Australia and New Zealand rely heavily on seasonal workers to meet the fluctuating demand for labour in various industries, including agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and hospitality. These temporary employees play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of these sectors, particularly during peak seasons. However, training seasonal workers present unique challenges. The transient nature of their employment and the often fast-paced and demanding nature of the work affords them limited access to formal training.
Challenges of Training Seasonal Workers in Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, the temporary nature of seasonal work often results in limited time for formal training. This necessitates on-the-job learning, which can be overwhelming and increase the risk of errors. Additionally, high turnover rates among seasonal workers mean that employers may invest significant resources in training individuals who may only stay with the company for a short period.
Retail jobs, in particular, lack standardisation, making it difficult to develop standardised training programs that cater to the diverse needs of seasonal workers. These seasonal workers tend to be also hired in high volumes. Training such big groups of people that are likely to require different skill sets can pose a significant challenge to employers.
Similarly in the agriculture industry, seasonal employees are usually hired in large numbers to keep up with the demands of the harvest season. Beyond that, employers in this industry may also be working only a small window of time as harvesting crops can be time sensitive. Putting these factors together, training seasonal workers can be an uphill battle for employers.
The transportation and logistics industry presents safety concerns, as many seasonal workers operate heavy machinery or vehicles, requiring comprehensive training to avoid accidents. Physical demands and limited access to training facilities further complicate the training process in this sector.
Construction jobs demand specialised technical skills that take time to acquire. Seasonal workers tend to face limited apprenticeship opportunities, restricting their access to essential training.
Strategies for Effective Seasonal Worker Training in Australia and New Zealand
Despite these challenges, providing training to seasonal workers is crucial for enhancing their skills, productivity, and safety in Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, adequate training can reduce turnover rates and promote a positive work environment, leading to long-term benefits for both employers and workers.
Employers in Australia and New Zealand can adopt flexible training programs tailored to the availability and schedules of seasonal workers. This may involve offering training during off-peak hours or providing online training options that can be accessed on-demand and on the go, to accommodate their often-hectic work schedules.
Utilising a variety of training methods, such as hands-on training, simulations, and e-learning, can cater to different learning styles and preferences. Hands-on training is particularly beneficial for seasonal workers in agriculture and horticulture, allowing them to practice skills and techniques in a real-world setting.
It can also be helpful to have a clear training plan when managing a training program for large groups of employees. This would help both employers and employees to ensure they are on track with all the training that is required of them.
The Role of Ready Employ by Phoenix in Australia and New Zealand
Despite these challenges, providing proper training to seasonal workers is crucial for enhancing their skills, productivity, and safety in Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, adequate training can promote a positive work environment, leading to long-term benefits for both employers and employees.
Leveraging a platform like Ready Employ can be highly effective in overcoming the challenges. Ready Employ is a cloud-based talent management system designed by Recruitment Managers for Recruitment professionals. The Onboarding module of Ready Employ allows for a smooth transition for new starters. It captures all the important details such as digital employment contracts (that includes secure electronic signing), policy agreements, and e-learning training for new starters.
The custom onboarding workflow capabilities of Ready Employ is particularly helpful for ensuring efficient and effective training of a large number of new employees such as seasonal workers. Being able to build a custom workflow allows for employers to ensure that the new hires will not miss out any of the essential training that is required for their role. This eliminates potential blind spots in getting new hires up to speed on any compliance, safety or operational training.
Beyond that, these custom workflow can be duplicated to be used as a ongoing training workflow for existing employees. As Ready Employ is highly accessible, employees in fast-paced environments will be able to access training material from anywhere, anytime, on any device 24/7.
Effectively training seasonal workers is essential for maximising their productivity, ensuring workplace safety, and reducing turnover rates in Australia and New Zealand. By addressing the challenges and adopting strategic approaches, employers can create a well-trained and engaged seasonal workforce that contributes significantly to their success.