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A Day in the life of...
Saveeta Banger
Head of People & Culture, Clarins
Most mornings start with a hot drink and a spot of yoga for Saveeta Banger, Head of People & Culture at Clarins. After getting her feet under the desk, Saveeta could be involved in discussions regarding the launch of a new reward and benefits platform, or revising recruitment tools, or conducting wellbeing check-ins with her team. To find out more about what Saveeta gets up to in a typical working day, read on below...
Morning - 5am
Having a good morning routine sets me up for the day and yoga is a big part of that. My day starts with a cup of hot water and some surya namaskar (also known as sun salutations), showing gratitude for a new day and getting my body moving ahead of a day sitting at my desk. By 7am, I am on the train into London, spending my journey listening to a podcast.
8am
I arrive at Euston and walk to the office to get my steps in for the day; this is when the podcast goes off and my morning playlist comes on. Given my dual culture of British Indian, I have a wide variety of music to choose from, which helps me get energised ahead of what is usually a very busy day.
There has been a lot of change at Clarins and I am very proud of what my team has achieved
8:30am
My day has started. In the first 30 minutes, I review and reply to emails, check and organise my to-do list, and then engage with my team via Microsoft Teams in our group chat. We operate a hybrid working model which means that some of the team can be working from home most days. We love a good GIF in the HR team and use our team chat to make up for the morning chat that we would usually engage in on the days we are all in the office together.
10am
I am usually in project meetings. Currently, we are working on some great initiatives at Clarins; from launching a new reward and benefits platform, revising our current recruitment and selection tools, and launching our very first employee resource group, to name but a few. My role across these projects consists of driving collaboration to deliver our initiatives, getting involved in the detail, and reviewing and approving project plans.
No day is ever the same and I enjoy the variety that my role brings
Lunch - 12:30pm
Stepping away from digital devices is highly encouraged across the business during this time (between 12:30pm and 13:30pm) which we have marked as a ‘meeting free zone’. I always aim to step out for at least 30 minutes to get some fresh air and grab some lunch. I find this really breaks up my day and helps to prevent the afternoon slump.
Having a good morning routine sets me up for the day and yoga is a big part of that
Afternoon - 2pm
By 2pm, I could be in 1-2-1s with my team, checking in on their workload, wellbeing, and their progress of tasks. No day is ever the same and I enjoy the variety that my role brings. There has been a lot of change at Clarins and I am very proud of what my team has achieved. Supporting their development and career at Clarins is important to me and I will always ensure that I make myself available to offer advice and support.
4pm
I spend the final part of my day checking my emails, team messages and my to-do list; actioning any tasks and preparing for the following day. Having the time to wrap up my day enables me to head into the evening with a clear mind and switch off from work for the evening.
ensuring I am prepared and organised sets me up for a successful and productive week
Evening - 5pm
It’s time for my walk to the station and commute home. I spend the latter part of my day reading a book, often sat in the quiet coach of the train recharging for following day. I usually work from home after a day in the office to help break up my week and maintain my energy. For me, ensuring I am prepared and organised sets me up for a successful and productive week.
End of the day
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