Reading Time: 4 minutes Given the seasonal nature of farming, summer students fill an important labour gap on many farms, especially those that operate in direct-to-consumer markets. With the continuing tight labour market, managing the hiring and training of seasonal employees (often students) well is critical to success. Unfortunately, too often the busy-ness of day-to-day farming during peak times […] Read more
Onboarding summer staff for agricultural businesses
A strategic approach to seasonal part-timers might be your ticket to growth
Food and beverage sector sees softening demand for workers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Job vacancies in food and beverage manufacturing fell to 2019 levels this year, but softening demand for workers isn’t necessarily a positive sign says Farm Credit Canada.
Summer Series: Smarter training
[Change Management] Even the best employees are only as good as they know how
Reading Time: 6 minutes Training new and existing employees about the ever-changing tasks on the farm is essential if you hope to build and maintain a great farm team. But how much should you invest in training? Are you already there, or could your farm make big strides in its efficiency if you stepped up your training initiatives? Such […] Read more
Time to celebrate
Summer is the perfect opportunity to host an employee appreciation party
Reading Time: 4 minutes On a sunny June afternoon, productivity comes to a standstill at Big Marble Farms as more than 300 employees leave the offices, greenhouse and packhouse and spend several hours playing games, navigating obstacle courses, throwing axes and jumping in blowup castles, all as part of the annual Employee Appreciation Day at the farm. “A reduction […] Read more
Canada’s jobs growth stalls in December as wages accelerate
Declines in goods sector driven by job losses in manufacturing, construction and agriculture
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada's economy added far fewer jobs than expected in December and the jobless rate remained at 5.8 per cent, but permanent employees' wages increased at the fastest pace in three years, data showed on Friday.
Olymel bacon plant deal a ‘signal,’ union says
Deal ends three-week strike at Drummondville
Reading Time: 2 minutes Unionized workers at Olymel’s bacon processing plant at Drummondville, Que. have voted to accept a four-year deal, ending a three-week strike and serving as a “signal” to employers in the region, their union said. Olymel announced Friday that CSN-represented workers at the Bacon Inter-America facility, who’d been on strike since May 26, voted 93.6 per […] Read more
Get the best and brightest
Attracting new employees is tougher than ever, but there may be lessons to learn from other sectors
Reading Time: 4 minutes With job vacancies in a growing number of economic sectors across Canada far exceeding the pool of people available to fill those jobs, businesses are running harder to recruit and retain staff. It’s turning into a marathon. “We anticipate the employee-driven labour market will continue in the next few years,” says William Howard, director of […] Read more
Sustainable HR
Ag businesses aren’t the only ones using sustainability to attract highly motivated employees in a tough market. Farms are too
Reading Time: 4 minutes Having trouble hiring? Worried about employee retention? Here’s a new approach to consider: mission- focused employment. There’s been a shift in today’s workforce. Employees are increasingly looking for career opportunities with like-minded employers who match their personal values, like health, the environment and animal welfare. Attracting potential employees to employers that align with their values […] Read more
Elevators hope mandatory vaccination doesn’t disrupt operations
New regulations will require all federally regulated employees to comply early in 2022
Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada’s major companies hope their operations won’t be disrupted when Ottawa requires federally regulated employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 starting early in 2022. “It depends on whether employees that aren’t vaccinated will get vaccinated, or would they leave their jobs,” Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) said in an interview […] Read more
Navigating farm business holiday celebrations
It’s going to take more thought before you decide how your farm should celebrate 2020
Reading Time: 5 minutes Social events like the Christmas party have traditionally been a big focus for non-farm businesses, giving staff a chance to mix and mingle, and employers a chance to show their appreciation. Increasingly, Christmas celebrations are popular on the farm too, providing an opportunity for employees and family members to meet and greet without the stresses […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
