DuoDay 2025: 4 duos speak out

Who are you?

• Sabrina: "My name's Sabrina, and I'm changing careers after 18 years in retail. Following health problems, I'm looking to retrain. Cap Emploi suggested that I take part in DuoDay to find out about a job, and I chose RAGT.
• Laure: "Laure Saint-Pierre, I'm a breeder at RAGT 2n. I work at the Druelle research station in the forage, turf and service plant research section.

What made you want to take part in DuoDay and what did you expect from the experience?

• Sabrina: "I wanted to find out about a new profession and see if it was compatible with my health problems, so that I could possibly move into this sector.
• Laure: "I'd say that any opportunity is a good opportunity to meet people. It's a chance to see if there are people who might be interested in my job and, if so, to see if it's compatible. The day a job becomes available, then you know where to turn. And if it's not a good match, it doesn't really matter. It's always good to meet people.

How did your day as a duo go?

• Sabrina: "First Laure introduced me to the company, then to the plots. She explained how everything worked and how the seeds are selected. I was able to weigh the oven-dried grass, label it and sort the seeds.
• Laure: "Sabrina has had the opportunity to work with several selection employees. These were tasks that the team carries out on a daily basis.

What did you learn from this experience?

• Sabrina: "My husband works in agriculture, so this experience gave me an insight into what it's like to work in this sector. I had no idea that there could be so many variations before finding the right seed. It was really interesting to discover that there are other things going on in agriculture. It's a different kind of work from what goes on at the farmer's".
• Laure: "Sabrina is a really nice person, so it was a good time to talk to her. It was all the more interesting because she already knew a bit about farming. I think that having seen the job at first hand enabled her to imagine what it might be like in season. It was a real pleasure to have her here.

Do you think initiatives like DuoDay have an impact?

• Sabrina: "It's an experience that opens up new perspectives. We don't know about all the jobs out there and these days can help us move into professions we might not have thought of. As someone who doesn't know where to retrain at the moment, I would never have imagined that the little knowledge I have of agriculture could be a plus when it comes to finding a job. If I had to do it all over again, I would.
• Laure: "I've never taken part in DuoDay before, but I'd be delighted to do it again next year. I'd even say that this operation doesn't last long enough in the sense that you barely have time to chat with the person before they've already left. In July, we had already welcomed a person with health problems who was changing jobs within the company: it was what we call a supervised trial. It was a sort of enhanced DuoDay, with the experience lasting ten days. This type of initiative opens the door to great encounters".

Who are you?

• Thomas: "My name is Thomas. Due to an accident at work, I've had to change direction. I'm currently training to become an illustrator.
• Fabrice: "Fabrice Raynal, I'm Head of Communications and Public Relations at RAGT SA.

What made you want to take part in DuoDay and what did you hope to gain from the experience?

• Thomas: "I didn't know about DuoDay. I found out about this initiative through Cap Emploi. It's the kind of day that can give you ideas. I wasn't against discovering a new environment. On the contrary, I was rather curious to see how RAGT communicates.
• Fabrice: "At RAGT, we've been involved in DuoDay for several years. It's part of the Group's desire to promote accessibility and inclusion. Hosting a trainee is a way of enabling someone to discover, confirm or not an idea and perhaps find their bearings. It's a short day, but it still gives you a chance to look at a number of things and get a clearer idea.

How did your day with the duo go?

Thomas: "I met a team of 4 people who really seem to get on well together and coordinate their work. Everyone showed me what they're good at. That's where I found things interesting. I saw that there was a lot of creativity in communication, and a lot of consultation too".

What did you learn from this experience?

Thomas: "I'm naturally curious and this experience enabled me to discover things that I would probably never have had the opportunity to see. Today, I've met professionals and I've seen first-hand how their days are organised and what they work for. From a professional point of view, communication can be a way forward.

In your opinion, do initiatives like DuoDay have an impact?

• Thomas: "These initiatives help to create links. After all, it's important to meet new people. They allow you to discover different fields that you wouldn't necessarily have thought of. It can stop us in our tracks, but it can also give us new convictions.
• Fabrice: "I'd say that, for someone who has had an accident in life and needs to change direction, these days are a good opportunity to learn about other aspects of working life, in line with their desires. I think that we, as companies, have a role to play in helping people who have had an accident and now find themselves with a visible or invisible disability. It's our duty to support them, to open doors for them. Inclusion is a strong value at RAGT, and that's why DuoDay is so important.

Who are you?

• Amélie: "My name is Amélie. I've got a BTS in agriculture and trained as a home help. I was born in Rodez, so naturally I know RAGT. I'm planning to move into administration.
• Nadia: "Nadia Augé, I'm an assistant manager in the production division at RAGT Semences in Les Molinières.

What made you want to take part in DuoDay and what did you hope to gain from the experience?

• Amélie: "I didn't really know about DuoDay, my Cap Emploi advisor told me about it. The idea was to find out about a job through immersion. If it can give me something useful and give me a better understanding of the world I want to move into, this experience will help me to project myself towards something concrete".
• Nadia: "This is the 3rd year running that I've taken part in DuoDay! For me, this day is a real opportunity to exchange, share and contribute to a meaningful process".

How did your DuoDay go?

• Nadia: "The day began with a welcome, a tour of the premises and a meeting with the teams and employees. We then worked side by side on my job. I presented the organisational chart and my tasks, which gave an overview of my job. In the afternoon, I offered to develop a particular point to give her some open time. What stands out is that the relationships between us are strong: we're all linked, we form a team. Even if we have an administrative side, we all remain connected to the field and to a profession".
• Amélie: "I found it interesting to immerse myself with someone who is passionate about her job. She explained that since joining RAGT, she's been able to take on a number of different assignments. It's encouraging, because it shows that you can change, that you have the right to do so and that the company offers opportunities for development.

What did you learn from this experience?

• Amélie: "I've learnt that you shouldn't listen to people who say it's impossible. You don't have to stay in the same job for 30 or 40 years either. Even within a company, you can evolve, learn, make mistakes, make choices and follow your own path. And the fact that companies are prepared to recruit people with disabilities shows that the world of work is gradually moving towards inclusion. It's very motivating for the future.
• Nadia: "At this event, I learnt to talk about my job more simply, and to work on transmission and teaching. The day reinforced my conviction that inclusion is an asset, both human and professional".

In your opinion, do initiatives like DuoDay have an impact?

• Amélie: "I'm glad I took part in the day. With Nadia, I discovered all the administrative positions and the premises, which gave me a global vision. For both companies and us, the applicants, these initiatives help to change the way people look at disability and show that disability and employment can go hand in hand.
• Nadia: "It was a very pleasant and caring day. What stood out for me was seeing that Amélie was interested in the tasks and that she contributed with a lot of motivation. For me, DuoDay embodies our values of openness and solidarity and is helping to transform our corporate culture towards a more inclusive approach. Disability is not a difference to be compensated for, but an asset to be integrated.

Who are you?

• Antoine: "My name is Antoine. I did a vocational baccalaureate in landscaping, then a civic service in an EHPAD (old people's home) as an entertainer. Today, I'm registered with the Mission Locale and monitored by the Supported Employment scheme. I've tried out different sectors, such as sales, to see if I could make a go of it.
• Alexandre: "My name is Alexandre Jolfre. I've had a lot of experience at RAGT since I joined the company 17 years ago. Today, I'm in charge of the La Primaube shop, where I'm responsible for sales, advice and customer contact.

What made you want to take part in DuoDay and what did you hope to gain from the experience?

• Antoine: "What motivated me was that DuoDay is also aimed at people with invisible disabilities, which is my case. In my previous experiences, when I talked about it, it was not well received. Here, I've found a caring and reassuring environment. What I've seen today is exactly what I imagined.
• Alexandre: "This is the third time I've taken part. I think it's very positive to be able to share our daily lives with people from outside the company. Our jobs are varied, we work in a friendly atmosphere and these moments of sharing bring a different and enriching vision. One day is almost too short. I'd be in favour of it lasting at least two days, to give our pairs a more detailed view of the activity within our missions".

How did your day go as a duo?

• Antoine: "I was welcomed and introduced to the team. They lent me the equipment and gave me a tour of the site. I also watched a company video. After that, we worked on the staging of a gondola for Christmas before having lunch with the team. I was able to stock shelves, advise a customer and even make a sale. I feel I'm adapting quickly. From what I've seen today, it's a job I could do".
• Alexandre: "I quickly realised that I could trust him and leave him to his own devices. He was able to find out for himself and get involved in the tasks he wanted, at the pace he wanted.

What did you learn from this experience?

• Antoine: "I discovered a vision of the job that I didn't know, and aspects that I hadn't imagined. This is the case with shelf layout, for example. This experience has shown me that not all companies operate in the same way. Here, I've met some caring managers. Before, I used to think that manual work or handling jobs were necessarily very hard, but I've realised that that's not always the case. It dispels certain clichés.
• Alexandre: "What I like is being able to share what we do. It's refreshing and breathes new life into our daily lives. These days are enriching for everyone, including our employees.

Why do you think initiatives like DuoDay are important?

• Antoine: "Because they allow us to include people and not reject them. We avoid telling them that they're not capable because of their disability".
• Alexandre: "I hope that by discovering our professions, some people will find a path that suits them. It would be great to meet some of our duos again as fully integrated colleagues at RAGT!