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// get current language for site var curLang = curHTML.getAttribute("lang"); // body for the page var curBODY = document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].getAttribute("id"); // wrapper that holds the lang picker feature var langPicker = document.getElementsByClassName("lang-picker")[0]; // list of languages var langList = document.getElementsByClassName("lang-picker__list")[0]; // array with all the language links var langLinkList = document.querySelectorAll(".lang-picker__list a"); // button pressed to show languages var langBtn = document.getElementsByClassName("lang-picker__button")[0]; // input field used for filtering languages with autocomplete var langInput = document.getElementById("lang-picker__filter-form--field"); var languagePicker = { init: function(){ // add nudge languagePicker.usersLanguage(); // add event listener to button langBtn.addEventListener("click", function() { languagePicker.showLanguages(); }); if(langInput){ langInput.addEventListener("keyup", function() { languagePicker.filterForm(); }); } }, filterForm: function(){ // Declare variables var submitBtn, errorMsg, resetBtn, filter, ul, li, a, i, txtValue; filter = langInput.value.toUpperCase(); li = langList.getElementsByTagName('li'); // Loop through all list items, and hide those who don't match the search query for (i = 0; i < li.length; i++) { a = li[i].getElementsByTagName("a")[0]; txtValue = a.textContent || a.innerText; if (txtValue.toUpperCase().indexOf(filter) > -1) { li[i].style.display = ""; } else { li[i].style.display = "none"; } } }, listenerEscape: function(e){ if(e.key === "Escape" ){ //close all languagePicker.hideLanguages(); } }, listenerOutsideClick: function(){ var isClickInside = langList.contains(event.target); var isClickBurger = langBtn.contains(event.target); if (!isClickInside && !isClickBurger) { //the click was outside the specifiedElement, do something languagePicker.hideLanguages(); } }, usersLanguage: function(){ // get the HTML and User's browser Language var userLang = window.navigator.language; curHTML.setAttribute("data-user-lang",userLang); // check to see if the language is localized and take everything to the left of the first "-" if(userLang.includes("-")){ userLang = userLang.split("-")[0] } curHTML.setAttribute("data-lang-compare",userLang); // Compare user lang against current site lang if(curLang != userLang){ // User Language DOES NOT match Site curHTML.setAttribute("data-original-match","false"); var compareLangs = document.querySelectorAll(".lang-picker__button .lang-picker__translated"); var availLang = ""; // compare the preferred language against the list of available languages for this site for (var i = 0; i < compareLangs.length; i++) { availLang = compareLangs[i].getAttribute("data-lang"); if(availLang == userLang){ // Match Found curHTML.setAttribute("data-lang-match",availLang); langPicker.setAttribute("data-nudge", availLang) } } } else{ // User Language matches Site curHTML.setAttribute("data-original-match","true"); } }, showLanguages: function(){ // lang picker button pressed if(langList.classList.contains("active")){ languagePicker.hideLanguages(); } else{ langList.classList.add("active"); langBtn.setAttribute("aria-expanded","true"); // if user clicks escape should close langList.addEventListener('keydown', languagePicker.listenerEscape); langBtn.addEventListener('keydown', languagePicker.listenerEscape); // if user clicks outside of the navigation document.addEventListener('click', languagePicker.listenerOutsideClick); } }, hideLanguages: function(){ // prep for hiding language list langList.classList.remove("active"); langBtn.setAttribute("aria-expanded","false"); // Remove event listeners for escape and outside clicking langList.removeEventListener('keydown', languagePicker.listenerEscape); langBtn.removeEventListener('keydown', languagePicker.listenerEscape); document.removeEventListener('click', languagePicker.listenerOutsideClick); } } // if lang picker exists initiate language picker options document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(){ if(typeof langBtn != "undefined"){ languagePicker.init(); } }); // End Language picker // =================================== </script> </div> </div> </header> <main id="content" class="main"> <div class="section section1 hero js-header-trigger js-scroll-next" data-section-id="12439" data-layout-item-id="2273"> <div class="hero-main"> <div class="hero-content"> <div class="html-content" id=""> <p><strong>Jan Vercauteren - HR Digitalization Expert</strong></p> <h2 class="">“Dad, I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin... I might actually be in the wrong skin.”</h2> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-aside"> <div class="media"> <picture class="media-picture"> <source media="(min-width: 1000px)" srcset="//cdn.radancy.eu/company/2618/cms/00-belgium/00-stories/bel-story-jan.jpg"> <img class="media-image" alt="" src="//cdn.radancy.eu/company/2618/cms/00-belgium/00-stories/bel-story-jan.jpg" loading="lazy" /> </picture> </div> </div> <div class="hero-scroll js-scroll-next-trigger"> <span class="hero-scroll-icon"></span> </div> </div> <div class="section section2" data-section-id="12440" data-layout-item-id="2233"> <div id="section2-copy" class="cms-content"> <p><span>Have you seen <a href="https://careers.ing.jobs/en/diversity-inclusion-belonging" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-custom-event="true" data-custom-category="UserCreatedContent" data-custom-label="this video">this video</a> about diversity at ING? Then you've probably already met our HR Digital Innovation Expert Jan Vercauteren and heard the touching story about his transgender son. However, it felt there was still more to discover. So just before he left on a family holiday, we invited Jan for another open and inspiring conversation.</span></p> </div> </div> <div class="section section4" data-section-id="12441" data-layout-item-id="2261"> <div class="max-w-680 mx-auto"> <div class="html-content" id=""> <h3 class="" id="Jan_how_did_it_start_for_all_o_(I_might_actually_be_in_the_wro)-anchor">Jan, how did it start for all of you?</h3> <p>Jan: “About five years ago, our child told us: ‘I’m attracted to the same gender’. As parents, we were happily surprised. We thought it was nice that it was clarified; we also had no problem with it at all. We did express our concerns, because in this rather hard world not everyone regards these feelings as positive. Unfortunately.”</p> <div style="text-align: center;" class="widget quote"><em>“You love your children for who they are, right? Not for your expectations<br />of what they should become.”</em></div> <p>Jan: “But a few months after the happy news, our child went through a dark period. A friend had jumped in front of a train, there were things at school that caused immense stress... All these events triggered a depression. So following that, our child took a break from school and started seeing a psychiatrist. Those talks gave new insights and so, one day, our child stood in front of us and said: ‘Dad, I'm not comfortable in my own skin... I might even be in the wrong skin’.<em>”</em></p> <h3 class="" id="How_did_you_as_a_parent_experi_(I_might_actually_be_in_the_wro)-anchor">How did you, as a parent, experience those moments?</h3> <p>Jan: “You see your kid suffer. As a parent, that just hits you right in the heart. Seeing your child all curled up on the sofa, feeling miserable… It’s the very last thing you want for them. Luckily, we all received excellent support, so today my son feels like he has become the man he always wanted to be. And that makes me very, very happy.’</p> <div style="text-align: center;" class="widget quote"><em>“He has become the man he always wanted to be. And that makes me very, very happy.”</em></div> <p>Jan: “Now, I don't want to romanticise all this. There were times, that I was really scared. How will others treat him? Is he going to have a normal life? But in the end, it doesn't seem to be as bad as we expected. He found new friends and is part of a new social circle where he feels safe.”</p> <h3 class="" id="Inclusion_and_diversity_are_no_(I_might_actually_be_in_the_wro)-anchor">Inclusion and diversity are no abstract concepts for you, but a daily reality. How do you experience these values at ING?</h3> <p>Jan: “I find it inspiring how much those aspects are valued here, at my workplace. I’ve always been very open about my private situation. And that was always accepted, across teams, cultures and nationalities. I haven't had a negative reaction. Not one! On the contrary, people were very interested. There was this continuous flow of compassion and… I would call it ‘normality’. And that touched me deeply. Colleagues even encouraged me to take some time off, they said: ‘Jan, feel free to go home and be there for your family”. I mean… wow, right?”</p> <div style="text-align: center;" class="widget quote"><em>It seems as if you found this 'normality' almost abnormal?<br /></em></div> <p>Jan: “I am aware that our story is a privileged one. Some of my son's friends from the queer community got into a lot of trouble at home when they came out and were frowned upon by their peers... And so, I suspect there won't always be such an open response in their professional lives either. That makes it just so welcoming and empowering that such an openness and normality are felt and expressed here at ING.”</p> <h3 class="" id="When_you_hear_those_other_stor_(I_might_actually_be_in_the_wro)-anchor">When you hear those other stories, what is your reaction then? Being a parent yourself?</h3> <p>Jan: “It must be so hard for those kids. Look, you love your children for who they are, right? Not for your expectations of what they should become. Focus on your child, not on your own ideas or some outdated expectations of what they should become. Because when you let go of the idea of what others might think about you or your children, you find freedom. Here in our home, we take that openness for granted. And it's reassuring that the same feeling lives at ING.”</p> <h3 class="" id="However_Jan_someone_who_doesnt_(I_might_actually_be_in_the_wro)-anchor">However Jan, someone who doesn't work at ING might assume that the banking world is a rather hard world as well…</h3> <p>Jan<span> </span><em>(smiles widely)</em>: “Fortunately, we are not a bank! We are a technology company with a banking licence. Look, I have been working here for 28 years and when I started, it was all suit and tie. Now, this is a totally different company. Senior managers walk around here in T-shirts too. But indeed, I sometimes wonder: what if I had told my story in another company? Well, I know I wouldn't want to work in a company that is not as open as ING is today. That's also a piece of advice I swear by: work in a company where you feel good, where you are happy.”</p> <h3 class="" id="How_do_you_experience_our_soci_(I_might_actually_be_in_the_wro)-anchor">How do you experience our society handling gender and inclusivity in general?</h3> <p>Jan: “There is an incredible openness now, which is fantastic, but I also see the backlash. Just recently I was talking to someone who stated he didn’t<span> </span><em>‘understand all those woke-things</em>’. According to him, it's a fashion phenomenon, where young people mainly want to be a part of. Well… (<em>sighs</em>) I’m aware that I’ll never be able to convince everyone. Nevertheless, I am convinced that we as a civilisation are evolving in the right direction. There is still a lot of work to do, but in general we are moving in a positive direction. I remain optimistic. One day, everyone will realise this is the 21st century.”<span> </span><em>(laughs)</em></p> <h3 class="" id="Thank_you_for_sharing_your_sto_(I_might_actually_be_in_the_wro)-anchor">Thank you for sharing your story, Jan, and for so much openness.</h3> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Jan: “My pleasure, but for me, there’s no other way.”</em></p> <p style="text-align: left;">If you have questions regarding suicide, please contact the Community Help Centre Helpline at 02 648 40 14 or <a href="http://www.chsbelgium.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-custom-event="true" data-custom-category="UserCreatedContent" data-custom-label="www.chsbelgium.org">www.chsbelgium.org</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>“There is an incredible openness nowadays, but I also see the backlash."</em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section4" data-section-id="12899" data-layout-item-id="2261"> <div class="max-w-680 mx-auto"> <div class="html-content" id=""> <div style="text-align: center;"> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="button-group"><a class="btn btn-default" href="/en/working-in-belgium" data-custom-event="true" data-custom-category="UserCreatedContent" data-custom-label="Belgium Home">Home</a>   <a class="btn btn-default" href="/en/be-locations-belgium" data-custom-event="true" data-custom-category="UserCreatedContent" data-custom-label="Locations">Locations</a>   <a class="btn btn-default" href="/en/benefits-be" data-custom-event="true" data-custom-category="UserCreatedContent" data-custom-label="Benefits">Benefits</a>   <a class="btn btn-default" href="/en/be-stories" data-custom-event="true" data-custom-category="UserCreatedContent" data-custom-label="Stories">Stories</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer> <div id="footer" class="section footer" data-section-id="6491" data-layout-item-id="1293"> <div class="footer__container"> <ul class="nav-footer link-list"> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/search-jobs">Jobs for you</a></li> <li><a href="/en/about-ing">About ING</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/working-at-ing">Working at ING</a></li> <li><a href="/en/expertise-teams">Expertise & teams</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/early-careers">Early careers</a></li> <li><a href="/en/diversity-inclusion-belonging">DIB at ING</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="/en/locations">Locations</a></li> <li><a href="/en/events">Events</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="socials"> <li> <a class="btn btn-icon btn-icon--social btn-icon--social--linkedin" href="//www.linkedin.com/company/ing"> <span class="icon icon--linkedin"></span> <span class="sr-only"> LinkedIn </span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="btn btn-icon btn-icon--social btn-icon--social--twitter" href="//twitter.com/ing_news"> <span class="icon icon--twitter"></span> <span class="sr-only"> X </span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="btn btn-icon btn-icon--social btn-icon--social--youtube" href="//www.youtube.com/ing"> <span class="icon icon--youtube"></span> <span class="sr-only"> YouTube </span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="footer-bottom" class="section footer-bottom" data-section-id="6504" data-layout-item-id="1293"> <div class="footer-bottom__container"> <ul class="nav-utils link-list"> <li>©2025 ING</li> <li> <a href="/en/sitemap">Sitemap</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/privacy-statement">Privacy statement</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/cookie-statement">Cookie statement</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <script src="//cdn.radancy.eu/bundles/jquery-client.js"></script> <script src="//cdn.radancy.eu/bundles/tb-corepack.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/fancyapps/fancybox@3.5.7/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.js"></script> <script src="//cdn.radancy.eu/company/2618/gst_v1_0/js/accessible-slick/slick.min.js"></script> <script src="//cdn.radancy.eu/company/2618/js/1488-Primary-CMS-Theme.min.js"></script> <script src='//cdn.radancy.eu/js/client/recently-viewed-job-list.js'></script>  </body> </html>

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