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V O L . X X V I I I N O. V M A R C H 7 , 2 0 2 2 14 WO R K P L A C E T R A N S F O R M AT I O N F O C U S he conducts online forums from a quiet office he hates because it's cluttered. From the water cooler to Slack channels Among small employers who've embraced the hybrid model is iBec Creative, a Portland-based web design and digital marketing agency for brands including Shawnee Peak and the Holy Donut. With about a third of its 18 employees coming into the office most days, a third coming in twice a month and a third fully remote, the agency has adopted a "remote-first" policy for all staff business and social gatherings to put everyone on equal footing. "Even though some people may be sitting around a conference table, we all have our laptops, so our individual faces are on screen, and we have a microphone that allows everyone to be heard clearly," says Becky McKinnell, the company's founder and CEO. "Remote-first meet- ings allow all of us to have the same audio and visual so there is less of an 'us versus them' vibe." e firm has also shifted virtual cof- fee check-ins, happy hours and other social activities to a mix of in-person and remote while chatting on the Slack messaging app on topics including pets, positive vibes and even pumpkins, dur- ing last year's carving contest. "Slack helps coworkers get to know each other even better," McKinnell says, "because it creates transparency for conversations. Most of our water-cooler- type chat is on Slack so everyone can chime in." Large employers Large employers operating on a hybrid model include MEMIC, Tilson and engineering firm Woodard & Curran Inc. All are headquartered in Portland with employees in multiple states. "I have clearly signaled to people that I think there's value in being in an office, but I'm not going to tell people to be there X hours per week," says Michael Bourque, president and CEO of work- ers' compensation insurer MEMIC. During the pandemic when the company hired close to 100 people, one thing he's missed most about in-person interviews is having lunch. "We stand in line and grab a sandwich and try to get those little bits and pieces about some- one's personality," he says. "You don't get that on video." Like many of his managers, Bourque makes himself available on the WebEx video platform and aims to answer every message. "We've had some big issues come up during this time period, and it's a nice way to invite interaction and to respond," he says. Meanwhile at Tilson, a network- deployment and IT professional services firm with 650 employees nationwide including 180 in Portland, employees are coming into the office more. Some fly in from elsewhere and often join video meetings from the plane. "We still have virtual meetings all day long across the country," says Adria Horn, Tilson's executive vice president for workforce. While working from home saves her time, Horn finds it's no substitute for the communal experience. "I appreciate the natural opportunity to start a meeting by not just starting the business of the meeting,'' she says. "On video you don't get those ice-breakers, and starting five minutes late doesn't matter." For Rachel Gilbert, diversity, equity and inclusion manager at Woodard & Curran in Andover, Mass., Tuesdays through ursdays are office days while she avoids heavier traffic by working from home Mondays and Fridays. "I fully intended to go back to the office full-time, but then I realized I have such a great set-up at home that I have per- fected over the past two years." Back at Gretchen Johnson's home office in Cape Elizabeth, she keeps accessories on hand to hop on a video call at short notice. at includes lip- stick and a scarf, a necklace or a pair of earrings she can quickly throw on "so I'm always Zoom-ready." R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s MAINE HR CONVENTION May 9-12, 2022 Samoset Resort 2022: BACK TO BUSINESS MAINEBIZ www.mainehrconvention.com Register now: Get 10% off using code: "What Great Resignation?" - Companies with great HR March 31st at Holiday Inn by the Bay PORTLAND, MAINE REGISTER OR SPONSOR NOW! nebrewsummit.com NEW ENGLAND'S BIGGEST BEER INDUSTRY CONFERENCE PRESENTED BY MEDIA SPONSOR Rachel Gilbert, DEI manager for Woodard & Curran, is based in Andover, Mass. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F R A C H E L G I L B E R T » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E

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