In this column, I will also include a new "preferred employer" spotlight – an industry leader who best exemplifies the application of these best practices. Please take a good look at Priders Corner Farms – another great organization in the tradition of Chapel Valley Landscape – a previously spotlighted pioneer. Let’s start with some of our poll/survey results. Where I can, I include the landscape company name – I want to give credit where it is due. Each bullet is a different survey participant.

• Vacation after 1 year, profit sharing after 3 years, extra money for transportation each month and help with legal questions (Greenwood Landscape)

• Monetary bonuses before Christmas, raffles, courtesy, introduce crews to clients, emphasize their specialties, i.e. stonewall, etc.

• We provide transportation.

• Company handbooks, training materials, and employee reviews with bonuses and incentives. I speak a fair amount of Spanish and take the time to find out about my employees. I give them opportunity to advance and show them that we must be a team so we all can prosper.

• Educating English speaking employees with Spanish classes

• I teach my crews English at every opportunity. The first word is always payday.

• Also, ask about their families and what their native country is like. And remember/acknowledge birthdays.

• Provide more flexible time/family leave. Offer advance pay for family bills, other payments.

• Spanish lessons for all mid level and upper level management

• Due to a worker’s shoulder injury, I went to the clinic with him to explain (in my extremely limited) manner what was to be done. Then found a rehab clinic that had Spanish-speaking technicians

• Help them to get legal. Talk to Attorneys to help the family.

• Help with calling bill agents helping to resolve disputes. Know their family history.

• We provide clothing and boot subsidy. We invited our workers to attend this event with us today and tomorrow (at our cost). Take them to Growers parties/events. Inviting them to come to meet with us and an immigration attorney (at our cost) to help them achieve legal status. (Greenscapes Lawn & Landscape Services)

Employee Handbook
Orientation (Includes Videos in English and Spanish)
Benefits Package
Self Evaluation Forms
360 Evaluation Forms (Review the Boss)
Payroll Status Change Forms
Company Meetings; Safety, Weekly, Monthly & Yearly
Strategic Plan
Mission Statement
Company Newsletters
Postings & Announcements
New Ideas Program (You can win $ for your idea) 1st place $1000, 2nd place $750 & 3rdplace $500
Training Manuals

• Prides Corner Farms employs a full-time bilingual liaison always assisting whenever needed: meetings, evaluations, doctor’s appointments, etc. This person is very knowledgeable in all of our company policies, has a strong grasp of the labor laws and is our key link between our management staff and our labor staff and has also helped take our company to new and exciting levels. On-site English & Spanish classes are provided and encouraged from all of our employees to attend and reimbursement is offered to employees wishing to attend an off-site course.

• Training sessions provided with all levels of management: diversity, cultural, communications, safety, problem solving, etc.

• All promotions and awards are posted with bios.

• Employees have access to computers so they can learn to use them and also learn English & Spanish.

• Hispanic/Latinos make up the majority of our management team.

• In 2002, we have promoted a Hispanic supervisor to the position of Manager overseeing two departments. This is something that is very important to the Hispanic/Latino workforce.

If you know Juan Olmo, Puller/Shipping Manager from Prides Corner Farms, Inc. in Lebanon, CT, thank him for sending us information about PCF. Juan, you are awesome! I think you can see why DTG started a separate company to help ANLA members with their Spanish Translation needs – STS, LLC.

Just a beginning. More to come. Stay tuned–same bat channel, same bat time. Please to share with us what you are doing.