‘If we argue, we make up during our lunch break’
Tina Nandha, 37, has worked with her husband Jay, 42, since they met at a sports shop nearly 20 years ago and says it’s saved them money. They live in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, with their children, Nikki, seven, and Milli, five.
Every day when we’re at work, my husband Jay drops me a text from two desks away to ask if I’m ready to go to lunch. We always do the same 20-minute walk to the petrol station to buy sandwiches to bring back to the financial services office where we work.
I never get tired of our daily lunch breaks because it’s a great opportunity to catch up, whether we’re talking about the children or what’s happening at work. We always discuss what we’re going to have for dinner that night, too.
It might sound boring that I spend nearly all my time with my husband, but if you love someone why wouldn’t you want to work with them, too? Besides, it’s all I’ve ever known.
I was 18 and in my first part-time job working on the tills at a sports shop when I met Jay, who’d just finished at university. He had a management role and I loved talking to him.
We soon became good friends but then we started seeing each other and I was really happy to see him at work, too. It never felt awkward. It was just great to have more time to get to know each other.
I’d decided not to go to university to concentrate on buying a house, so two years later, in 2005, I started work at a bank as a cashier. Less than six months later, Jay joined me at the same bank.
We both worked our way up to branch manager level and it was great having Jay there because he understood the work pressures. We both understood when the other had had a bad day.
It helps that we have a similar outlook on life, too.
I left the bank after 13 years to look after our children, Nikki and Milli, and to start up my own business, Wrap It By Tina.
But I missed not spending so much time with Jay. So when a role for me came up at the financial solutions company where he now works, I jumped at the chance.
That was just over a year ago. I now work there on weekdays, leaving at 3pm to collect the kids from school.
There are so many benefits to being back at work with Jay, including saving money by selling one of our cars as we now travel to work together. We’ve supported each other through all our jobs together and this one is no different.
It’s a lovely family firm so nobody minds if I pop over to Jay’s desk for a quick chat.
The only downside is when we’ve had a rare disagreement at home. We always try to resolve anything before coming into work, but otherwise I steer clear of his desk until we can make up during our lunch break.
Working together has been perfect for our marriage.
Jay says: “I never get bored with Tina’s company and appreciate her both as a great colleague and wife. She understands where I’m at if
I’ve had a bad day and I can do the same for her. We’re really lucky to have worked together all these years.”
To find out more about Tina’s business, visit wrapitbytina.co.uk