WHEN it comes to attracting and retaining quality workers in agriculture, Belle Binder knows just how important workplace culture can be.
Mrs Binder’s work in promoting the value and importance of agricultural industries and creating positive farm workplace cultures has been recognised in the Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award where is a finalist. The winner will receive a grant of $15,000 and have the opportunity to attend the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
Mrs Binder runs an agricultural recruitment and labour agency providing workers for a range of agribusinesses.
Through her experiences running the business and seeing things from both the worker’s and employer’s side, Mrs Binder
was prompted to establish a new program aimed at helping business owners and farmers improve their workplace culture.
She said she aimed to help business owners put in place clear strategies that not only improve their business culture but also help boost productivity.
“I want people to understand that isn’t about unicorns and rainbows, sometimes the things that are needed to address cultural issues in the business are tough love, and putting in place practical strategies that can make a real difference,” she said.
Mrs Binder said she often saw businesses failing to attract quality staff
or retain them because of the underlying culture that impacts agriculture as a whole.
“If I can help people improve their businesses and identify areas where they can make some effective changes then it
can really turn things around for them and I’ve seen it first hand a number of times.”
With many agricultural business already struggling to find labour, Mrs Binder said tackling cultural issues would be crucial.
“There’s nothing more disheartening than finding a really great employee, then sending them out on farm and them having a bad experience and then leaving the industry altogether,” she said.
“There are always things that can be improved and that’s something I’m really passionate about. I’ve seen things from both sides, so I really like being able to use those experiences to help people.”
She is one of four Tasmanian AgriFutures award finalists this year.
The Tasmanian winner will be announced later this month in Hobart and and the winner will represent the state at national finals to be held in September.