2018 Holds Some Big Changes, Same Challenges as 2017

Labor was one of the biggest problems for producers in the Northwest this year, and Mike Gempler with the Washington Growers League says they anticipate that will be the case next year as well.

In Washington, the ag industry will face challenges of a higher minimum wage and along with that comes the new paid sick leave law according to Gempler.

“For a lot of seasonal employees, that’s really not going to be usable for 2, 3, or 4 years before they’re working enough at one particular employer to be able to take that benefit.”

But it will provide a bookkeeping challenge for the employer to track hours worked and build up the paid sick leave, which will expand to paid family sick leave in 2019.

There is also the expected ruling in the Dovex [d’oh-vex] case which will determine how to calculate non-productive that includes moving ladders or other activities not involved with handling product.

Gempler said with so many changes coming to employers, it’s critical that they have good, professional management in place to work with their employees, whether seasonal or not and that there might be others speaking with them.

“If you have a 3^rd party trying to earn the trust and loyalty of your employees then you have to do the same thing. You have to work hard to keep the trust and loyalty of your own people.”

The Washington Growers League is hosting several workshops early next year about the new changes on labor laws, worker protection standards, etc. You can find out more on their website, GrowersLeague.org.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.