b'Balancing the needs of a business with the needs ofMy personal work situation has been very much a employees is a challenge, of course, and a hybrid modelhybrid mode these past number of months. There have may not always be possible.been some aspects about it that have been good. I like Jade Reeve, program manager for the Canadianthe variety of being at home a little bit. Ive also noticed Agricultural Human Resource Council, says many peoplethere are stretches where I do come in three, four or five have become used to the flexibility of working fromdays in a row to the office for various reasons. That gets home. No traffic, a more flexible dress code, and beinga little tiring, too. Im pretty sympathetic to some of the able to work in your own familiar surroundings are alladvantages that come with being at home, he says. perks that many have become accustomed to and mayAt the same time, Ive noticed some real challenges not want to completely lose should they need to go backaround the lack of informal communication that that you to the office. would get at the office. A lot of things just kind of happen Its important to connect with the employees andorganically when people are together. How do you do really get their feedback so that they feel theyre a part ofthat when everyone is scattered? We certainly will build the decision in coming back to the office. What is it theyin some flexibility, of course; its not like nobody is ever need to feel supported to come back? Many people enjoyallowed to work from home ever again. That said, we not having to commute. Some find they are more produc- need most people in the office most of the time. tive, Reeve says. If those people really do need to go back to the office, employers can make it easier by helping it be a positive transition. There are ways to do that, but it requires communicating with the employees to come up with a new model that allows them to somehow have the best of both worlds. Watch our Seed Speaks interviews on this very topic!Mark Metcalfe, president of Nexeed based in Manitoba, is looking at having most, if not all, of Nexeeds employ- Seed Speaks is our weekly live video series covering top-of-mind topics in the seed industry. Episodes 3 and 7 deal with the subject of remote work and working ees return to the office. In fact, the company is building afrom the office. Watch them now!new location to house its operations. germination.ca/category/seed-speaks/SEPTEMBER 2021 GERMINATION.CA 45'