Staff Management ???

Pilatus · Mar 19, 2017

On "TFF" there are threads on livestock management,crop management etc ,BUT unless I have missed it I have not seen a thread on "Staff Management",why is this the situation?
I get to read the "Farm Contractor,Large Sale Farmer" magazine on odd occasions ,and I have to say I do not remember seeing any articles on staff managment , why is this the situation?

TripleSix · Mar 19, 2017

It's so often overlooked.

Staff management is a definite skill that few actually have.

I've left jobs before because of a manager/boss that was impossible to work with.

Making staff feel valued and looking after them yet keeping them on target is not easy.

Pilatus · Mar 19, 2017

TripleSix said:
It's so often overlooked.

Staff management is a definite skill that few actually have.

I've left jobs before because of a manager/boss that was impossible to work with.
.
Making staff feel valued and looking after them yet keeping them on target is not easy.

A large farmer in Canada told me is biggest asset is good staff.

Clive · Mar 19, 2017

There are some threads on here, usually when there is a problem however rather than proactive as they should be

Dan7626 · Mar 19, 2017

TripleSix said:
I've left jobs before because of a manager/boss that was impossible to work with.

I've come close a few times recently.
If we didn't have a tied house it would of been an easy decision to make.

DrWazzock · Mar 19, 2017

It's changed over the years. Grandfather used to work with his men at all the jobs and would never ask anybody to do anything he wouldn't do himself. He trained a lot of lads when it was cheap to employ them and although he could lose his rag big time he was well respected. He always wore a collar and tie, even when clipping the sheep and one day a rep arrived and said he wished he was the farmer of 400 acres. Grandad took his tie off and gave it to him and told him that's the only difference between him and the men who worked the land with him.

glasshouse · Mar 20, 2017

DrWazzock said:
It's changed over the years. Grandfather used to work with his men at all the jobs and would never ask anybody to do anything he wouldn't do himself. He trained a lot of lads when it was cheap to employ them and although he could lose his rag big time he was well respected. He always wore a collar and tie, even when clipping the sheep and one day a rep arrived and said he wished he was the farmer of 400 acres. Grandad took his tie off and gave it to him and told him that's the only difference between him and the men who worked the land with him.

I cant believe anyone could wear a tie while grafting at manual work.
I always laugh at stobarts drivers who have to wear them.

glasshouse · Mar 20, 2017

Dan7626 said:
I've come close a few times recently.
If we didn't have a tied house it would of been an easy decision to make.

Tied houses are well named

DrWazzock · Mar 20, 2017

glasshouse said:
I cant believe anyone could wear a tie while grafting at manual work.
I always laugh at stobarts drivers who have to wear them.

Old style waistcoat, shirt and tie was commonplace round here. Some still wear them, my old neighbour included, even though all the workers have gone. I probably look like unshaven vagrant most of the time. Not a good thing really. Probably says something about self respect or lack of it, but rushing round from one urgent job to another, a bit stressed at times does not lend itself to spending time on personal appearance especially at lambing time and doing half the stuff in house as well with wife working.

Or maybe I should make more effort. Maybe eddy stobart is right. Maybe it all adds up to a general pride in the organisation? Maybe it's part of good management?

DrWazzock · Mar 20, 2017

I think a lot of staff management comes down to personalities. I don't think you can change some people's innate personality. Some people are alright and some will be a pain always. Managers and workers. Training courses won't alter this.

willy · Mar 20, 2017

Yes I don't get people who knock farmers wearing ties, I don't but the ones I know who wear them are hard working and I suppose have self respect, everyone's different and they tend to be characters

DRC · Mar 20, 2017

Dan7626 said:
In the summer when we're busy and there is plenty to do its the perfect set up, living so close I can pop up and see the wife and boys for a cuppa and then go back, no travelling home after a long day, no rent to have to find every month and all the other benefits of living on the doorstep.
But this time of year, having virtually no stock and just arable it's a slow few months. My boss is in his 60s and is a pain in the arse.
He is constantly on my back all the time and won't leave me to get on with the simplest of jobs on my own, he is there all the time pestering.
He finds the most pointless of jobs to do just to keep me busy and then moans that it's a waste of time. It might sound like I'm being silly but it gradually winds me up after a while. His people skills are pretty non existent and if it wasn't for the fact the house is with the job, my boys are settled in the village nursery/school and I generally enjoy the summer/autumn work then I'd of definately of been gone by now.

Sorry to hear that Dan
Your children won't like you to be unhappy as eventually you'll become grumpy at home if your not happy at work, and it's better to move schools while they're young , rather than later on when they're doing important exams etc.

glasshouse · Mar 20, 2017

willy said:
Yes I don't get people who knock farmers wearing ties, I don't but the ones I know who wear them are hard working and I suppose have self respect, everyone's different and they tend to be characters

Its the good old british class system.
Kiwis and ozzies just pee themselves laughing at people in suits and ties, over there you earn respect for the way you behave, not for what you are wearing.
I think it is even worse in uk now with robbery now far more likely to be perpetrated by a besuited scumbag than one wearing a striped jumper.
George osborne with his shiny suit being a prime example

glasshouse · Mar 20, 2017

J

Dan7626 said:
In the summer when we're busy and there is plenty to do its the perfect set up, living so close I can pop up and see the wife and boys for a cuppa and then go back, no travelling home after a long day, no rent to have to find every month and all the other benefits of living on the doorstep.
But this time of year, having virtually no stock and just arable it's a slow few months. My boss is in his 60s and is a pain in the arse.
He is constantly on my back all the time and won't leave me to get on with the simplest of jobs on my own, he is there all the time pestering.
He finds the most pointless of jobs to do just to keep me busy and then moans that it's a waste of time. It might sound like I'm being silly but it gradually winds me up after a while. His people skills are pretty non existent and if it wasn't for the fact the house is with the job, my boys are settled in the village nursery/school and I generally enjoy the summer/autumn work then I'd of definately of been gone by now.

Tthe one to one farmer and worker has many upsides, but sadly some downsides too.
Solutions are hard to find.

willy · Mar 20, 2017

glasshouse said:
Its the good old british class system.
Kiwis and ozzies just pee themselves laughing at people in suits and ties, over there you earn respect for the way you behave, not for what you are wearing.
I think it is even worse in uk now with robbery now far more likely to be perpetrated by a besuited robber than one wearing a striped jumper.
George osborne with his shiny suit being a prime example

So why are you knocking people by how they dress and not how they farm?

llamedos · Mar 20, 2017

glasshouse said:
Its the good old british class system.
Kiwis and ozzies just pee themselves laughing at people in suits and ties, over there you earn respect for the way you behave, not for what you are wearing.
I think it is even worse in uk now with robbery now far more likely to be perpetrated by a besuited robber than one wearing a striped jumper.
George osborne with his shiny suit being a prime example

Oh the irony!

yellowbelly · Mar 20, 2017

glasshouse said:
I cant believe anyone could wear a tie while grafting at manual work.

DrWazzock said:
He always wore a collar and tie, even when clipping the sheep

It's a generation thing. My Dad was the same, always wore a tie and always wore hobnailed boots (polished for market days)

FonterraFarmer · Mar 20, 2017

glasshouse said:
Its the good old british class system.
Kiwis and ozzies just pee themselves laughing at people in suits and ties, over there you earn respect for the way you behave, not for what you are wearing.
I think it is even worse in uk now with robbery now far more likely to be perpetrated by a besuited scumbag than one wearing a striped jumper.
George osborne with his shiny suit being a prime example

A bloke in the suit and tie will always be regarded with caution and suspicion ,but the bloke wearing a black singlet, shorts and Redbands will be more than likely be respected and trusted!!!

I'm not joking either.

FonterraFarmer · Mar 20, 2017

willy said:
So why are you knocking people by how they dress and not how they farm?

I think Glasshouse is right, judge a farmer by how they farm , not by the clothes they wear, the car/SUV they lease or the tractor they hire.

Campbell · Mar 20, 2017

Human Resources is now a major career choice for those wishing to manage people effectively. I guess not many farms have an HR dept. Fact is, most of us believe we get on far better making our own decisions without interference from others, persuading us otherwise is where good management begins.

Staff Management ???

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