Farmers challenged to consider future workplaces

Shamubeel Eaqub, from Sense Partners, was speaking at the People Expos run by DairyNZ and Dairy Women’s Network earlier this month when he made the comments.

“The world is shifting, and it is shifting for everyone,” Eaqub says. “It has never been harder to find labour and it isn’t just dairy experiencing this.”

He says other sectors are doing anything and everything they can to attract labour, and the long-term issues each sector is experiencing have been around for decades.

“It’s on us to consider how we can step up and support the people that are working in your teams and businesses.

“Let’s reframe the conversation to think about how we can make the jobs more attractive, to keep people in the sector,” Eaqub says.

He says the sector needs to give people a compelling proposition, training, and career progression opportunities to encourage them to join and stay in the sector.

Aaron Jay, HortUs, provided an external perspective to those attending the People Expos, discussing how he was able to develop a high-performing business built on and for people and providing relevant takeaways for farmers to apply their individual teams.

“It is important to acknowledge your strengths and have your team supporting you with the expertise and knowledge that you do not have,” says Jay.

He says employers need to remember the reason why their employees turn up for work each day.

“You need to understand what success means for them and to you, and to shift your business strategy so you can find success for everyone,” says Jay.

“As we look forward, you have to determine if you are going to participate or not. Making the decision that you are here, and that you want to attract and retain really good people for your business, is a critical starting point.”