increase font size
Veronica Briggs.
We all know how hard it can be to attract quality staff, and how great it is when you find someone that works hard, knows their stuff and has the right attitude.
The dairy sector faces a staffing shortage and over the next few months many of you will be vying for the same talented people to fill your roles for the coming season. To put it in perspective, in the last two years 10,680 dairy farm vacancies were posted on Farm Source alone.
To get the best person possible, have you thought about how to make yourself stand out as an employer?
I recommend you think about what makes you and your farm truly unique. For an impartial opinion, ask your current and past employees what they like about working for you? Make a note of what sets you and your farm apart and incorporate this into your job adverts.
I’ve seen a number of job adverts with a long-list of benefits such as competitive salary/hourly rate, accommodation and flexible working hours, to entice applicants. This is great, but we need to live up to these so that we retain these people in the sector.
How much we pay is important to a job applicant. I recommend an employer refers to pay as a ‘total package value’ (TPV) and carefully explain how it is made up to avoid confusion. Otherwise, if the salary for a role is listed as $50,000, for example, but doesn’t mention that includes an accommodation allowance, it may deter some people from applying.
TPV is the total value of the remuneration package including cash and non-cash benefits. To calculate TPV, assign a monetary amount to each item/benefit and then add them up. Wages are obvious, but for non-cash items, such as food and accommodation, you may want to investigate what is fair.
In regard to work hours, use your timesheet data to have an honest conversation about hours with prospective employees.
If you don’t currently use timesheets, useful templates are available on the DairyNZ website. We hear all the time that good hours of work and a good roster are crucial for employees and ultimately will help you attract and retain quality employees.
As always, clearly articulating what you can offer in a job advertisement and being up front about what you are looking for, will enable you to find candidates who are interested in the job you are offering and more likely to stay long-term.
For more information see dairynz.co.nz/people/employer
• Veronica Briggs is a DairyNZ people management specialist
August 6 marks Farm Worker Appreciation Day, a moment to recognise the dedication and hard mahi of dairy farm workers across Aotearoa - and DairyNZ is taking the opportunity to celebrate the skilled teams working on its two research farms.
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown has waded into the debate around soaring butter prices, pointing out that the demand for dairy overseas dictates the price to farmers and at the supermarket.
From nitrogen limits to ecosystem restoration –farmers and catchment groups are leading a new wave of environmental care, says DairyNZ.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will leave the door wide open for continued conversions of productive sheep and beef farms into carbon forestry.
Federated Farmers says a report to Parliament on the subject of a ban on carbon forestry does not go far enough to prevent continued farm to forestry conversions.
New Zealand Apples and Pears annual conference was a success with delegates and exhibitors alike making the most of three days of exhibitions, tours, insightful discussions, valuable networking and thoughtful presentations.
The future of New Zealand’s agricultural sector grew a little brighter, with the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) now accepting applications for its scholarships through Lincoln University, offering $10,500 to up to six exceptional students who are poised to become the next leaders in the primary industries.
OPINION: Nothing it seems can be done in the short term to get Donald Trump to change his mind about removing the unfair 15% tariffs that he’s imposed on New Zealand exports to the US.
A charity that connects young people with farmers for two years of on-farm training is reporting 150 student applications for its 2026 intake.
OPINION: Sydney has a $12 million milk disposal problem.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait's recovery seems to have hit another snag.
