How Has Your New Team Member Settled ?

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Tom Malleson (Sherborne)

So, you’ve spent plenty of money advertising, lots of time interviewing and checking references and come up with the right offer which attracts a new member of staff.  Hopefully they will stay for a long time!  But what are you doing to induct them into your business and integrate them with the team?  Certain basic requirements must be met:

  • A “Written statement of particulars”.  Certain elements of this are legally required to be provided on DAY ONE of employment.
  • A Health and Safety Induction.  Hopefully you have an up to date Health and Safety Policy.  This is compulsory for all businesses employing 5 or more people (including Directors), but highly advisable for all businesses.  Agriculture still has a shocking Health and Safety record and as an industry we are not caring for ourselves or our employees well enough.  You should be providing your employees with a handbook – detailing policies, risk maps, emergency procedures and plans.

Basic Training. All employees should have, as a minimum, the following training:

  • Manual Handling
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Working at Height

All these courses can be carried out online at a very low cost – there are many providers.

ATVs: From the HSE website: It is a legal requirement for employers to provide adequate training for employees who use work equipment such as ATVs, and to make sure that only employees who have received appropriate training in their safe use, including the use of any towed equipment or attachments, are permitted to ride them.

Job description – This should of course have been written before advertising and recruiting!  A brief document outlining the responsibilities of the role, lines of communication and your expectations in terms of behaviour and work ethic, will provide clarity for your new employee.

Your business philosophy – What have you told the new employee about your business goals and philosophy?  If they know why they are doing what they do, they will be more motivated and effective.  A simple Farm Information Sheet may be all that is needed in the first instance.

Integration with the team – In a larger team, they may not have the chance to get to know all their colleagues straight away.  A social event or lunch means they can meet in a relaxed environment.  As an industry we are, more than ever, competing with other industries for good employees.  Meeting our obligations and making farming an attractive place to work is essential!

For templates for all of the above and help with all aspects of recruitment, induction and ongoing staff management contact Tom at tommalleson@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.

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