As part of our mission at Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development, we’re dedicated to creating innovative solutions to support farm owners and managers in providing quality housing for employees and in some cases their families. We’re reaching out to YOU—the people on the ground, for your experiences dealing with the day-to-day realities of managing farm-provided employee family housing. We want to hear about your successes, challenges, and unique solutions when it comes to accommodating employees with families.
Your experiences will directly influence the development of best practices, ensuring that farm-provided family housing is not only safe and manageable but also helps to strengthen our workforce. Together, we can create a future where workers and their families thrive alongside your farm business.
Why Farm-Provided Family Housing Matters:
- Aids retention of skilled, long-term employees, especially those in management roles.
- Fosters a sense of well-being, which translates into higher job satisfaction and dedication.
- Reduces turnover and recruiting costs, cultivating a stable workforce with increased productivity.
- Promotes a stronger sense of community, where teamwork and camaraderie flourish.
But It’s Not Without Its Challenges:
- One-Size-Does-Not fit all: Housing suitable for families may not be available for every family situation.
- Managing larger living spaces for families often leads to higher maintenance and utility costs.
- Varying needs of additional family members can complicate housing logistics.
- More management is often required to ensure living spaces are safe, accessible, and well-maintained.
Your Voice Matters: Share Your Experience and Help Shape the Future
Your input is invaluable. Whether you’ve overcome obstacles in creating family-friendly housing, or you’ve developed creative solutions to keep things running smoothly, we want to hear from you! By sharing your insights, together, we can build a more inclusive, resilient, and productive farming community. Let’s tackle this growing challenge together—one family at a time.
Please contact Jay Canzonier, Extension Support Specialist at jc3277@cornell.edu
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By Jay Canzonier, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post WE NEED YOUR Farm-provided Employee FAMILY Housing Insights appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
