Struggling to get or retain good staff ?

[student101]

From what hear and read many farms struggle to get good staff so I thought I`d start a discussion as to why this is , its pretty obvious why to me and many others .

• Crap pay is the first one , agricultural rates are about half of what the construction industry pays , construction machine drivers can get £25.00 ph and labourers around £14.00, I use construction for a comparison as its generally outdoor heavy work and varying skills are required.
• Welfare facilities , weve been through this and many still think its a joke https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index...es-do-farmers-even-know-what-they-are.192544/
• Health and safety , only in agriculture can you get away with such a disregard for health & safety ....currently , it will change .

My take is if you want to stay in agriculture you have to move into the 21st century , failure to do so will result in the big corporate farms buying you up / closing you down, directly or indirectly, I understand that if pay was bought in line with construction food prices would have to rise , food has never been so cheap and never has so much been wasted .

 

[GTB]

Not enough toilets?

 

[student101]

Not enough toilets?

Case and point.

 

[Weasel]

Depends how staff get treated, to many knobhead employers

 

[Princess Pooper]

From what hear and read many farms struggle to get good staff so I thought I`d start a discussion as to why this is , its pretty obvious why to me and many others .

• Crap pay is the first one , agricultural rates are about half of what the construction industry pays , construction machine drivers can get £25.00 ph and labourers around £14.00, I use construction for a comparison as its generally outdoor heavy work and varying skills are required.
• Welfare facilities , weve been through this and many still think its a joke https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index...es-do-farmers-even-know-what-they-are.192544/
• Health and safety , only in agriculture can you get away with such a disregard for health & safety ....currently , it will change .

My take is if you want to stay in agriculture you have to move into the 21st century , failure to do so will result in the big corporate farms buying you up / closing you down, directly or indirectly, I understand that if pay was bought in line with construction food prices would have to rise , food has never been so cheap and never has so much been wasted .

So, over to you - you get the supermarkets to put the price of food up and then everything can follow. Will watch with interest how you get on. Let us know when you have it sorted.
There is actually a darn sight more to offering an attractive position than wages and welfare facilities.

 

[Lofty1984]

if ag was earning as much profit as construction then the rates of pay would reflect it

 

[student101]

if ag was earning as much profit as construction then the rates of pay would reflect it

Do you believe that or would the farmer just buy more land/machinery?

 

[Weasel]

Do you believe that or would farmer just buy more land/machinery?

Its dingle pish, farmers don't even pay themselves much, invest all the money back in to the farm

 

[wasted years]

I don't see how higher rates has helped the small builder, there are 000's of homes being built around here mostly by the big names.
Low wages , arguably keep the family farms going 'cos noone else will do it.
Mind on that by 4pm today all of the nations dairy farmers pretty much will be on site, There won't be ,any folk laying blocks.

 

[czechmate]

To be serious.
I have been very shocked the last couple of years, especially here (limousin France), to find just how many farmers sons and daughters don't want this job, never mind outside employees. Admittedly it is very much a livestock region and it seems the dirt, cold, risk, low pay but mainly non stop commitment are just not what the young generation by and large are interested in. I don't see how this job continues far into the future tbh

 

[Chae1]

Depends how staff get treated, to many knobhead employers

This. Obviously money is important but treat staff with respect.

Sure there are as many knobhead employees as employers though.

We are very lucky with lad that helps us. We're in the process of building a piece hut with toilet, shower and kitchen facilities.

 

[student101]

Property developers manage to make good money and they sell to the public and pass it down the line because they have to or they would have a staff shortage , the same appears to be happening in ag , admittedly at a very slow rate .
When the supermarket buyer comes out there has to be a point where the grower/farmer says "no we cant do it for that price" , that price will/is very very slowly rising.

 

[Lofty1984]

Do you believe that or would farmer just buy more land/machinery?

I think the truley genuine employers who value their staff would pay according

 

[CopperBeech]

As you are such an expert in everything. . . . .

How exactly do we achieve what you would like, feasibly?

Also, out of interest, do you currently work in agriculture?

 

[Chae1]

if ag was earning as much profit as construction then the rates of pay would reflect it

Plenty farmers running around in range rovers and own land worth hundreds of thousands.

 

[student101]

I don't see how higher rates has helped the small builder, there are 000's of homes being built around here mostly by the big names.
Low wages , arguably keep the family farms going 'cos noone else will do it.
Mind on that by 4pm today all of the nations dairy farmers pretty much will be on site, There won't be ,any folk laying blocks.

Small builders dont make much usually and neither do small farmers , and you are right about the 7 day week , its not for everyone , you have to really love it to be happy doing 7 days knowing your mates are having a relaxing weekend away .

 

[Lofty1984]

Plenty farmers running around in range rovers and own land worth hundreds of thousands.

What's that got to do with it ?

 

[student101]

As you are such an expert in everything. . . . .

How exactly do we achieve what you would like, feasibly?

Also, out of interest, do you currently work in agriculture?

Nope

Dont know hence Ive started a discussion rather than just sitting around moaning.

Yes.

 

[Chae1]

What's that got to do with it ?

Well you seem to think that what an employee gets paid is related to how much money the business is making. They will probably just upgrade the range rover to a autobiography or offer a bit more for land next door.

Would you accept a pay cut if business not doing so well?

I'd rather do it on a bonus system. Pay employee bonus at end of year based on performance of employee and business

 

[student101]

What's that got to do with it ?

It shows some are doing very well.