Help wanted! The signs are posted, advertisements populate various media outlets, recruiters are engaged and temporary employment agencies are active. Even with resources focused on filling vacant positions, fully staffed processing facilities are becoming rarities. A phrase made popular by Jim Collins in his book, “From Good to Great,” was “getting the right people on the bus.” Our industry continually is challenged with getting people on the bus. So, what is one of the biggest challenges facing the meat industry? Labor. Multiple factors face our industry, but a looming tipping point may indicate increasing availability of willing labor to meet increasing demands of production and support positions. The focus of this article will be on hourly jobs such as: production, warehousing, maintenance and quality assurance.
What inhibits processors from finding, training and retaining employees? A plethora of reasons can be identified, including wages, benefits, work environment, misperception of the industry, reputation, etc. This article will highlight issues of orienting, training and retaining employees, which we should consider tangible assets. Concluding the article will present some some ways to provide incentives for employees to build long-lasting relationships with organizations.