“If we don’t treat our employees with dignity and respect, some other employer will, and we’ll lose them.” – Brian Kocher from the Castellini Group of Companies
This past September, I attended PMA’s Virtual Town Hall “The Future of Labor and The Ethical Charter,” where this quote from Brian Kocher, CEO of the Castellini Group BB #:102397 stood out.
While the town hall meeting focused on the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, I believe this quote is key to a larger conversation that all of us in fresh produce and agriculture should be having.
There is no single box to check for corporate social responsibility. It’s not a simple and quick solution. It’s a commitment to doing what is right and making continuous improvements by constantly engaging your employees.
We were all witness to the very public pain that the meat industry faced as plants were shut down and more than 16,000 workers were sickened by COVID during the early stages of the pandemic. We also saw the public statements from workers and consumers who expressed disappointment in the industry.
We should never disregard how important or how skilled farm labor is and recognize that it is the backbone of our food economy. We need to prioritize and value our workers who help our businesses move forward and thrive.
When we embrace these values and communicate that publicly, prospective employees can easily see what your company believes in and why they would want to choose your business as the place they spend the majority of their waking hours.
Recruitment is definitely a two-way street, and you must be willing to invest in and sell the benefits of working for your company.
Statistics indicate there is currently up to a 20 percent labor shortage of agricultural workers, making the competition for good workers more critical than ever. Pay alone does not solve the ability to attract and recruit, and it is rarely the only deciding factor for employees selecting or staying with a job.
This brings us back to Kocher’s comment. When you treat your employees with dignity and respect, they will hold the company in that same esteem.
Creating such a relationship with your employees creates advocates and champions for your success. Not only will you find it easier to retain and recruit employees, but the employees you have will become your best sales people, recruiting the employees you need by sharing the values and good experiences they are having with your company.
In addition, this mutually respectful relationship opens the door for joint problem solving and shared interest in the company’s success.
At Equitable Food Initiative, we talk a lot about becoming an employer of choice in a competitive labor marketing, and why it’s important to build on build and cultivate a values-based programs such as EFI or Fair Trade USA.
Improving worker conditions and therefore improving lives is the right thing to do and it is the only way forward to stabilize your business. Happy, well-respected and engaged employees will give you their all, including their loyalty.
EFI-certified growers are constantly sharing their success with worker retention and recruitment thanks to the investments they’ve made in their workforce. This socially responsible commitment is not just good for employees, it’s good for your business.
