Gamal Alznati - International Men's Day

For International men's day, we wanted to shine a light on some of the amazing men that work for Johnsons Workwear and find out a little more about them.

This year we would like to talk more about men’s mental health and encourage the men in our lives to #talkmore.

Let’s hear from Gamal Alznati who is a Transport Supervisor at our Bristol Plant.

Talk us through an average day in your life:

My day starts around 4.45am when I arrive to work at the Bristol plant, my first port of call is to check all the routes are ready for the days service. I then check to make sure everyone’s paperwork is ready for the day, and around 5.30am the driver’s start to arrive, we all have a chat and a little laugh before they head off on their routes.

Before the drivers leave, if there are any defects on the lorries, I fix these. Once the drivers have left, I check my emails to see if there is anything that needs sorting from customer service. I also check my emails for any issues that have arisen and process orders that have come through. Around about 7.15am, I pop down and have a history lesson from my General Manager Carl (he will laugh when he reads that bit!) and a quick coffee, around this time my manager Leanne arrives, and we have a quick catch up. I also have day to day transport related tasks and deal with any customer service-related issues, and then at 2pm, I go home!

What did you want to be when you were younger?

I wanted to be in the British army as a soldier, but unfortunately due to my split heritage I wasn’t allowed at the time.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing young boys and men today?

I don’t think there are any challenges facing young boys and men today. My generation and the generation today are totally different and we have lots of support in place now.

How do you look after your mental health?

If I need to speak to anyone I always reach out to someone for advice or help

What advice would you give your younger self?

Make sure you stick to all challenges and enjoy yourself in life.

What changes would you like to see in the future for men and their mental health?

I think there is more help now as to when I was growing up. Companies and the public have more awareness regarding the issues, which is great.

Who is your biggest male inspiration in life?

I don’t have a male inspiration in my life. I would say my mother is my inspiration as she raised four children on her own and still managed to work daily and provide us with a great life. My Dad moved back to Libya when I was three years old, I have a great relationship with him also.

What is your proudest achievement?

My proudest achievement are my four lovely kids.