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Retaining employees is critical to the long-term health and success of a dairy operation. Therefore, failing to create the right environment to retain employees will affect the bottom line of the business and create organizational issues, such as worker insecurity, excess duties that workers must absorb and time invested in recruiting, hiring and training new employees.
Besides pay rate and recognition, education is one of the resources that employees value as a source of satisfying their curiosity and creating a sense of belonging that makes them feel part of the team. For this reason, one of the proactive approaches that employees must take into consideration is to know how internal employee training is conducted in the dairy where they work. Employee education is proven to boost engagement, motivation and overall productivity. So, the key question that you, the employee, should ask yourself is, “Does the dairy where I am working do a good job of providing continuing education and resources for me?”
Many dairies successfully use other workers to train new hires, although many of these internal trainers have themselves not received proper technical training. In this era of technical resources, there are many resources and training materials available, but in many cases, these resources are not reaching you, the employee. So, what can you do?
Ask your boss to provide formal and technical training
If you are being instructed by an internal trainer, your boss needs to make sure to use a trainer that uses interaction and hands-on activities. If the trainer will be teaching a complex topic, it is very important they use visuals tools and information that is easy to understand. If good internal training is not provided on your dairy, ask your manager to bring in outside educators to help you improve your skills. Proper training will benefit your team and the business you represent.
Ask your veterinarian or dairy nutritionist for training resources
To find good training resources, ask your veterinarian, nutritionist and/or extension agent about existing resources, especially, if needed, bilingual information that is related to your role in your dairy. Many of the consultants that provide services to your dairy have access to resources through their network of connections. They should be helping your dairy find ways to increase employee education and decrease turnover by looking into the areas of the dairy that could benefit from external training. In some cases, the nutritionist or the veterinarian can provide education that is relevant to you.
Education is important, but you have to be willing to receive it
There are many benefits to receiving formal technical education. Not only will you enhance your skills and knowledge, but the community where you live and the countries where you are from will gain from your education, too. Societies with higher rates of degree completion and level of education tend to be healthier, have higher rates of economic stability, lower crime and greater levels of equality. Lack of access to education is considered the root of poverty. In fact, not getting an education can lead to a cycle of poverty. However, gaining access to education can break that cycle.
As the employee, you must have the drive to ask for further education, resources and information to ensure your success. You need to believe that receiving education is also an opportunity to grow as an individual and to be exposed to diverse ideas that can expand your mind. Education does not just mean that you must attend a class and check the box. Proper education and training will provide you with bigger and better opportunities.
As the agriculture industry overall is facing labor issues, we need to think very seriously about “education for retention” and make it part of our industry by breaking the barriers that block access to this vital resource. A dairy that promotes training using external resources usually has a higher sense of unity and trust.
Even if your dairy has good worker stability and you are achieving most of your goals, you need to consider education as a tool of motivation and engagement. More importantly, education provides you with considerable mental agility to make the right decisions and spring into action when needed.
