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Summary for: Meet the company with dedicated support for expat employees in CzechiaBarclays is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, within a culture of belonging and equal opportunity. The Prague office is made up primarily of software engineers from all different backgrounds, and a growing number of business analysts, project managers, testers, and UX designers – infuse the team with unique perspectives essential for tackling the complex demands of the financial services sector.
But with nearly 1,500 professionals working collaboratively to address the critical tech challenges of the Corporate & Investment Bank, the importance of support systems becomes clear.
Enter the company’s dedicated expatriate support colleague, Anna Helebrantová, whose mission is to ensure that non-Czech employees feel welcomed in a new country while acknowledging the complexities of relocating to a different city.
Anna Helebrantová has devoted her career to ensuring that everyone feels appreciated, included, and valued in an environment where all perspectives and respectful interaction are actively encouraged. We spoke to her about Barclay’s commitment to giving its employees a voice, from its Czech and English language classes to its thriving Employee Resource Groups, while making sure they have fun along the way.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became Barclays’ Expat Manager.
I come from two different cultures: Persian and Slavic, and I speak Russian, English, and Czech. All my life, my family used to celebrate customs and traditions from both the Persian and Slavic side. That was fun – every day was a holiday, another day to celebrate!
But from childhood, I noticed that some people regarded us as being different, as a mixed family. I didn’t understand the reasoning behind this, and it became an interest of mine to understand how people perceive other nationalities. 16 years ago, I moved to Czechia, and I worked in environments for and with expats.
I always wanted to show people that there’s no reason to feel nervous about connecting with people from other backgrounds, and that instead people should understand that we can only benefit from speaking with someone from a different background.
That’s how I ended up at Barclays. The role of Expat Support Manager was created because there was a clear need within the company, and it clicked with my passion for supporting and coaching people from all backgrounds.
Why is the role needed?
Just imagine you’re from a different culture living in Czechia and you might not necessarily know the rules of the land and how to deal with Czech authorities. E.g., There are people arriving from abroad who know they need to exchange their driving license. Others don’t realize that they must register with the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic when they arrive in the country.
What are the most common mistakes that expats in Czechia make?
One common mistake is failing to report changes. For example, if you get married, people might forget to report the change of marital status to the Ministry of Interior. Also, people tend not to think about the timeframes involved. For some formalities, you have only three days to report changes.
How do you help expats deal with the complexities of living in Czechia?
Barclays aspires to hire from the broadest global talent pools available, nurturing a rich diversity of skills and experience. My role is to act as a central point of contact for the wide range of questions that colleagues might have.
The questions might be personal, or they might be procedural, relating, for example, to relocation to Czechia. All Barclays employees who are relocating here are supported by me; I give them advice and consult with them. Newborn registration and applications for parental financial support from the government also go through me.
The main purpose of my role is to ease the process of dealing with the Czech governmental systems. This allows employees to focus on their day-to-day work, safe in the knowledge that someone experienced is taking care of their specific needs.
When it comes to housing, I don’t search for properties on behalf of people, but I provide guidelines for where they can look. I also review rental contracts to ensure that the contract is drawn up correctly, that everything is in place. I also check that the landlord is bona fide and in the official property register.
I help people search for schools and kindergartens, as well as doctors, lawyers, tax advisors, and translators. I help support employees when interacting with the Ministry of Interior and when engaging with the Czech authorities. Additionally, I support expat colleagues and their family members with the permanent residency and Czech citizenship applications.
Do you see this as a position other companies should consider implementing?
I think it’s of huge value, because it shows an extra layer of concern for the wellbeing of our colleagues.
I was amazed at how much Barclays values and respects its employees here in Prague which resulted in the creation of my job role.
How does your role fit in with attempts to build a sense of community in Barclays’ Prague Technology Center?
We organize various events for employees to network and enjoy their time together in the office. At the same time, we have four Employee Resource Groups that are dedicated to inclusion and opportunity, and I’m a proud leader of one of these open community groups called Working Families.
Our aim is to support working parents and carers, focused on making Barclays the employer of choice for working families by providing a supportive network for Barclays colleagues who are parents, parents-to-be or carers, and to help with the challenges of balancing family, life and work.
We also organize events for Barclays employees on parental leave. I have personal experience with the challenges of returning from parental leave. So, when I became the Working Families leader at Barclays Prague office, the first thing that came to my mind was appreciating and celebrating people on parental leave, organizing events for them so that they keep in touch with what’s going on in the company.
We also run events for families and children, including initiatives which we started so we can introduce children to coding. Through these sorts of activities, we help not only employees, but also their family members. Some of our colleagues come from different countries; they may have a partner at home experiencing home-sickness – these events provide an opportunity to build relationships and to network.
What advice would you give to expats living in Czechia who experience homesickness?
I don’t know if there is a remedy for homesickness. When I moved to Czechia, there was no WhatsApp, no FaceTime; you simply paid money to call abroad to connect with your loved ones.
It depends on each and everyone`s personality and needs, but I believe it`s important to network and to try to meet people. You’re not replacing old friends with new friends, but I found that socializing made me feel better and not alone.
What tips would you give to someone coming to Czechia for the first time?
They should purchase a raincoat and rubber boots! The boots might not look great, but you’ll feel the benefits!
Joking aside, it’s important to be punctual. Punctuality is very important here. There are also other cultural elements that make a difference, such as name days. Czechs take these seriously, so it’s important, if you ever get into the Czech community, to remember them. Also, start learning some basic Czech; sometimes you can’t get by without it.
