Q & A WITH DR . GRADY MILLER

We have had a hard time finding experienced workers , so we have been forced to hire more employees that have little to no prior turfgrass management experience . What are your thoughts on preparing nontrained workers for our industry ?

This question came up at a recent SFMA regional meeting . It seems like everybody in 2022 has struggled to find workers , trained or nontrained . In some cases , one may be lucky enough to hire a person who has worked in a related field . For example , a landscape maintenance crewmember with a couple of seasons of experience may develop into a great sports field employee with some targeted training . They will have good equipment experience and often have experience with the same turf care products . So , they may just require some refinements of their skills along with a few new techniques specific to sports field management . The greatest challenges are usually when hiring individuals with zero turfgrass experience . As one person recently told me , “ We are hiring ‘ good attitudes ’ and training them for our jobs .”

Once you have an employee on site and orientated , my suggestion is to have them work with people who will take adequate time to demonstrate and explain each of their required tasks . It is important that supervisors welcome questions from the employee . I also suggest that supervisors provide regular opportunities for the employees to discuss their work with them . It is a little like asking your kids when they get home from school , “ tell me what you learned today ?” Although it may seem a little silly , asking an employee to talk through their work processes is a great way for an employee to gain a deeper understanding of the tasks and how they should be accomplished . It also helps a supervisor understand where additional training may be needed . In some cases , an insightful or experienced employee may even provide recommendations on how tasks can be completed more efficiently . Your work environment should encourage open discussions .

If you have multiple work teams on your job site , move new employees around to work with other

teams whenever practical so they can get additional training . Being exposed to a variety of tasks will keep them from getting bored , which is a common reason new employees quit . This cross training also makes it easier for employees to cover tasks when others are absent or when positions are open . In the process , you and the employee may also discover talents that neither expected . You might find that an employee has a talent for painting logos or can drive a mower straighter than anyone else on your crew . It can also be a great confidence booster for employees when they are entrusted to complete a new task , and they do it well .

In addition to internal training , look for educational opportunities outside your work environment . For example , help the employee get their pesticide license . Extension services often offers free classes to help workers prepare for the pesticide license exam . Vendors often offer equipment demonstrations and irrigation repair classes . Knowledge gained from these classes can contribute toward improving your facilities . Also , sending employees to special events or training is usually seen as a reward for the employee and sends them the message that you value them as an employee .

Lastly , encourage or support all your employees to join the local SFMA chapter or the national SFMA . The SFMA provides great education opportunities in the Knowledge Center and technical resources in the “ Members Only ” section of the SFMA website . That non-trained worker can quickly become trained and end up as a vital team member for your staff . SFM

Grady Miller , Ph . D . Professor and Extension Turf Specialist North Carolina State University

Questions ? Send them to Grady Miller at North Carolina State University , Box 7620 , Raleigh , NC 27695-7620 , or e-mail grady _ miller @ ncsu . edu

Or , send your question to Pamela Sherratt at 202 Kottman Hall , 2001 Coffey Road , Columbus , OH 43210 or sherratt . 1 @ osu . edu

50 SportsField Management | January 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com