The more I got into the job, the more it became a passion. Finally, I think I was made for this job. I held several different positions in Human Resources management, mainly as a Manager and then as a Director. My dream was to end my career in a humanitarian organisation. I'm glad I was able to do that at Caritas Luxembourg.

WHY DO YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE THIS JOB?

I like the human side. I have always considered the staff as the central and richest element of the company. Nothing can be done in a company without the men and women who make it up. Hence the importance of choosing the right profiles, but also and especially of doing everything to keep them. To do this, you have to respect the staff, treat them with kindness, show understanding and always remain in dialogue. I like it when employees come to my office to talk about their problems. I like to listen to them and help them.

Many of them say 'thank you' to me today when I retire for hiring them. I tell them that they don't owe me anything.  On the contrary, I should thank them for having chosen Caritas Luxembourg as their employer, for having decided to put their skills at our service. We are lucky to have them!

WERE THERE ANY DIFFICULT MOMENTS?

Yes, of course. At Caritas Luxembourg, the most difficult thing was to see the staff working hours and hours overtime to deal with one crisis after another and not being able to relieve them as I would have liked to do with additional recruitments. Unfortunately, at Caritas Luxembourg I quickly learned that the financial resources of a humanitarian organisation are limited and that we do not have the flexibility of employment that we have in large companies.

AND POSITIVE EXPERIENCES?

I didn't think that with my experience I would still be able to learn a lot. I was wrong. Seeing the staff of Caritas Luxembourg so motivated, committed, always working hard, defying all obstacles to devote themselves to their mission of helping people in need, while holding on to their ideals at all costs, was a joy for me but above all a great lesson in life. Thank you for allowing me to live such values!

Finally, I would also like to thank all my HR team who also carry these human values within them. I was very lucky to have them.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?

My plan at the moment is to get up every day with a blank page to write. Then we'll see...

THE GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF CARITAS LUXEMBOURG WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER WARMLY FOR THE ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENT SHE HAS SHOWN DURING HER EVENTFUL YEARS WITH US.

CARITAS LUXEMBOURG WISHES HER ALL THE BEST FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF HER LIFE.