Updated December, 2023
File C1-76

Farm Employee Management: Getting the New Employee Off to a Good Start on Day One

Farm employers spend a good deal of time to carefully recruit candidates, interview, check references, evaluate, and select a new employee.

All that effort can quickly go down the drain without making the effort to get that new employee off to a good start on the very first day.

When the employment offer has been accepted, a start date should be agreed upon as soon as possible. Inform the employee of what will happen on the first day of work. Clearly communicate when they are expected to arrive.

While it may seem fundamental to the employer, help the new employee by providing the answers to some basic questions common among new employees. Send the employee a letter by US mail, or an email with the answers to what might seem like very elementary questions to the employer:

  1. What should I wear? Provide guidelines on footwear, gloves, or other appropriate attire. More and more, new farm employees do not have farm backgrounds and need guidance so that they arrive for the first day of work appropriately attired. Particularly in dairy and other livestock operations, there are biosecu­rity guidelines and some attire may be provided. Inform the new employee that they will be trained on these biosecurity procedures. Do not assume that new employees know what they should wear to work.
  2. Should I bring my lunch or snacks and bever­ages? Some farm work sites provide a noon meal, or snacks and beverages. Others do not. Some groups of farm workers stop in town for lunch each day. Let that new employee know what the practice is at your farm and what they should bring to work.
  3. Vehicles and parking questions: If the new employee is expected to have a vehicle to use in the position, this should have been communicated during the pre-employment process. Other employees may wonder something as basic as where they are expected to park (or not park) at the farm site. Provide this information.
  4. What documents should I bring on my first day of work? The new employee will complete a Form I-9 as well as other basic forms on the first day of work. Inform the new employee of what documents should be brought to work on the first day to assist in completing these forms necessary for compliance with state and federal law. See the Checklist for Iowa Agricultural Employers on the Ag Decision Maker website for a list of those forms and links to instructions.
  5. What should I not bring to work? If the employee is expected to have a cellphone, that should be communicated. Some employees may need to be instructed that electronic music devices cannot be used on the job. Likewise, if the farm is tobacco or smoke-free, the new employee should be so instructed.
  6. What will I do on my first day of work? Tell the new employee what they will do on the first day (or week) of work. Make sure that work hours (including break policies) have been clearly communicated. Provide a general outline of initial orientation and training ac­tivities. This will decrease the new employee’s apprehension or confusion and help to get the new employee off to a good start with a planned orientation program as well as initial and ongoing training opportunities.

The new employee should be promptly greeted on the first day of work. Introduce the employee to other workers and family members. Nametags can be very helpful to the new person, as it can be very confusing when meeting multiple people in the early days of employment. Immediately show the new worker the location of the restrooms and other break areas. Until the farm employer is certain that the new employee has been thoroughly trained in farm safety practices and procedures, the new employee should be accompanied by another person who is properly trained.

At the end of the first day, the new employee should be asked if there are any questions or concerns. Offer the new employee assurances about how the first day went, and again offer information about what will happen in those early days on the new job. Farm Employee Management: New Employee Orientation discusses guidelines for orientation and training programs.

Surveys show that employees find job satisfaction when they feel they are being treated with respect. Treat that new employee with respect from the very beginning, and the employment relationship will be off to a good start.

Farm Employee Management Series Articles
C1-70 - Get the Right Start in Hiring Employees
C1-71 - The Job Interview, and What Questions Can I Ask?
C1-72 - Do We Need an Employee Handbook?
C1-73 - Assembly of Farm Job Descriptions
C1-74 - Put Job Descriptions to Work on Your Farm
C1-75 - Evaluation and Selection of Job Candidates
C1-76 - Getting the New Employee Off to a Good Start on Day One
C1-77 - Employment Eligibility Verification – The Basics of Form I-9 Compliance
C1-78 - New Employee Orientation
C1-79 - Farm Safety and Hiring Youth on the Farm
C1-80 - Applicant Background Checks
C1-81 - Terminating Employees in Iowa
C1-82 - Health, Stress, and Well-Being
C1-83 - Avoid Employment Pitfalls
C1-84 - Five Steps to Formulate Workforce Contingency Plans
C1-85 - Protect Farm Workers from Heat-Related Stress and Illness

 

Melissa O'Rourke, former extension farm and agribusiness management specialist

Author

Melissa O'Rourke

former extension farm and agribusiness management specialist
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