Dairy Exporter January 2021

Page 12

MILKING PLATFORM OTAGO

Team work makes a great workplace.

Good bosses breed good workers Employment is a two-way street. Anne-Marie Wells gives some advice on how workers and bosses can improve staff relations.

O

ver the past year, I have seen many articles on the need for dairy farmers to be good employers, and I have to admit to being torn about how I feel with the “be a good boss” campaign. When I think about why it bothers me, I realise it’s the accusation of the statement, the suggestion that I am not a good boss – that none of us is. I am in no doubt that people should do their best to be good employers – after all, in the same way animal welfare is so important to our business, having a good team is right up there. So why are there so many articles on this subject? Are there an equal number of articles telling employees to “be a good worker”? As an industry, are we really such bad employers it justifies this many initiatives telling us to sort ourselves out? I hope not. On our farm we try our best to create a 12

good work environment and to review and learn as we go. I know we are not unique and there are plenty of people doing it better than us. That said, when we were last recruiting, I was surprised to hear accounts of unreasonable rosters, having to work rostered days off, late wages, and of one manager who simply didn’t show up if it was raining, so not everyone is getting it right. I find it hard to believe the majority of dairy employers are like this; surely there wouldn’t be anyone left in the industry if they were. Which brings me to wonder if these articles are the result of a lack of new interest in dairying careers? In which case, the focus could move to reviewing what is putting those people off; early mornings, working weekends, perceived lack of progression in the industry, the

dirty dairying label. I believe the majority of employers are far more aware than they used to be on how to create a good environment, I also believe employee expectations have changed. As important as it is for employers to create a great work environment, employees have a responsibility to hold up their side of the contract. To me, being a good dairy employee means valuing your job, your house, turning up on time and focused, admitting when you’ve done something wrong, taking care of equipment, saying thanks for a smoko shout, seeing out a season, keeping the house provided for you tidy. I can’t help thinking that when everything is focused on the employer getting it right, we run the risk of employees no longer valuing their employment. Not everyone is getting it right when it comes to employment, but a lot of people are, and I am no longer convinced it is reciprocated. I think it would be great if instead of bossing us to be good bosses, there was encouragement for the whole team – from the owner to the relief milker – to create a great workplace.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | January 2021


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Articles inside

Collars mean connected cows

3min
page 80

Are supplements right for your farm?

5min
pages 78-79

No sign of SARA

3min
page 77

The development trap

3min
page 76

Sleep: Combat the voice inside your head

6min
pages 74-75

Emissions: The climate neutrality question

5min
pages 64-65

Technology: Ears to the ground

8min
pages 70-72

Vet Voice: Summer and photosensitivity

3min
page 73

Environment plans driving change

4min
pages 62-63

Freshwater: Ministers get regulations advice

4min
pages 60-61

Udder intervals explained

2min
page 49

Know your GHG numbers

5min
pages 58-59

Common questions farmers ask

2min
page 48

En route to farm ownership

14min
pages 38-42

Times to attract new staff

11min
pages 45-47

E350 Farming’s new generation leaders

7min
pages 34-37

Exploring the potential of bananas

6min
pages 30-33

Anne-Marie Wells believes good bosses breed good workers

2min
page 12

West Coast: Cash flows following Yili purchase

10min
pages 22-25

Lending flexibility needed

4min
page 26

Fixing milk price

6min
pages 28-29

Global Dairy: Clues to UK’s post-Brexit dairy future emerge

4min
pages 20-21

Alex Lond is a convert to Max T

3min
page 10

Carla Staples considers the highs and lows of 2020’s second half

3min
page 11

Niall McKenzie gets a doctor’s check-up

3min
page 13
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