by Libby Eiholzer, Dairy Technical Services Specialist at Cargill; and Richard Stup, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

Kindness can go a long way when it comes to onboarding new employees. Bringing cookies on the employee’s first day of work or taking a photo to add to the farm employee bulletin board can help make the employee feel like they belong and that others want them to be there. Use this space to commemorate employees work anniversaries. This promotes the dedication of your farm team and drives a sense of pride. 

Don’t underestimate the value of showing people respect and courtesy by calling them by their names. Ensure that your farm team is acquainted with the new employee and familiar with their name. This helps avoid the tendency to refer to new employees as “the new guy/girl”. After two months, he may still be the newest guy, but everyone should be able to remember his name long before then! 

Consider implementing a “kudos board” for employees to share compliments and appreciation for other members of the team. Share a “kudo” on the board for new employees welcoming them to the team expressing your excitement to have them joining your farm family.  

This article is part of the Onboarding Project supported by the New York Farm Viability Institute.

by Libby Eiholzer, Dairy Technical Services Specialist at Cargill

Onboarding is the process of bringing a new employee into the business, and successful onboarding drastically increases the chances that the employee will stay longer and be more productive and engaged.  Components of an onboarding program include completing mandatory paperwork and providing training on safety and the skills necessary to do their job. An essential, but often undervalued part of onboarding is making that new employee feel welcome and a part of the team. 

This is more than just saying “welcome to the team.”  The employee should hear that, certainly, but words should be reinforced by actions.   

Start from Day 1, or Before! Provide your new employee with instructions prior to their first day of work.  Simple information like when to arrive, where to park and what to wear will help their first morning on the job go smoothly.  You could even take it a step further and include this information in a letter that formally welcomes the employee to the business. Here is a template letter you can customize to begin utilizing this practice on your farm. 

On the first day of work, whenever possible, a member of the senior owner/managers should welcome the employee in person.  Rather than just a quick “hello,” emphasize the importance of the new employee to the team and the hopes that you have for them in the future.  Make it personal! Introduce your new employee to everyone they need to know. Reinforce this by providing them with an organizational chart to help them keep everyone straight. 

Give them an orienting tour around the farm.  Remember to point out not only the things that are important on your end (the time clock, safety equipment, work area) but also what’s important to them (bathroom, drinking water).  

Throughout the first day, encourage questions.  Your new employee will have them, so make sure you encourage them to ask.  By the end of the day, circle back to provide a little feedback to ensure that the employee is on the right track and that he or she will have a successful first week. 

For employees who are moving into housing owned by the farm, remember that the housing is where the employee will rest and recoup after work.  Therefore, the housing should be just as welcoming as the rest of the farm and staff.  Give the housing a check before move in to make sure that it is clean and that furniture and appliances in good working order.  This provides a welcoming atmosphere for your new employee and sets the standard.  If you want your employee to keep your housing neat, then they need to see what you consider neat. 

This article is part of the Onboarding Project supported by the New York Farm Viability Institute.