Values Ambassadors | Lidija Tinterienė: I joined the bakery after my maternity leave – now my children are teenagers

Lidija Tinterienė, the shift manager at our Panevėžys bakery, joined Vilniaus Duona searching for a new job after her maternity leave. Since then, her little children have grown into teenagers, and within a year from the start, Lidija became a shift manager. She has been working at Vilniaus Duona ever since.

Lidija, do you remember how you came to Vilniaus Duona?

I was on maternity leave and started looking for a job. I didn't plan to go back to my previous workplace, so I was looking for something new. My husband was already working here. I asked if there were any job openings. One day he came home and asked, "Would you like to work with boxes?"

What kind of job is "working with boxes"?

That's how he jokingly described the dispatcher job. It means working with orders. You have to make sure there are enough pallets and packaging, and that everything matches the orders.

After a year, I was offered the warehouse operator position. That's what it was called then, but in reality it was the shift manager's job, which is the position I have today.

You joined right after your maternity leave. Wasn't it difficult with such young children? How did you manage?

When I brought in my CV, I told the manager straight away that I could only work if my shifts matched my husband's. My daughter wasn't even one and a half years old, and my son was only a year older. The manager laughed and said, "You're not even hired yet, and you're already setting conditions." But I wanted to be honest because that was the only way we could both work. So we arranged it like this: when my husband worked, I stayed home with the children. When I worked, he stayed home.

And it seems that arrangement worked well?

This is already my twelfth year here. The children have grown into teenagers.

What are your responsibilities as a shift manager?

I make sure everything runs smoothly. All orders have to be prepared, loaded, and delivered to the stores on time. Around 40 people work in the dispatch department. During a day shift, my team usually has about six people. Night shifts are busier, so there are around fourteen. Everything has to be organised properly.

How do you like your job?

I feel I'm in the right place. I feel secure. The job isn't easy, but the atmosphere is very good.

What makes you feel that way?

I enjoy working with people. I feel that I'm using what I studied because I learned IT, accounting, law, and management. Every day I have to make many decisions.

I like that my job isn't repetitive. Every day is different. In summer, for example, we have many more orders. You come to work, check everything, and solve problems if they come up.

I also really like my team.

What is your team like?

We have both men and women, younger and older colleagues. It's a hardworking team.

What qualities does someone need to do your job?

Communication skills. Speed. You have to know how to talk to people because we work not only with stores but also with drivers from different countries. We deliver bread not only across Lithuania but also to Latvia and Poland. There is a lot of communication in this job.

You mentioned that you're working in the field you studied. Where did you study?

I studied to become a commercial specialist at Joniškėlis Agricultural School, although it has a different name now. At the time, we were told we could become middle managers in many different businesses because the programme gave us a wide range of knowledge. That turned out to be true.

Now your children are older, but what was it like working shifts when they were small?

It actually suited me very well. I worked two day shifts, then two night shifts, and after that I had four days off. That gave me plenty of free time. I don't think I could work from eight to five now. This schedule let me take care of personal things and spend time with my children.

When my daughter was very young, the company adjusted my schedule so it matched my husband's. When one of us worked, the other stayed home with the children. We managed without a babysitter.

What makes a good day at work?

When everything gets done and I don't leave unfinished work for the next shift. If I have to leave something for the next team, I don't feel comfortable. I don't like leaving my work for others because they already have their own orders to handle.

You clearly take your work seriously. This year you were recognised as our Values Ambassador for Taking Ownership. How did you feel about receiving the award?

It was a surprise! I couldn't believe it when my colleagues kept coming over during the shift to congratulate me and shake my hand. I was working at the time. It was really nice. After all these years, I never expected it.

What does bread mean to you?

I still remember something our team once said about the millions of smiling tummies we bake bread for. Bread is something special for Lithuanians. When we bake bread, people all over Lithuania—and beyond—eat it. It's a big responsibility.

My children know a lot about bread. Even when they have school projects, they often choose this topic because they once visited our bakery. They really enjoyed it. I think it would be great if more children had that opportunity.

What is your favourite bread?

I like the 45% Seeds bread and Beata's Dark Bread. I enjoy healthier breads in general. Our Panevėžys bakery mainly bakes rye bread.

Sometimes when the bread is being packed, I take a leftover slice. There are always a few loaves that can't be sold because of small defects or their shape. Bread straight from the oven tastes the best.

Do you still buy bread?

Every day after our shift we can take bread from the collection point by the security desk. So I only buy bread when I'm on holiday. In fact, I'm going on holiday soon.

How do you like to relax?

For me, the best way to relax is reading a book. Before going to bed, I pick one up. It's both rest and entertainment.

I mostly enjoy detective stories and novels. When I first became a manager, I read many professional books about leadership and working with teams. Now I simply enjoy reading the books I like.

Every year, Vilniaus Duona recognises three Values Ambassadors who represent our core values: Openness, Drive, and Taking Ownership.

Through these interviews, we celebrate colleagues who bring these values to life every day.

Would you like to join our team? Explore our latest job opportunities here.