Family farms.

[Clay52]

Who here works with family? How do you deal with it? I have no serious problem managing non family employees but family members just refuse to follow even the most common sense instructions.

 

[kp_n_plghng]

The problem as I see it is once family employees get to a certain age and have a fair amount of time in the business, all view each other as equals so no one can really tell anyone what to do. This can lead to problems unless the family members are of a like mind on how the business should be run etc. Ultimately if they don't have the same approach to the job then the farm ends up fragmenting. I'm not sure what the other alternative is unless they can find a way to go their separate ways within the same business.

 

[Bald Rick]

We are just family at the moment - Father, wife (part time) & son - but we know what our roles are. Mine is just to do what I'm told as I am the past.

 

[kp_n_plghng]

This family member who doesn't follow instruction, do you pay their wages?

 

[Bruce Almighty]

Who here works with family? How do you deal with it? I have no serious problem managing non family employees but family members just refuse to follow even the most common sense instructions.

Yes I have a problem with one of them, I'm not sure what the answer will be.

 

[Cowski]

Who here works with family? How do you deal with it? I have no serious problem managing non family employees but family members just refuse to follow even the most common sense instructions.

Is this a symptom of an underlying issue? It could be their way to irritate you or get back at you for something they are unhappy about.

 

[Rossymons]

Part of managing people is not losing the right ones.

Another one is losing the bad ones the right way.

Treat them the same as any other employee. Its not their fault that they're related to you but their attitude sure is. Get in line or get out.

 

[Ducati899]

Family farm...me dad and mum..get on just fine,he listens to my ideas and I listen to him as he's taught me so much over the years,we started our own dairy farm enterprise together at the same time so not like i walked in when it was already established and tried to throw my weight around,1 employee whose a good lad and we treat him like one of the family

 

[multi power]

This is why I'm milking somebody elses cow's rather than fighting with family

 

[cornishfarmer]

Perhaps if their views and opinions are as strong as yours they probably think what they are thinking is right and you are wrong!!!! Not sure of your circumstances but when I was 17/18 I just wanted to be responsible for something whether that was buying some stock or dealing with a building project. It's all part of learning

 

[Moorlands]

Me brother and father here me and brother know where we are heading and take charge of different things and get on well (and wives get on well too which is great as find they generally turn family farming partnerships sour fast when they don't). But old fella is hard work to work with and if there is an Irish/difficult way to do a job that's the way it has to be done!

 

[Jon]

Now I use to work with my Father, and he was great.
I got married to a farmers daughter and she is fantastic.
But, now when things are not going well on the farm, maybe slug issues, blackgrass issues, I get it in the neck from her. I can handle my own mistakes, try to remedy them, or not repeat them another year, but she is very aware of the bottom line, and constantly brings up these issues, which does hit me hard sometimes, trying to constantly explain what went wrong.
Father has passed away, so it is now just me and my wife and the children.

 

[RobFZS]

Probably the usual story, ok when everyone's doing their own job ,and then something unorthodox appears that needs to be done and it all goes to pot , too many cooks spoil the broth.

 

[milkloss]

I'm thankful my remaining family member doesn't get too involved in the farm. The worry is that whilst he's not costing any money at the moment, one day will want his half and it will be very hard to justify that level of investment.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Now I use to work with my Father, and he was great.
I got married to a farmers daughter and she is fantastic.
But, now when things are not going well on the farm, maybe slug issues, blackgrass issues, I get it in the neck from her. I can handle my own mistakes, try to remedy them, or not repeat them another year, but she is very aware of the bottom line, and constantly brings up these issues, which does hit me hard sometimes, trying to constantly explain what went wrong.
Father has passed away, so it is now just me and my wife and the children.

That's difficult, when you finish work you need to be able to switch off. Get her involved in the agronomy meetings?

 

[lazy farmer]

worked with/for my dad and his brother. we have had some real challenges with uncle over the years in the end we just cracked on with things and we get on much better now he's retired. My father on the other hand is my rock (work wise) as I can be extremely hard on myself when things aren't going perfectly. I owe him so much and it will be a huge wrench when he isn't around to lean on anymore. So I try to appreciate him every day for his knowledge(he reads all the time) and his kindness.

 

[Jon]

That's difficult, when you finish work you need to be able to switch off. Get her involved in the agronomy meetings?

It's difficult though, it's my wife, and a fantastic woman, just this one niggle really.
I do try to get agronomist here at half terms etc, as she helps at school, so she can quiz him, but I know the inquisition is on my shoulder.
Still it's good to talk !

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Me, father and brother here. We all work together well with very few cross words ever spoken.

We are tennants / contract farmers so there's never been any of the 'one day this will all be yours' which I think helps.

My brother was away doing other things for a while and I have already bought him out of any inheritance from the farm business so he works for the farm as a salaried employee and lives off farm.

Dad is 67 and still works but would rather not make too many decisions any more and is happier talking orders. This helps too.

 

[wasted years]

It's difficult though, it's my wife, and a fantastic woman, just this one niggle really.
I do try to get agronomist here at half terms etc, as she helps at school, so she can quiz him, but I know the inquisition is on my shoulder.
Still it's good to talk !

It is the little things that make the difference, I can't imagine anyone getting concerned about slugs and BG to the extent that it starts to affect a relatonship.

 

[jimmer]

Who here works with family? How do you deal with it? I have no serious problem managing non family employees but family members just refuse to follow even the most common sense instructions.

what is your situation , how many family are we talking ,ages ,roles , etc ?