How do you sleep at night while knowingly prioritizing profits over public health? Im serious.

Expert response from Allison Devitre

Information Management & Communications Manager, Bayer Crop Science

Friday, 02/10/2015 10:34

Just recently I returned to work after a three month maternity leave. I never thought it would be that difficult to return to work- but it was. I contemplated every scenario on how to be able to stay home with my new little one. It wasn’t guilt and it wasn’t about the paycheck; money has never been the driver for my purpose at any job and it surely was not going to be the ‘thing’ that stood in between some of the momentous years with my child. While I’ve got to pay bills and ensure my little one has health benefits, there are many companies out there that could do this for my family.  

However, not all companies fulfill the purpose that justifies my time spent at work, which is to be a part of something bigger. Something that is revolutionary. Something that I know for a fact makes a positive difference. 

I have no doubt in my mind that the company where I go to work every day is positively affecting families now and maybe even more in the future when resources will be even more limited. I also feel like my company has a responsibility to provide novel technologies while keeping the safety in the forefront of each product that is commercialized. In my different roles in the last 10+ years I’ve seen how our products are tested for safety, ensured we responsibly stewarded our products, and reviewed/audited the safety data. I understand the question, the perception of ‘big companies’ and how one could believe that employees could be conditioned to accept potential issues with products. This is simply not the case where I work; in fact, it is the complete opposite. We have no business need to market products that carry high risk to them when we can market products with a sound safety profile just the same. It will take time to show this to the public, but we’re committed to having this dialogue.