Hiring seasonal workers can be an excellent option for farmers. There are times that every farm needs extra pairs of hands, particularly for labor-intensive jobs like fruit picking. You should put care and thought into the process of taking on seasonal workers, just as you would permanent workers.
You will need to understand your local laws regarding seasonal workers, particularly if hiring overseas employees. Here are some of the crucial things to know when hiring seasonal workers for your farm.
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Look For Workers Who Want Seasonal Work
Look for seasonal workers on job sites dedicated to that type of work. Consider students on summer break or seasonal workers from overseas. Understand the types of workers that will be most interested in seasonal work.
Bring Back The Best Workers Each Season
Identify the best of your seasonal workers and invite them to come back next season. Talk to all seasonal employees and find out if they will be looking for similar work again. Get to know your workers to identify the best talent.
Start Hiring In Good Time
Avoid waiting until the last minute to start hiring, particularly if you bring in employees from overseas. Visa applications can take time. Let candidates know the exact start date as soon as possible.
Make A Clear Job Description
Make your expectations clear in your job description. Include the whole period you expect employees to work, the skills they must have, and the work they will be doing. Include details on salary and ensure you offer a fair wage. Make it very clear this is seasonal work to avoid unnecessary applications.
Understand Immigration Law When Hiring Overseas Workers
Ensure you get the correct visas for your overseas workers. Find a reputable employment visa attorney that can help you with everything from the H-2A visa to green card visas. Farmer Law PC are immigration experts, giving you the best advice to help bring overseas workers to the US.
Ask The Best Hires For Recommendations
When you identify talented employees, ask them to recommend friends and family for future roles. Offer a referral bonus to encourage more employees to refer.
Treat Seasonal Employees Well
Treat seasonal employees the same way your treat permanent employees. Get to know them and build good working relationships. Inspire loyalty by being the type of employer you would want to work for.
Make The Best Employees Permanent
Offer permanent positions to employees that shine throughout their time with you. Talk to the best employees to determine whether they would be willing to stay on permanently. Offer good benefits and salary to boost the chances of them accepting.
Train Employees Appropriately
Give new seasonal hires appropriate training and top-up training where necessary. Focus particularly on health and safety in the workplace. Only allow employees with appropriate qualifications to operate heavy machinery.