WASHINGTON, DC - If you caught our last exclusive feature with the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), you are already well aware of the way family-friendly policies are driving growth and retention for its member companies. Today we dive even further into the topic, as the organization is highlighting more benefits of being a family-focused operation.
"Employees have different demands and expectations, so working with them to ensure that policies meet their needs will bring organizations the most positive impacts," shared LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing and Communications, pointing out the importance of listening to farmworkers and administrative staff when considering family-friendly policies. "Understanding their challenges is the first step to improving their well-being and your bottom line, and that could be as easy as anonymous surveys."
The National Center for Farmworker Health reports that 43 percent of United States farmworkers have at least one child in the household. With the back-to-school season in full swing, EFI notes that employees may be feeling the strain of new schedules and extra expenses for everything from supplies to sports equipment and school fees. This is why the organization recommends that farming operations review their policies to identify more family-friendly opportunities and seek to create a flexible and supportive work culture.
While supporting their employees, implementing these strategies will also help farms be recognized by workers as an employer of choice in a tight labor market, a press release noted.
Data from Compensation & Benefits Review shows that providing paid leave and flexibility for workers to take care of families, medical issues, and caregiving without making financial trade-offs helps improve retention, productivity, and employee participation. These policies also help boost morale, job satisfaction, and loyalty while reducing employee burnout.
In addition, studies show that paid leave brings a high return on investment and many positive effects for the organization and employees.
To read more about how family-friendly strategies can help boost produce businesses, click here.
And for more industry updates, stay here on the pages of ANUK.
