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

[glasshouse]

I was in the army cadets in my youth and attended leadership courses , coming first in the uk wide competition week in surrey in 1979.
It has stood me in good stead for working with people ever since

 

[David.]

If, and it is unlikely, I employed anyone again, they would be salaried and flexI time.
I hated looking for jobs to keep anyone busy, they all cost money.
Presenteeism is one of the most sapping conditions.
If work is up to date, go home to missus and do something, decorating, anything, better than hanging around at work. As long as work is done in timely fashion.

 

[glasshouse]

Yes. Pay a fair wage ( a bit above the going rate ) and leave it at that. The attempts folks seem to go to appease staff are ridiculous. If money doesn't matter, why did Poland empty ?
We only employed casuals, but paid above the going rate, gave them a substantial bonus at Christmas, knocked off at 3pm so they could pick their kids up at school, and let them use the Transit for house removals etc. It always came back with a new dent. Gave them a permanent marker pen to initial each dent in the end.
Give them an inch, and they took a mile in my experience.
Glad to be a one man band these days.......

Poland emptied because of healthcare, schooling, housing, benefits , the rule of law .and money

 

[Smith31]

If any man or woman is good at their job within the agricutural sector, they can hand in their notice and walk into another job within a week.

Once the novelty of twin beacons wears off alot of the younger generation have no interest in working on non family owned farms.

Brexit has lead to a mass exodus of hard working and skilled labour, why would anyone want to work on a cold, wet muddy farm carrying out hard physical work, when they can get a lot more working in a warm warehouse or driving a brand new lorry.

The reality is as the older generation retire, finding staff will get harder and harder, farms are going to have to invest heavily on automation, high wages, canteens, flexi working hours or unfortunately pack up.

 

[Lincoln75]

A very successful software company owner I know of keeps his programmers by bribing with high end cars , yes Porsche and Ferrari , once they've had a taste of that they can't bear to give them up, not that I'm saying you go to that length with a farm laborer, but a van or a double cab is worth considering , they need only be a couple of hundred quid a month but it would give them the use of a vehicle they could never normally afford.

 

[glasshouse]

If any man or woman is good at their job within the agricutural sector, they can hand in their notice and walk into another job within a week.

Once the novelty of twin beacons wears off alot of the younger generation have no interest in working on non family owned farms.

Brexit has lead to a mass exodus of hard working and skilled labour, why would anyone want to work on a cold, wet muddy farm carrying out hard physical work, when they can get a lot more working in a warm warehouse or driving a brand new lorry.

The reality is as the older generation retire, finding staff will get harder and harder, farms are going to have to invest heavily on automation, high wages, canteens, flexi working hours or unfortunately pack up.

Living in the country is a big attraction
Providing a cottage keeps workers onside and also provides the next generation

 

[Chae1]

A very successful software company owner I know of keeps his programmers by bribing with high end cars , yes Porsche and Ferrari , once they've had a taste of that they can't bear to give them up, not that I'm saying you go to that length with a farm laborer, but a van or a double cab is worth considering , they need only be a couple of hundred quid a month but it would give them the use of a vehicle they could never normally afford.

I think most farm employees could afford a van.

 

[Lincoln75]

People have changed .Daddy’s men work for him all there lives . Dedicated to the cause, old school would do anything , paint gates dig the garden on quiet days, u ask anyone do that now .Everyone wants more . Wives are a lot more demanding ( bone idol ) I think social media don’t help has grass all ways looks greener

Things have changed,for the better, staff can easily find out if an employer is being reasonable or not through opinion on social media , the ones who think they own staff because they pay them a wage are deluded and deserve all the trouble they get.

 

[Lincoln75]

I think most farm employees could afford a van.

A brand new one with no running costs? doubt that very much.

 

[Hilly]

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.

This ! The end .

 

[Will 1594]

Sounds like you want a serf.

Must be one of them
we do every thing ,from taking him to train ,or when he goes out chauffer ,him about . from painting gates , bit of gardening when nowt else to do and evey friday sweep drive collect leaves in winter , just gutted a cottage ready for a refurb , bad tennant in ,sh!t on carpets etc , ,burnt all wood work in house ,doors frames etc ,took 8 months to get them out .as well as all farm work ,
last week went to other farm to do anual drain clear in yard and cleansilt traps , who was down the hole , in his chest waders ,up to his rubbish in sludgy sh!t all dug out into a bucket that we pulled out , on a rope ,yes our leader , he loves it , but always have to take an extra cup ,and bait ,as he never teks out with him ,but he is parcial to wifes baking , but wifes 40 th next year ,and asked about having it in field behind our house , NO ,was the anser ,
we will have it at the house and in the garden , will put our marquee up and will sort the booze and everything , she does quite a few bits for him and thats his thankyou ,as he also likes a party ,and her car was in garage one day and she wanted to go some where , threw her keys for landy or disco ,take whatbyou want
we can have as much wood for fire as we want ,but have to process it our self ,
and just ordered new sprayer , we went to see one , have you got all bits you want on it he asks ,
yes coming in feb ,
he knows work is done and to a good standard , he can be a right grumpy barsteward ,like me at times , had some interesting conversations / arguments , but on the whole get on well , and most days now comes out and asks what he has to do , and what is the program ,

 

[glasshouse]

A very successful software company owner I know of keeps his programmers by bribing with high end cars , yes Porsche and Ferrari , once they've had a taste of that they can't bear to give them up, not that I'm saying you go to that length with a farm laborer, but a van or a double cab is worth considering , they need only be a couple of hundred quid a month but it would give them the use of a vehicle they could never normally afford.

My pal had an advertising company, hired a young buck to do online ads as he didnt understand it. Gave the guy a porsche plus££££
Came into the office one monday, it was empty.
Young buck had poached all the staff and set up on his own.

 

[betweenthelines]

Living in the country is a big attraction
Providing a cottage keeps workers onside and also provides the next generation

Bit of a difference between "in the coutryside" and "miles from anywhere"

Most partners work these days so easy access to a job is also a consideration

 

[Lincoln75]

My pal had an advertising company, hired a young buck to do online ads as he didnt understand it. Gave the guy a porsche plus££££
Came into the office one monday, it was empty.
Young buck had poached all the staff and set up on his own.

Clearly he`d neglected the other staff then or one of them would have tipped him off.

 

[Lincoln75]

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

Ever thought it may be you thats the problem? , sure you get bad staff but if you find all staff bad .......

 

[unlacedgecko]

Bit of a difference between "in the coutryside" and "miles from anywhere"

Most partners work these days so easy access to a job is also a consideration

I’ll take the latter please.

 

[RAF]

Birds off a feather I suppose. I ve never had any staff mind . Just from what I see on my travels

 

[ollie989898]

Must be one of them
we do every thing ,from taking him to train ,or when he goes out chauffer ,him about . from painting gates , bit of gardening when nowt else to do and evey friday sweep drive collect leaves in winter , just gutted a cottage ready for a refurb , bad tennant in ,sh!t on carpets etc , ,burnt all wood work in house ,doors frames etc ,took 8 months to get them out .as well as all farm work ,
last week went to other farm to do anual drain clear in yard and cleansilt traps , who was down the hole , in his chest waders ,up to his rubbish in sludgy sh!t all dug out into a bucket that we pulled out , on a rope ,yes our leader , he loves it , but always have to take an extra cup ,and bait ,as he never teks out with him ,but he is parcial to wifes baking , but wifes 40 th next year ,and asked about having it in field behind our house , NO ,was the anser ,
we will have it at the house and in the garden , will put our marquee up and will sort the booze and everything , she does quite a few bits for him and thats his thankyou ,as he also likes a party ,and her car was in garage one day and she wanted to go some where , threw her keys for landy or disco ,take whatbyou want
we can have as much wood for fire as we want ,but have to process it our self ,
and just ordered new sprayer , we went to see one , have you got all bits you want on it he asks ,
yes coming in feb ,
he knows work is done and to a good standard , he can be a right grumpy barsteward ,like me at times , had some interesting conversations / arguments , but on the whole get on well , and most days now comes out and asks what he has to do , and what is the program ,

Who not allow you to use the field behind the house? That makes no sense.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

I actually thought that was the main reason for employing people.Having spent a couple of hours delving into the inner workings of a muck spreader and cleaning the sprayer this morning I remembered I have people to do this.

Being an employer with a muck spreader is much like being the PM, the good ones aren't scared to be hands on and get their hands dirty, yes they could easily delegate but leading by example will engage the trust and respect of those who follow.
Those who delegate purely from a perceived position of power only deserve ones contempt.

 

[Spud]

A brand new one with no running costs? doubt that very much.

You'll buy a new van for under ten grand that does 40 to the gallon, if you so wanted to. Most farm workers could afford that, if they wanted to.