Quality employers stand out

01-05-2007 | Not Specified

Everyone has heard the rumblings about poor employers in the dairy industry. But a growing number of proactive farmers are taking action to counter that view through their employment practices on farm.

These farmers are based all over New Zealand, from small farm owners to corporates, and they all have been identified as excellent employers.

They are linked together under Quality Farm Employers of New Zealand (QFENZ), a nationally recognised organisation whose members are committed to providing a quality workplace for their employees.

To become a member, farms are assessed annually by QFENZ on their employment practices in 12 key areas, such as Health and Safety, Recruitment, and Performance Management. Farms are only awarded membership if they meet the QFENZ Standard with a Provisional, Full or Advanced rating.

While many farmers think they are already good employers, it can take independent eyes to see the gaps that need to be filled.

QFENZ project manager Karen Fraser understands the competing demands on a farmer’s time.

“You are in your business with your attention divided between all areas of farm management. It is very hard to know what areas you miss or neglect when you do it every day.”

She says that QFENZ’s role is not just to identify the gaps but also to provide usable recommendations to make improvements in your business.

Such recommendations have led to improvements not only in employment practices, but also in business performance, as Colin Glass, CEO of Dairy Holdings, has discovered.

“We have found that farms achieving the QFENZ Standard also rank highly in business performance” he says.

Glass recognises the need for solid employment practices across the dairy industry, and so has committed to yearly assessments by QFENZ, with the goal of achieving QFENZ membership across all 57 Dairy Holdings farms.

Fraser has seen the savings that can be made by aiming for effective employment practices.

“By managing the people side of your business as effectively as you do the cows and grass, you save money due to improvements in staff productivity and efficiency, and reduced turnover. Simple steps can result in a better working environment for both you and your employees.”

In the current climate of low unemployment and staff shortages, staff turnover is a major worry for many New Zealand farmers.

Research commonly estimates the cost of turnover at between 50% and 150% of an employee’s annual salary.

These costs are a combination of exit and recruitment costs, induction, training, and productivity losses.

Fraser says good employees are discerning about who they choose to work for. Through QFENZ, quality employers are able be identified.

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