Tips for keeping an employee on

[jackrussell101]

Basically selling the dairy cows later this year and have got a good cowman who I would ideally like to keep on.

He's happy as he's getting near to retirement anyway and doesn't want the hours.

The only thing is we're going to go predominantly arable and a small amount of beef and I'm unsure as to how much work they'll be for the both of us.

Does anyone have any ideas for some viable sidelines for justifying a full time man.

I could start doing some contract hedgecutting?

Maybe some b and b pigs?

Interested to hear if anyone else has any ideas.

 

[kiwi pom]

Basically selling the dairy cows later this year and have got a good cowman who I would ideally like to keep on.

He's happy as he's getting near to retirement anyway and doesn't want the hours.

The only thing is we're going to go predominantly arable and a small amount of beef and I'm unsure as to how much work they'll be for the both of us.

Does anyone have any ideas for some viable sidelines for justifying a full time man.

I could start doing some contract hedgecutting?

Maybe some b and b pigs?

Interested to hear if anyone else has any ideas.

I wouldn't spend money just to keep him busy. Is he happy on a 35ish hour a week salary and can the business afford it from just the arable and beef? That way after a busy harvest and drilling he can stay home over the winter.
Instead of finding work for him could you sub him out to others that need a hand for a few days here and there and have them pay his wages?

 

[Goggles]

Try asking your man if he has any ideas. He may have something up his sleeve that he’s always wanted to do/try that you could fund and profit from…

 

[Tamar]

If he is a cowman, is it safe to let him drive a proper tractor. Doubt you will be corn carting with his old MF135 yard scrapper tractor !!!

 

[czechmate]

Something like bucket rearing calves, or finishing cattle?

 

[Bramble]

Contract relief milking 2-3 days a week, give him the rest of the week off

 

[Sheep]

Ask him what he would like to do.

 

[Exfarmer]

Basically selling the dairy cows later this year and have got a good cowman who I would ideally like to keep on.

He's happy as he's getting near to retirement anyway and doesn't want the hours.

The only thing is we're going to go predominantly arable and a small amount of beef and I'm unsure as to how much work they'll be for the both of us.

Does anyone have any ideas for some viable sidelines for justifying a full time man.

I could start doing some contract hedgecutting?

Maybe some b and b pigs?

Interested to hear if anyone else has any ideas.

obviously this is a good man who has worked for you for a long time. However be a little careful, you have a good excuse to make him redundant. If you keep him on and it fdoes not work out you may find you have got him from life. Does he have a retirement age set in his contract? If not you could find it extremely difficult to retire him, if he does not want to go.
See a supermarket worker who got dementia has won substantial damages recently, from his employer for suggesting it was time he should leave.

 

[Andrew K]

Have you any construction projects such as roads,buildings that could be tackled, or renovating cottages etc if your man has those skills? Cost of importing labour can be high but at least you are not stuck as Ex Farmer rightly suggests. How many arable acres are we talking?

 

[D14]

Basically selling the dairy cows later this year and have got a good cowman who I would ideally like to keep on.

He's happy as he's getting near to retirement anyway and doesn't want the hours.

The only thing is we're going to go predominantly arable and a small amount of beef and I'm unsure as to how much work they'll be for the both of us.

Does anyone have any ideas for some viable sidelines for justifying a full time man.

I could start doing some contract hedgecutting?

Maybe some b and b pigs?

Interested to hear if anyone else has any ideas.

Employees can be a nightmare. You have a way out so offer him employment as a self employed person for starters. If he's in his 60's then he might not want 60 hours a week so offer him what you think you can and let him make it up elsewhere if he wants to.

 

[Pan mixer]

Round here there is no shortage of things to do for people who are used to working outside, with practical experience. It should be no bother to find something to do, even in winter, tree planting is the new craze for example.

I appreciate it may be difficult where you are and I have no idea where that is.