Father and daughter keep it in the family at Amazon in Doncaster

Sean Rainey, who works at Amazon in Doncaster in the transportation operations management team, is preparing to celebrate Father’s Day this weekend with one of his colleagues, who is also his daughter.

Sean, who has worked at Amazon since September 2017, is one of dozens of fathers working at Amazon across the UK who work alongside their children.

As Father’s Day 2022 approaches, the father and daughter team have spoken about how their family bond ties them together both inside and outside work.

Sean works alongside his daughter, Natasha Rainey, who also works in the transport operations management team at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Doncaster iPort.

Natasha joined the company three years after her father, in 2020, and the pair have worked together since February 2021.

Before joining Amazon, Sean worked as a senior manager at Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster and Natasha studied Healthcare at Doncaster College.

After spotting a job vacancy at the newly opened Amazon fulfilment centre in Doncaster in 2017 following redundancy from his role at the airport, Sean decided that the skills he’d acquired in his previous career would suit the position perfectly.

He applied for the role and has been working at Amazon ever since.

In 2019, after her studies finished, Natasha decided to take a break from healthcare and applied for a vacancy at Amazon in Doncaster iPort.

Having worked in numerous departments, Natasha now works alongside her father.

Their close working relationship is something the pair really enjoy. Sean said: “I really enjoy working with Natasha. It’s just lovely to work with your daughter - you really can’t beat it!”

Natasha echoes her dad’s thoughts when it comes to working together. “It’s great working with my dad,” she said.

“He always keeps me right, and because he has trained me, I feel confident in my role. I know that he is always there for me.”

Sean and Natasha work together to ensure packages are delivered successfully around the UK, but what’s the one thing Sean always delivers for Natasha?

“A fun working day,” she says. “My dad makes me feel comfortable both in work and at home and I know I can always turn to him for help.”

For any family members who work together, or are thinking about working together, Sean has some advice: “As long as you have a good relationship, you’ll be absolutely fine. You really cannot beat working with your child.”

Natasha also adds: “Don’t be embarrassed. I felt awkward at the start, working alongside my dad, but he has really helped me grow within my role and improved my confidence.”

A family feeling is something that encapsulates not just Sean and Natasha, but the whole team at Amazon in Doncaster iPort.

Sean added: “We both really enjoy working alongside everyone on the team here at Amazon in Doncaster. Having a good team relationship is key, and we are extremely lucky to have such a great team.”

Natasha added: “The team really is like having our own little work family. Some of them even call him dad too.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.