Staff using phones while milking.

[goatfarmer]

I have several relief milkers who are often on their phones during milking. It takes 3 hours to milk, surely they can stay off snap chat or facebook for that long and I don't know how to tackle this, should I ban phones in the pit or just turn the WiFi off??

 

[Irish NZ]

Your supplying them with free wifi?

 

[Jdunn55]

I have several relief milkers who are often on their phones during milking. It takes 3 hours to milk, surely they can stay off snap chat or facebook for that long and I don't know how to tackle this, should I ban phones in the pit or just turn the WiFi off??

Most will have 4g so turning Wifi off will do little. Ban it, the odd check here and there when you have a message come through or a text is fine, checking the time etc ( it's what I would call reasonable use) anything else (snapchat I would guess being the most common) and you arent focusing on milking leading to accidents such as antibiotics in the tank.

Possibly change how you pay, pay per the milking rather than by the hour and I expect you'll see them speed up to get more for their money (even though itll cost you the same - if not less!).

 

[puppet]

They are a distraction so if you are worried then make it clear they are banned.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Most 'office' type firms would have a policy regarding use of phones/internet whilst at work. I appreciate they may be self employed which makes it more difficult, but have you made it clear you don't approve? Breaks the concentration too, could easily miss a mastitis, a dump .....goat? etc?

 

[TheTallGuy]

Ban unnecessary use on the grounds of hygiene or health & safety!

 

[Highland Mule]

Ban unnecessary use on the grounds of hygiene or health & safety!

No, not on spurious grounds that can be challenged. There's a growing tide of folks who don't understand heath and safety just because of things like that. Ban it because it's the right thing to do, but don't make up excuses which will in turn undermine more important rules elsewhere.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Lesson to all of us start as you mean to go on

 

[kiwi pom]

Depends what you mean by 'being on the phone' and whether its affecting their work. Have a word with them, if you haven't already and see what they say.

 

[TheTallGuy]

No, not on spurious grounds that can be challenged. There's a growing tide of folks who don't understand heath and safety just because of things like that. Ban it because it's the right thing to do, but don't make up excuses which will in turn undermine more important rules elsewhere.

But it is not spurious - if they are paying attention to their phones & not their jobs when dealing with livestock they are putting themselves in danger. Likewise constantly handling their phones runs the risk of transferring bacteria back & forth.

 

[Highland Mule]

But it is not spurious - if they are paying attention to their phones & not their jobs when dealing with livestock they are putting themselves in danger. Likewise constantly handling their phones runs the risk of transferring bacteria back & forth.

Fine, but explain it as that - not the generic "health and safety says no" that you get when you ask for baby food to be heated in a cafe.

 

[Whitepeak]

I have several relief milkers who are often on their phones during milking. It takes 3 hours to milk, surely they can stay off snap chat or facebook for that long and I don't know how to tackle this, should I ban phones in the pit or just turn the WiFi off??

What's the issue exactly? Have you proof it's effecting milking speed or antibiotics going into the tank or cows not being milked out correctly ie. Kicked units off etc. Or do you simple not like people doing it?

Where I milk we all look at our phones during milking, but only at down times between rows ie. When waiting for a slow milker. Very rare for it to actually stop someone from doing our job. We are on nights and paid by the milking so that does encourage us to get done in a reasonable time.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

What's the issue exactly? Have you proof it's effecting milking speed or antibiotics going into the tank or cows not being milked out correctly ie. Kicked units off etc. Or do you simple not like people doing it?

Where I milk we all look at our phones during milking, but only at down times between rows ie. When waiting for a slow milker. Very rare for it to actually stop someone from doing our job. We are on nights and paid by the milking so that does encourage us to get done in a reasonable time.

i agree with him, its not the most riveting job if its in down time i dont see an issue?

 

[betweenthelines]

Couple of points to keep in mind:

You are paying them, they follow your rules!

Having constant access to a mobile phone is not a "Right"

People milked cows before mobile phones existed

You are not allowed to drive while using a phone as it affects your ability to concentrate on what you are doing (to a similar level as 3 or 4 pints of lager)

 

[Jdunn55]

Couple of points to keep in mind:

You are paying them, they follow your rules!

Having constant access to a mobile phone is not a "Right"

People milked cows before mobile phones existed

You are not allowed to drive while using a phone as it affects your ability to concentrate on what you are doing (to a similar level as 3 or 4 pints of lager)

Whilst I agree with what you're saying in principal, people also used to milk into a bucket and ploughed with a horse and cart.

IF there is no issues being caused by it (dump milk is being dumped, mastitis is being found etc) why create an issue where there isnt one.

I personally wouldn't ban them as they can be helpful to you as well, if you have an issue (eg: the heifers up the road are out!) You can give them a ring and ask for some help, if you've banned them who's to say they wouldn't miss your call by accident or out of spite/principal because you have banned them making a job harder than it should be. Or if you're going to be home late, you can send them a text and ask them to let the cows out, move the fence, scrape up, feed calves, ask how 555 was etc

Use it to your advantage, staff are hard enough to find (especially decent ones!) dont pee them off if there isnt a need to...

 

[Lazy Sod]

Talking to their mates is recreation. They are not paid for that, they're paid to work.

 

[Clive]

do they still get the job done effectively? if so what’s the issue ?

this is an industry that’s struggling to attract young people - run a “Dickensian”business that doesn’t respect employees needs and wants and we make that worse ?

 

[Jdunn55]

Talking to their mates is recreation. They are not paid for that, they're paid to work.

And if they're doing the work as well what's the issue? If you arent allowed to enjoy being at work by taking the odd photo, sending the odd message etc why work there? I wouldn't. Theres plenty of choice and places to work for.
Sure if you're abusing it and are literally on it every 30 seconds not getting anything done/making a mess of everything you're doing because of it, it's different. But if they're not doing any harm, why suck the joy out of the job for no reason?

 

[TheTallGuy]

And if they're doing the work as well what's the issue? If you arent allowed to enjoy being at work by taking the odd photo, sending the odd message etc why work there? I wouldn't. Theres plenty of choice and places to work for.
Sure if you're abusing it and are literally on it every 30 seconds not getting anything done/making a mess of everything you're doing because of it, it's different. But if they're not doing any harm, why suck the joy out of the job for no reason?

Go and work in a factory or at an Amazon warehouse & try that argument. Your time is being paid for by the employer who decides what the expectations are...

 

[Jdunn55]

Go and work in a factory or at an Amazon warehouse & try that argument. Your time is being paid for by the employer who decides what the expectations are...

Completely agree, however Amazon is not desperate for workers and has a steady stream of young people coming in.

Agriculture has virtually zero young people coming into the industry.
We have a staff shortage anyway, ESPECIALLY skilled labour and people who arent general trained idiots.