“How much do you pay per hour?” Typically, this may be the first, and sometimes the only question prospective farm employees ask. However, this question sets the tone for a potentially disgruntled employee and may result in turnover on your farm. Your employees’ benefits extend far beyond the hourly rate you offer. This information could make all the difference to an employee who needs more buy-in and begins before the interview process. This knowledge can be posted on a wall and often reviewed with current employees. Your current employees are your loudest advocates and recruiters of the farm. When your employees discuss job openings, you want to ensure they emphasize all benefits of working on the farm, not just the hourly wage.
Have you thought about what makes your farm unique and a valuable place for employees? Do you highlight these benefits so much that everyone on and off the farm knows them? Most of these benefits are hidden or invisible – but they exist. These wonderful benefits can make all the difference when an employee starts ‘shopping’ or ‘price comparing’ your farm to another farm. They could be:
- Vacation days/paid time off/sick days
- Pizza parties
- Housing (with free utilities / WiFi / Direct T.V. / etc.)
- Bonuses
- Insurance plans
- Access to free beverages during the day / night shifts
- Transportation to the farm or access to a work truck / vehicle
- Transportation to health visits / grocery store / etc.
- Opportunities for overtime hours
- Advanced technology / equipment on the farm to make their jobs easier
- Opportunities for advancement within the farm
- Higher-paid positions for supervisors or trainers
- Paid professional growth through training/educational classes
- Paid English classes
- Safety supplies/safety training/uniforms
- Any free produce/beef/apples or products that come from their hard work on the farm
- A good, nontoxic, friendly, and respectful workplace
- A family environment with long-term employees that are celebrated and rewarded for their service
- And most of all: a highly involved, kind, and humble boss who sincerely cares
Your farm has its own flavor. You are truly a unique workplace. Do you have a long waiting line of people wanting to work on your farm? Do you have long-term employees who have given many years of service to your farm? If you do, you must be doing something right! If you are having a hard time staffing and retaining employees, you may need to revisit the “invisible paycheck” you are advertising among the workforce and in the community. “A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.” – Amy Rees Anderson
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By Mary Lewis, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Your Unique Invisible Paycheck on the Farm appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
