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: farmworkers@cornell.edu

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.

1

Limpieza

2 3

4

5

6

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: farmworkers@cornell.edu

Website: Farmworkers.cornell.edu