More money isn't always the answer - so how do you attract staff to work for you

[mtx135]

I’m not trying to be negative but I’ve heard thank you and well done more times than a little, it’s easy to say. Some chips for lunch or a beer and a chat about what’s going on/future plans maybe. If you say thank you actually mean it. We all work hard but there’s always a quiet few minutes.

 

[Fendt516profi]

I’m not trying to be negative but I’ve heard thank you and well done more times than a little, it’s easy to say. Some chips for lunch or a beer and a chat about what’s going on/future plans maybe. IF YOU SAY THANK YOU ACTUALLY MEAN IT. We all work hard but there’s always a quiet few minutes.

That's what I meant. After I had left work for day they took the time to ring me up just to say thank you, nothing else didn't want to ask me to do anything else. Really hit me and made me feel appreciated

 

[Al R]

That's what I meant. After I had left work for day they took the time to ring me up just to say thank you, nothing else didn't want to ask me to do anything else. Really hit me and made me feel appreciated

I did some relief work at a very big farm and had a call off one of the bosses every night if I hadn’t seen them when I was finishing that evening to say thank you for the work you’ve done today, went a seriously long way and if I hadn’t upped the sheep so much at home I would have stayed at that place!

 

[Lofty1984]

I’d echo all of the above. As both an employee and a small business owner, I can see both sides of the coin, although I don’t employ anyone directly and have no ambition to.

As an employee, after the basics (salary, hours, pension etc), autonomy in the job goes a long long way. Nothing demotivates me more than a boss on your back all the time. Treat people like adults and accept that no one’s perfect and you’ll not go far wrong.

Cracking point about being left alone my boss is great for that he knows we are capable of doing any job we are sent on so hardly ever rings to check up it’s usually “how you getting on have you a rough idea when you will be done “ no pressure just so he can plan the next customers etc.
another one that needs a mention is the attitude when stuff goes wrong or damages to kit, (unless it’s through shear recklessness) I can never understand the bosses that have a complete meltdown at staff for breaking things it just encourages people to lie or hide things. I get it must fry people who are having to pay for repairs but most people don’t intentionally break stuff and feel bad enough about it already I know I do, so having someone scream At you doesn’t help

 

[davidroberts30]

Employers should be employees for a while

 

[tinsheet]

Jeeze, they get fed once a day and dry shed to sleep in, what more do they want!!
they are getting expensive though, gone through the roof since covid.
Luckily I shouldn't have to shoot the eldest for a few years yet!

 

[Kiss]

remember working for a very large well respected farmer who many would know, works Xmas do would turn up in brand new car with a couple others sat on drive at home and you were expected to pay 1/2 still took the shine off some of the other fantastic opportunities I had there! I told them I thought about leaving small payrise to keep me wasn’t long before I left anyway

biggest one for me is bringing the wife along and nipper if we go out, gift for nipper at Xmas, and being flexible,

Me I’d sooner take less money than work 12 on 2 off

Now I get referred to as ……. Who works with me,

now I make sure the hourly staff get chips now and then at lunch, meat from when we have a cow killed, something at Xmas, flexible when they need time off, don’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t, I always try to say thank you everyday,

not claiming to be any good at it mind because I find the staff side of running the business the most difficult

 

[snarling bee]

Agree with all of the above.

Summed up as: Treat them the same way you would like to be treated.

And nobody has mentioned the best new shiny Fendt with twin flashing lights. But as my bloke said - they are all second hand after a few weeks.

 

[casemx 270]

I worked for a great employer for 20 years but unfortunately got made redundant while I worked there was treated well with respect trusted and I mostly enjoyed the position . Anyway I moved on to another job but I couldn't work in the environment and because of various things job didn't last long anyway I moved on to another job but in a position where I m micro managed not trusted lied to .I get into trouble when I make mistakes or machinery gets damaged regardless of me being a good and careful operator.

 

[Fendt516profi]

I worked for a great employer for 20 years but unfortunately got made redundant while I worked there was treated well with respect trusted and I mostly enjoyed the position . Anyway I moved on to another job but I couldn't work in the environment and because of various things job didn't last long anyway I moved on to another job but in a position where I m micro managed not trusted lied to .I get into trouble when I make mistakes or machinery gets damaged regardless of me being a good and careful operator.

Are you talking about a job?
Or a marriage?

 

[Lowland1]

I'vs stopped beating my staff they appreciate that greatly.

 

[Ben B]

It helps if the boss(es) set an example by getting down and dirty too.

Agreed one of my mates holds his boss in high regard because he is out there in the s**T with them working not sitting in the ute giving direactions. The boss is also open that he no expert which gains a lot of respect with his staff becuse in this country no one likes a show-off and if you are you'll know about it.

 

[RAF]

I think it’s just luck off the drawer with staff. Some people are never happy no matter how well u treat them.

 

[cb387]

Looking back (now almost 30 years) I think it’s odd that there was nothing in my course at ag college about dealing with employees. (Management/ motivation / hiring / firing) Dealing with people is the most difficult part of many jobs. Makes the rest of the job look relatively easy

 

[Ivorbiggun]

Pay them a proper wage. If a lorry driver is worth 50 grand a year a modern farm worker on a large scale farm is worth the same at least.
Don’t take on too much land, only what you can cope with, if your staff are having to work more than 15 hours a day that’s not coping.
Let them stop for proper breaks even during busy times.
Don’t be an arrogant head.

 

[Tonka]

There are not sufficient working in the industry, and often hear about folk who have left and now working outside agriculture.
As I said, money is not always the answer. So did you ask why? Did you ask what may have made them stay? What could you have changed to keep them on board.
Do you know which of your staff have a career plan for their future, their aims, where they hope to get? Are you helping and enabling this. What training have you offered and helped them achieve?
Various roles I've worked I had annual targets which we agreed at the annual staff review. They were challenging, which incentivised me. I also knew the bonus I could achieve. Some I met, and some I missed.
The annual review gave both the boss and me chance to talk, openly. As years go by, career plans change, people grow up, different family circumstances and different needs - yours and theirs!

Just thoughts over my 1st coffee

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Many years ago I started to work for a new employer who was a man in his mid-fifties and treated me well. My overtime was never queried, wages board increases were back dated to start of the month.
I’d come in on a Sunday to turn hay and when he heard my tractor return to the shed he would always come out and thank me, then offer me something from the garden.
Simple courtesies and I would have done anything for that man. It fashioned the way that I treated employees later in my career.

After leaving school
My first employer was similar

 

[Lowland1]

Also I try not to employ people who are cleverer than I am. It’s getting difficult to find them for some reason or other though.

 

[Bald Rick]

There are not sufficient working in the industry, and often hear about folk who have left and now working outside agriculture.
As I said, money is not always the answer. So did you ask why? Did you ask what may have made them stay? What could you have changed to keep them on board.
Do you know which of your staff have a career plan for their future, their aims, where they hope to get? Are you helping and enabling this. What training have you offered and helped them achieve?
Various roles I've worked I had annual targets which we agreed at the annual staff review. They were challenging, which incentivised me. I also knew the bonus I could achieve. Some I met, and some I missed.
The annual review gave both the boss and me chance to talk, openly. As years go by, career plans change, people grow up, different family circumstances and different needs - yours and theirs!

Just thoughts over my 1st coffee

Location plays a major part.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

It helps if the boss(es) set an example by getting down and dirty too.

True but nothing kinky eh.