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• When times are tough and things need to change...
• In tough times everyone works harder...our August Employee of the Month
• Keep talking

The dairy farming economy is affecting many of us in our rural communities.  With this in mind we want to help.    During September we’re offering clients a special 5-4-5 special: Five hours consulting services for $500 (plus GST) – less than half price!

You can use your five hours however you want and we know that top of mind for most dairy farmers is change.  All of our conversations with dairy farming clients at the moment are about finding a way through these tough times and the impact this might have on the people in the business.

These are difficult thoughts and even more difficult conversations to have and we are urging clients to make sure that they handle any change process well.  Whether this is about potential redundancies, changes of duties or doing new / alternative things, change has to be managed well if the employer and employee are to come through the process positively.

If you are considering redundancies or any other substantial change with your employees you need to have a good reason to make the change and you need to follow a fair process when you think about implementing the change. 

A fair process includes consulting with your staff and taking into account their views before you make a final decision.  You need to consult about the change and consider the potential impact on the staff members, talk to them about any alternatives and give them time to consider their position and the opportunity to have representation or a support person with them through the process.

This can feel like a lot to remember and having clear objectives and records around what you are trying to achieve and the process you’re following is essential. 

Changes like these are difficult for employers and employees and the last thing you want to do is end up in a dispute, so it is important to make sure that any change process is robust and achieves the result you need for your business.

Give us a call for a confidential discussion about what you’re thinking and how we might be able to help.  Our 5-4-5 discount in September means you get significant savings on our HR consulting services to help you get through changes in your business safely.

Five hours consulting for $500 (plus GST).  Valued at up to $1125 this offer is about providing you with the support you need to navigate your way through change.  Talk to us today about limiting your risks and getting things done so you can sleep easier.  Please note that on-farm or in-business visits may incur additional travel expenses.   

And this month’s winner of our Employee of the Month award is a great example:  Richard Jalac from Miraka Dairies in Southland.

Richard has been with Fortuna Group for four years and this is his first season as a farm manager.  His Operations Manager (and nominator) is Matthew Richards who said Richard has faced lots of constant daily challenges and he tackles all of them with professionalism and encouragement.  Richard has done the No8HR 8 Steps for Management training and follows these systems really well when managing staff.

One of the Fortuna Values is ‘find a better way’ and Richard challenges his manager regularly to find a better way and, no matter how hard the challenge, he has always got a smile on his face.

Congratulations Richard – Very well done!

If you have an employee like Richard who you would like to nominate, click here to download and complete a nomination form.

And on the subject of tough times, under pressure the fundamental human ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ drive engages and for many of us the most obvious symptom of ‘flight’ is that we withdraw from those around us; we become quiet and turn into ourselves.

There are lots of reasons for this, from not wanting to hear ourselves keep saying the same things over and over again, to stoically thinking we need to resolve this ourselves, to simply not having anything to say….and if you’re a bloke this tendency is even more hard wired as you’re programmed to open your mouth once you have the solution, where-as women open their mouths to find the solution (yes, we all know there is truth in that women are from venus men are from mars concept).

My passion for everyone during any busy period (which calving invariably is) and in any period of stress (which many businesses are under at the moment) is to continue to have conversations.    Put some time aside to review your day with your partner, keep talking and develop the skill of listening without interruption or judgment.

Everyone strives for significance and for most of us this is achieved at home with our loved ones…make sure you give time to this for everyone in your family and, when you get a moment, think about how you can help your team feel significant too….