Retaining Employees through
Effective Team Building and Communication
Mary Jo Dudley
Director, Cornell Farmworker Program
Cornell Farmworker Program275 Warren Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Telephone (607) 254-5194
Fax: (607) 255-9710
Email: [email protected]
Website: Farmworkers.cornell.edu
Cornell Farmworker Program
Mission: The Cornell Farmworker Program is dedicated
to improving the living and working conditions of
farmworkers and their families. We also seek recognition
for farmworkers' contributions to society and their
acceptance and full participation in local communities.
Vision: The CFP envisions a state and nation in which
farmworkers receive equal protection under law, earn a
living wage, live in comfortable housing, are safe and
healthy, receive due respect as workers and as individuals,
and participate fully in their communities.
Interviews with Farmworkers
• How to navigate in new communities
• How to improve workplace relations
• Options for learning English
• Immigration concerns
• Access to services
Farmworker Priorities
Workplace challenges
Language
Learning a new job
Concepts of time
Learning a new job
Transportation
New coworkers
Coworkers as housemates
How to best communicate with
bosses, crewleaders,
managers
Workplace norms &
expectations
Creating Positive Workplaces
Improving Communication between Farmworkers
and their Employers
“Communication can best be
defined as the message received
not the message sent.”
Why focus on workplace communications?
Employer concerns about labor shortages &
instability
Intercultural workplaces
Cultural differences in what is considered
appropriate communications with employers
Language differences
Crew leader as intermediaries
Housing challenges
Addressing Labor Concerns
Research with producers, managers
and farmworkers
• Engage workers and employers in separate
discussions of what’s going well and what could be improved
• Transcribe and translate interviews and farmworker
discussions
• Analyze information to identify challenges and best practices
• Develop tools to improve workplace communications.
Information GatheringInterviews with farm owners and managers
Discussions with farmworkers
What we Learned about Building Successful Workplace Teams
Building a successful workplace team relies on:
• clearly defining roles,
• establishing principles of mutual respect, and
• developing effective mechanisms for workplace
communication.
Establishing principles of mutual respect
Establishing clear principles
of mutual respect creates a
firm foundation for positive
workplace relations.
Tensions can arise in the
workplace if farmworkers feel
that the farmer/management
does not value their
contributions to the farm.
How management interacts
with and responds to the
workers greatly influences if
and when workers decide to
stay or leave.
Helpful Tips
Communication to Support Mutual Respect
Respond to worker requests in a timely
manner.
For more complex issues, provide a
timeline for when the problem will be
addressed.
Provide positive feedback alongside of
criticism.
Consider how to best inform the worker
about proper practices.
Farmer -- Worker
Communications
• Establishing employment guidelines
– Review job description
– New worker orientation
– Farm communication chart
– Performance goals and expectations
Paycheck with Spanish Language
Explanations of Tax Deductions
Clarify wage structures
Requesting Time off
Team Meetings
•
Roles - managers,
trainers, workers
Setting the agenda
Participation --who
talks-- who listens
Interactions
Translations
Elements of Successful Farm Meetings
Meeting agendas might include:
• Evaluation of new programs and schedules
• Setting goals for farm improvement
• Assessing progress on goals
• Time for workers to raise general questions about farm responsibilities, tensions in the workplace…
• Updates on farm productivity and changes in procedures.
• Announcements about workshops, social events, medical clinics, housing, etc.
Current skill set
What skills need to be learned
Learning styles and literacy
Formal versus informal training
Visuals
Shadowing
How and when will performance on new skills
be evaluated?
What are the training needs ?
Shadowing
A common practice for training
farmworkers is through shadowing a
more experienced worker
Helpful tips:
What aspect of production should the
new worker observe?
Discuss if the “trainer” should adjust their
schedule (slow down work) to ensure the
new worker understands the practices
Hands on or observation only?
Visuals
• Charts
• Videos
• Drawings
• SOPs
• What it the most important information you
want to communicate?
• What are the farms standards of
excellence?
Si el encargado pide: If the boss asks:
___verificar el nivel de aceite (verify
the oil levels)
___verificar el nivel del líquido
hidráulico (verify the levels of
hyraulic fluid)
___confirmar que los punto pivote
estén bien engrasados (confirm
that the pivot points are
well greased)
Mantenimiento
de los
minicargadores
/tractores
Skid steer /
tractor
maintenance
Compruebe la presión de
las llantas. Si están bajas,
póngales aire o ponga una
llanta de refacción.
Check the tire pressure. If the
pressure is low, add air or get
a replacement tire.
Verifique que las mangueras hidráulicas no estén dañadas
o demasiado gastadas.
Inspect the hydraulic hoses for damage or excessive wear.
Asegúrese de que el filtro de
aire esté limpio.
Verify that the air filter is clean.
Compruebe el sistema hidráulico levantando el cupete.
Test the hydraulics by raising the bucket.
El piso de la cabina y el asiento se deben limpiar
con frecuencia.
The floor of the cabin and the seat should be cleaned
regularly.
Si algo no funciona, deje de trabajar hasta que
se pueda reparar. Hable con el encargado.
Enjuague el exterior de la
máquina cada semana.
Rinse the exterior of the machine
every week.
Revise la cabina: después de arrancar el motor confirme
que están funcionando: Cabin check: after turning on the
motor confirm that the following are working:
___los frenos (the brakes)
___las direccionales (the turn signals)
___otros indicadores (other indicators)
Verifique que el cinturón de seguridad esté en buenas
condiciones y que no esté demasiado viejo o deshilachado.
Verify that the seat belt is in good condition and is not too worn
or threadbare.
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Limpieza
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4
5
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Workers appreciate
positive feedback as well
as constructive criticism
Consider learning a few
phrases in Spanish
Farmworker housing challenges
• For workers:
– Coworkers as housemates
– Different cultural practices
– Cleanliness standards
– pests
– Fear of reporting problems
• For Farm Owners:
– Long term consequences of neglect
– Cultural practices in the home
– When cultural practices & cleanliness conflict
with housing codes (H2A)
How to remedy housing problems?Anonymous Housing checklist with dates for repair
Cultural practices for cleanliness
Fire hazard ?
H2A code violation ?
Resources & Tools:
Management styles that cause problems at work
• Poor communication
– Surprises
– Difficulty understanding the reasons for
decisions
– Rumors
• Resources
• Values
• Leadership limitations
– Inflexibility
– Deficiency
– Inconsistency
Workplace Discussions
• What is the desired outcome?
– Benefits
– Training
– Opportunities
• How can these outcomes be achieved?
• Workers take on new responsibilities
• Training other workers
• Improving production
Plans for the future?
Effective Communication
An exact time when both farmer and worker are available
An appropriate location
- quiet
- private
Communicate face to face
Special Requests
Thank you!
For more information, contact
Mary Jo Dudley
Cornell Farmworker Program
275 H Warren Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Telephone (607) 254-5194
Fax: (607) 255-9710
Email: [email protected]
Website: Farmworkers.cornell.edu
