Valentine’s Day at Barclaycard Payments: Jinal and Martin
Valentine’s Day 2021 - love is the air and many are looking forward to the big day. Although, of course, this year our plans all look remarkably similar. But when you work with your significant other, is every day like Valentine’s Day?
To tell us more, ahead of this Valentine’s Day we caught up with three Barclays power couples. Meet Jinal and Martin …
How did you meet?
Jinal: We met at work and I remember noticing Martin two years prior to us going on our first date. It wasn’t hard to miss him, he’s 6’ 6” tall, with broad shoulders, and I remember thinking at the time how handsome and striking he looked in his suit. We had some mutual friends who “encouraged” us individually to reach out but it was me who took the plunge and asked him if he fancied meeting up for a coffee.
Martin: I suggested we do things properly and that we go out for a drink instead. That was nearly six years ago and we’ve been together ever since.
Do your roles mean that you ever work closely together or are they separate?
Martin: I am a New Business Development Manager in Barclaycard Payments, and Jinal is an Acquiring Project Manager, also in Barclaycard Payments. Ordinarily our roles would work together regularly, but due to us being married, Jinal is very rarely assigned to implement any new business I have agreed with a customer.
What’s the best thing about working together?
Jinal: For me it’s being able to pick Martin’s brains. He’s been in the business for over 20 years and as a result his knowledge is second to none.
Martin: We are a great team, and genuinely never argue or fallout, so it’s always fun when we’re together. To be able to able to work together as well, just means we have more fun.
What’s the worst thing about working together?
Martin: There genuinely are no drawbacks, other than Jinal knows exactly where I am at any given moment!
Jinal: Hmmm, I can’t think of any anything obvious, but if I had to pick something I’d say listening to Martin whistling from the moment he gets up to the moment he goes bed. However, a whistling Martin equals a happy Martin, and he’s always whistling!
What do your families think about you working together?
Jinal: I guess they’re pleased as without Barclays our paths wouldn’t have crossed and we wouldn’t have our baby boy, who was born a few months ago.
Martin: That’s a good question. I think the main thing is they are very happy about it, as we would not have met each other otherwise. Our families get on extremely well too, so it has been a blessing for them as well.
What do your colleagues think about working with a couple?
Jinal: I think they’d say they don’t know how we do it, how we manage to live and work together and still get on so well and have laugh.
How do you normally celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Martin: We normally celebrate every year by going to our favourite restaurant and I always give Jinal 12 white roses.
Jinal: Valentine’s Day is a nice little reminder of how grateful I am of having Martin in my life. For me it’s more about spending quality time together, accompanied with a meal at our favourite restaurant.
Are you planning anything special this year?
Martin: This year will be different because of COVID-19. We also now have our new born son, and he will no doubt want to gate crash the celebration….so it might be a home delivery this year with some flowers picked from our garden!
How has the pandemic impacted your working lives, such as working from home?
Martin: To be perfectly honest, from a professional perspective, COVID has not had much of an impact really. I normally work from home anyway, and now having Jinal working for home, just means I no longer have chauffeur duties twice a day (even though she has her own car!). Internet can sometimes be a problem if we’re both in online meetings, but otherwise, we’ve really loved the benefits of being at home so much more.
Jinal: We’ve been very fortunate in that the pandemic hasn’t really impacted our working lives, other than I now work from home too. Martin had to make space for me in his office but we have a great set up that works really well for both of us. Oh, and not having the daily struggle of finding a parking space is a bonus.
What makes your partner so special?
Martin: She’s simply the best thing that has ever happened to me. Like I said, we never argue and we laugh together all the time. She is my best friend and I don’t know where I’d be without her.
Jinal: I’m not sure if this question can be answered without being cheesy and cringey so here goes. He’s truly one of kind, he has a heart of gold, wears his heart on his sleeve and would do anything for anyone. He is my best friend and my soul mate. It’s a testament to our relationship that even with lockdown we still always have such a laugh together. And now we have our son, watching Martin’s transition into fatherhood has been lovely to watch; he was born to be a dad. I’m so proud and lucky to have him by my side and to call him my husband and father to our son.
We loved hearing from Northampton couple Jinal and Martin. Stay tuned to hear from our two other Barclays couples…