Human Resources Toolkit for farmers launched

Human Resources Toolkit for farmers launched

A new tool to help sheep and beef farmers in employing and managing staff has been launched by Meat & Wool New Zealand.

Meat & Wool New Zealand Chairman Jeff Grant said the HR Toolkit, a CD-Rom with information on employing, developing and motivating staff, would be a valuable tool for farmers.

The Meat & Wool New Zealand HR Tool Kit was launched at the Advancing Sheep and Beef Conference in Christchurch today. Meat & Wool New Zealand adapted the HR Tool Kit from one developed by Dexcel and funded by DairyInsight, for the dairy industry, for sheep and beef farmers.

"We've picked this tool up because there is a need, particularly in a tight labour market, for farmers to operate good human resources practices. We know the dairy industry has had success and positive comments from farmers with a similar tool," Mr Grant says.

"With near full employment in recent times farmers are finding it difficult to attract the labour and skills they need, and the bigger picture is that this could affect overall production in time."

"Most farmers run pretty lean operations, and are so busy out there managing their businesses they don't find much time for developing people management skills. This CD gives practical, experience-based advice with examples and templates to help make the job easier, including how to get the best out of personnel," he says.

The HR Toolkit also covers employment legislation, legal responsibilities, health and safety issues, recruitment tips, managing staff, task allocation and managing staff.

Meat & Wool New Zealand spends $1m annually on skills and education, in an effort to attract more skills to the sheep and beef sector, and enhance and retain existing skills.

Farmers will have the opportunity to attend workshops which explain the toolkit later this year. The workshops are run by the Agriculture Industry Training Organisation and the Universal College of Learning, in consultation with Agriculture New Zealand, Dexcel, Federated Farmers, the Tertiary Accord of New Zealand and Meat & Wool New Zealand.

The HR Toolkit CD can be ordered from Meat & Wool New Zealand through calling 0800-647-000 at a cost of $45.

ENDS

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