Finding enough quality workers has been a concern throughout the fresh produce pipeline. The pandemic made that situation worse, as many people quit the workforce in general, leading to an increase in wages and greater competition across industries.
This has complicated hiring in what was already an aging workforce for transportation providers.
“It’s a big issue,” says Fred Plotsky, president of Cool Runnings, Ltd., BB #:125423 a truck brokerage headquartered in Kenosha, WI. “It’s a problem, and I see it getting worse and not better.”
Wendy McManus, a leadership coach and founder of Connect2Potential in Orlando, FL, is well versed on the subject.
“Hiring is particularly difficult in an industry that’s ‘on’ 24/7,” she says. “We demand a lot of people, and we already knew it takes a special type of person to fit into our culture. With a shrinking available workforce, this has gotten even harder.”
Yet some companies are rising to the challenge. “Leaders are rethinking the demands they place on people,” McManus observes. “Even though it was typical to work six days a week in the past, some companies are shifting their expectations to align with the desires of the workforce. People want to have more free time. They want to have a life outside of work. The most successful companies are figuring out how to make that happen.”
There’s also a growing awareness of the mental health of employees, something that hasn’t always been top of mind in this industry.
“I’ve been encouraged to see how many organizations are making space to discuss these topics,” McManus says. “People are talking about mental health, with therapy and coaching presented as viable solutions. Ten years ago, if you talked about work-life balance to a longtime industry member, they would likely tell you to ‘suck it up.’ Now, we can have the conversation, even though we might not have all the answers.”
Jin Ju Wilder, director of marketing and business development at Vesta Foodservice BB #:125924 in Los Angeles, CA, says post-pandemic, many employees are struggling, whether they’ve worked long hours as essential workers, were laid off and rehired, or are entirely new to the industry.
With stress and emotion in both personal and professional lives, she says it’s been a bit much for many to handle, especially with so many changes and shifting responsibilities as the industry ramped back up after shutdowns.
“We’re very conscious and aware it’s an issue,” she notes. “We try to talk to managers and employees about how they’re feeling.”
This is an excerpt from the cover story in the January/February 2023 issue of Produce Blueprints Magazine. Click here to read the whole issue. https://apps.bluebookservices.com/BBOS/LearningCenter/BP/January%202023/eBook/index.html
