In the current work environment, where labor is short and positions are hard to fill, employee retention programs are just as important as recruitment, and have become a cornerstone of business longevity. Here we look at strategies to retain talent.
Hired help
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What it takes for nurseries to find the workforce talent they need Working in the nursery industry is not easy. Laborers in the fields endure harsh weather conditions and strenuous work that can test their physical endurance. Drivers spend long hours on the road away from their families. Growers and production staff have to constantly […]
ICE announces four-fold increase in worksite investigations
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) dramatically increased its number of worksite investigations in 2018 as compared to 2017, according to an agency press release. ICE is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specific numbers include: Worksite investigations increased from 1,691 to 6,848, more than a fourfold increase; I-9 audits increased from […]
November 2018 — The People Issue
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November 2018 — The People Issue In Oregon, nurseries and their people ship close to $1 billion worth of ornamental nursery and greenhouse plants per year. That’s why you will seldom find a nursery owner or manager who does not appreciate the critical role of employees at every level. In this issue: Introduction: People. That’s […]
Working wonders
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Despite pervasive labor struggles, nurseries find ways to find workers There was a time, up until 2006 or 2007, when Robinson Nursery in McMinnville, Oregon would lay off at least 30 percent of its workforce every year, just after the fall season and heading into winter. Back then, the nursery industry’s labor pool included a […]
The essentials of retention
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Many growers can’t set the price of their products in the national marketplace. They are competing for business with growers from states that don’t have same high cost of doing business, which puts Oregonians at a competitive disadvantage. This means business owners must focus on collecting high-value returns on high-cost labor expenses. When compiling salaries […]
The ‘tangled root ball’
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Family-owned businesses must balance work, ownership and family roles Each June, family business owners interview with a panel of peers to compete in the Excellence in Family Business Awards. Judges consistently ask each CEO how they carve out time for their family. To date, the most memorable — and perhaps practical — “policy” came from […]
H-2A for nurseries
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The guest worker program offers a labor option, but has its challenges Oregon nurseries are facing pressing labor shortages. Several have turned to mechanization, but the industry still needs human hands. In recent years, those hands have not been adequately available. Many nurseries are considering the H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program as a potential […]
Better production cycles mean greater success
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For Mike Heller of the Mount Angel-based Kraemer’s Nursery — and for probably just about any other seasoned nursery grower out there — the key to success can be boiled down to three simple things. “The biggest things for nurseries are space, time and money,” he said. “Those are the biggest limiting factors — and the […]