Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[scottcaddy]

That's quite a list!!
Good luck with the little one.
Scott

 

[Phage]

Not really. He was reprimanded for not reporting information.I think he got his feelings hurt.

That is such a shame. He had so much promise and could have been there for years

Is there any way it could have been prevented or could be prevented in the future?

Do the guys have written (or picture) instruction about exactly what to do when?

Are they totally sure of what is expected of them? Are they allowed to make any decisions for themselves?

It seems to be so hard to get good workers. The good ones seem to be doing well until they mess up and get reprimanded and then quit.

When they quit they throw away so much. Do they perceive that the reprimand fitting for the "fault/problem"?

Just thinking through what may be going on and how good people can be encouraged to stick around. Money may be less important than we think.

 

[ozexpat]

That is such a shame. He had so much promise and could have been there for years

Is there any way it could have been prevented or could be prevented in the future?

Do the guys have written (or picture) instruction about exactly what to do when?

Are they totally sure of what is expected of them? Are they allowed to make any decisions for themselves?

It seems to be so hard to get good workers. The good ones seem to be doing well until they mess up and get reprimanded and then quit.

When they quit they throw away so much. Do they perceive that the reprimand fitting for the "fault/problem"?

Just thinking through what may be going on and how good people can be encouraged to stick around. Money may be less important than we think.

I have an 35 page employee handbook with all HR policies and procedures.

I have 12 policies and procedures related to animal care.

We have treatment flowcharts for all common illnesses.

We have parameters for the sale of piglets with pricing based on weight and allowable negotiation limits.

Here is his job description

Essential Job Functions

• Mix feeds for animals accurately using provided recipes
• Accept delivery of feeds and maintain inventory
• Construct, maintain, repair and clean coops, brooders, pens, cages and grounds with respect to livestock and animal habitation
• Maintain biosecurity
• Collect, label and incubate poultry eggs
• Provide appropriate nurturing, feed and water to livestock and animals to promote health and vigor
• Provide basic assistance to sick and injured animals and livestock, including first aid and the administration of medications
• Administer routine vaccinations and treatments as described in "Duty Calendar"
• Perform Artificial Insemination on pigs as required
• Provide an appropriate breeding environment for livestock as required
• Manage animal waste and compost production
• Dispose of all non compostable waste appropriately
• Maintain a clean environment
• Provide coverage for grounds domestic worker on his day off/vacation with respect to farm security
• Provide coverage for basic agricultural worker on his/her day off/vacation
• Maintaining report logs including but not limited to
  • Feed Inventory Log
  • Feed batch Mix Record
  • Daily Egg Collection
  • Hatch Log
  • Incubator Log
  • Medication Administration Record
  • Piglet Care Flow Sheet
  • Petty Cash
  • Daily work report for all employees
• Provide written and computerized reports to employer on a daily basis
• Assist in the buying selling of livestock and animals as instructed.
• Attend Municipal, Provincial and National fairs, events and conferences
• Attend training programs, internships and externships as required
• Participate in the production of market garden produce
• Deliver intra-island livestock shipments to Bacolod Silay Airport or other designated locations.
• Oversee maintenance of trees, shrubs and plants.
• Develop strategies for the production of non-native produce
• Participate in the development of new programs
• Assist in the loading and unloading of non-livestock related vehicles
• Assist in the construction of non livestock related structures
• Other projects and tasks as deemed essential by employer

Requirements

• Graduate of a Bachelors in Ag Science with Animal Husbandry Major
• Practical knowledge of animal husbandry
• Good communication skills and the ability to follow instructions
• Basic construction skills
• Knowledge of edible plants and trees
• Practical experience in producing fruits and vegetable.

Other Skills/Abilities

• Be able to read, write and speak English
• Be able to read, write and speak Pilipino
• Ability to open, edit and save data in computer based spreadsheets and databases
• Ability to use a smartphone
• Ability to maintain impeccable records

He was reprimanded because despite being asked several times he continued to fail to report. I had no way to account for feed usage and costing, no hatch percentages, no treatment records for antibiotic usage. The other part of it is that Ariel was clearly not doing his job. He was sleeping in til 8 am and barely working. Ompoy did not bother to tell us.

Here is the message I sent

I want a more complete report. Here are the instructions that were given to you before. Please follow. Ask me questions if you need more information
Instructions for Daily Report
Complete and submit by 6am the following day (can be sent any time after 6pm same day until 6am the following day). Send before you are off work. If day of work is on Sunday for example, send at 5pm Sat.
Date: - Day of work. Example Sunday Jan 4, 2014.
Day workers:
Complete start, finish and project worked on. Example: panday start 0730 finish 1700. 8rs work on bamboo lattice
Full-Time workers report
Include projects and routine such as cleaning beach and areas or cleaning and feeding pigs. Include items such as number of coconut trees cleaned, pal-pals made, compost turned over to next cubicle, feed mixed, oyster shells crushed, vegetable and house gardens weeded, seedlings planted, repairs completed,
Take pictures of projects
Eggs collected – complete counts
Animal report
Include any animal illnesses, medications given, animal births or deaths, AI given including pig number and bottle information (pig breed, boar name/number), Send message of sick and dead animals immediately but also Include on daily report
Other reports
Hatch Log - New hatch log each egg setting
Send pics of completed log when each batch is set, following day 10 candle and when hatch is completed and chicks are leg banded
Send pics of eggs prior to setting
Incubator Log
Send every Friday.
Feed Inventory Log and Feed Batch Record
Send every Wednesday Morning
Medication Administration Record
Send if medications were given that day
Piglet Care Flow Sheet
Send if any treatments/weights were due that day

Inday had spoken to him about the failure to report Ariel and he was quite arrogant in his defiance.

Yes he did have promise but he also had issues. He apparently also has some personal demons in his past. The Pinoy male has a lot of ego. Confrontation is not an everyday experience to the Filipino but its something that is needed in a work environment. Problems need to be addressed. There was no threat of losing jobs, no belittling and no abusing.

I had a lot of hopes for him.

 

[ozexpat]

As far as making decisions for themselves

There is not a lot of autonomy. There really cant be.

They get to chose days off and what times they do things. There is a calendar of tasks to do. Add on tasks and projects are given a priority rating from "drop what you are doing"down to "just add to the list".

 

[ozexpat]

Since I am putting the JD up

Here are the benefits side

Work Hours, Salary and Benefits
Normal work Hours
o Start time is 0600
o Breaks are
o 0730 - 0830
o 1030 - 1045
o 1230 - 1430
o 1530 - 1545
During animal birth periods, times will vary according to animal needs.
Salary shall be paid in accordance with The Philippines Labor Code, Presidential Decree 224, as amended and the Bureau of Labor, Employment and Statistics, Department of Labor and Employment (Latest publication May 11, 2015)
Salary
· XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (I dont publish salary here but its well above min wage and competitive with starting post degree job)
· Where an employee is made or permitted to work on his scheduled rest day, he shall be paid an additional compensation of at least thirty percent (30%) of his regular wage. An employee shall be entitled to such additional compensation for work performed on Sunday only when it is his established rest day.
· When the nature of the work of the employee is such that he has no regular workdays and no regular rest days can be scheduled, he shall be paid an additional compensation of at least thirty percent (30%) of his regular wage for work performed on Sundays and holidays.
· Work performed on any special holiday shall be paid an additional compensation of at least thirty percent (30%) of the regular wage of the employee. Where such holiday work falls on the employee’s scheduled rest day, he shall be entitled to an additional compensation of at least fifty per cent (50%) of his regular wage.

Salary will be evaluated quarterly. Merit increases will occur up to 10% annually at the employer's discretion.

Scheduled Day Off
The Agricultural Technician will receive 24 consecutive hours off every week, normally on alternative Saturday, Sunday or Official Holiday and subject to change or alteration based on the birthing of animals, animal sickness and employee special requests.

Official Holidays are

· New Year’s Day

· The first of May

· The thirtieth of December
· Maundy Thursday

· The twelfth of June

· The twenty-fifth of December
· Good Friday

· The fourth of July

· The day designated by law for holding a general election.
· The ninth of April

· The thirtieth of November



The employer will attempt to schedule days off on holidays but due to the limited amount of employees, the holidays will be divided. Additionally, The 1st of November will be included in the special day off designation.

Employees will have either November 1 or January 1 off, based on preference of the senior employee.

Pay Day and Location

The work week shall commence on Monday and conclude Sunday. To allow calculation for incidentals, overtime and bonuses, pay will be available on the farm by on or before 5pm on the Sunday immediately following the work week.

Vacation

The employee, once employed for a calendar year, will be entitled to five days paid vacation at a time agreeable to employer and employee.

Thirteenth Month Pay

Thirteenth month pay will be paid on or before the 24th of December each year. The 13th month pay is computed based on 1/12 of the total basic salary of an employee received within a calendar year.

Benefits

The Employer will contribute to the Social Security System and Philhealth. The employee share will be met as a payroll deduction.

Housing and Housing Rules

As a "stay-in" position, the employee will be provided free of charge with basic housing including water and power for the employee. The employee is entitled to use power for LED room lighting, a stand fan, a small television, radio and phone chargers. All other electrical items must be agreed upon by employer.

A salary deduction of 50 pesos per week will be deducted from the employee's salary for any a spouse staying in the premises provided that the arrangement is pre-approved.

Housing must be maintained by employees. Minor repairs are to be done immediately.General wear and tear is acceptable but damages to housing will be deducted from salary. All water leaks must be reported and/or repaired immediately.

Unless at employer sponsored events, the consumption of alcohol on the premises is strictly prohibited.

There are to be no visitors without pre-approved consent within the farm area.

Bonuses

As a performance, productivity and retention incentive, the employee will qualify for a bi-annual rolling bonus based on farm sales. The Bonus will be paid as follows:

• 1.5% of the net sale price of all farm sales to be included in the paycheck following delivery.
• 1.5% of the net sale price will be accumulated and paid on the first pay check in July provided that employee is gainfully employed with employer
• 1.5% of the net sale price will be paid on the last pay check in December provided that employee is gainfully employed with employer

Net sale price is based on cash collection following deduction of the costs of advertising, transportation, permits and fees to complete the sale
Bonuses will be reduced if lack of diligence causes greater than industry average livestock losses. An example of this would be loss of live birth piglets crushed by the sow during the first week.
Errors in shipping caused by employees resulting in income losses will be deducted from bonuses
The employer reserves to modify bonus program without warning and at any time. These changes will not effect accruals.
As a non-domestic worker, there are no meal provisions as benefits unless the employee is traveling away from the farm for work related duties and/or mandatory training. The employee, with participation in maintenance of vegetable gardens and fruit trees is entitled to his/her fair share of fruits and vegetables for consumption by him and his pre-approved immediate family living on premises. No farm livestock or products are to be slaughtered or consumed without permission. Ducks and duck eggs are available for consumption provided that a minimum of twenty female and 5 males per breed are maintained. No produce or animal products are to be taken off the farm.

Education and Training

From time to time, there will be mandatory seminars requiring travel and lodging. All fees, fares and expenses asocciated with travel will be shouldered by the employer in accordance with Travel Expenses Policy and Procedure.

Following the fourth month of employment, the employer will provide up to PhP3,000 in expenses and 3 paid days annually for training seminars not considered mandatory. Approval of the program must be requested and approved in advance.

 

[ozexpat]

And here is the employee handbook for those who want to read 27 pages

 

[ozexpat]

I have been a department manager or director with up to 120 FTEs under me for more than 15 years.

My employees don''t quit because of treatment. They are nurtured and leave for career advancement, which is encouraged.

I have terminated 2 employees, both for severe policy violation and both supervisors who should have known better. I have encouraged 3 more to resign as it was obvious to me and to them that they were not good fits.

This revolving door is something I am not used to.

 

[ozexpat]

In response to a PM - I thought I would share the answer

In family life, people are rarely told directly that they are doing something wrong, or they are upsetting the person. Its normally brought up by an intermediary so they dont have to show embarrassment to the person they have wronged. It does not work that way in an employer/employee relationship. Some cant overcome that.

I do understand the language issue. The general belief that Filipinos can speak English is a crock. Most cannot pass TOEFL.

Only those that go to private high schools and colleges can normally speak English proficiently.

I have the handbook in English, Tagalog and Illongo.

Typically, if they have the education to read, they can understand Tagalog as well though.

I also have it read allowed to them just in case they claim they are more skilled at reading than they really are,

Any messages of importance to Ompoy were also sent in Tagalog and English.

 

[bamadude]

I was thinking off applying but that "no alcohol" policy is a major deal breaker for me

 

[ozexpat]

I was thinking off applying but that "no alcohol" policy is a major deal breaker for me

if you can climb coconut trees, i may give you an exception