This covers labor laws concerning farmers and migrant workers.
Employment laws: Understanding the laws and regulations pertaining to agricultural labor management, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, workers' compensation laws, and other state and federal regulations.
Labor Relations: The principles and practices of labor relations, including union negotiations, collective bargaining, grievance procedures, labor agreements, and management-employee relations.
Recruitment and Retention: Strategies for recruiting and retaining agricultural laborers, including job postings, job fairs, employee referral programs, and incentives for performance.
Employee Benefits: Health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits, employee assistance programs, and other benefits offered to agricultural workers.
Worker’s Safety: The safety regulations and safety management practices for agricultural work.
Labor-Focused Technology: Technology that can be used for labor tracking, scheduling, and management, including time-keeping systems, self-service portals for employees, and mobile apps.
Communication Skills: Protocol for effective communication with employees especially under anxious situations, such as during a company crisis, harvest delays, and pandemic-related issues.
Record Keeping and Documentation: Methods for record keeping and compliance records necessary for federal auditors or lenders: labor and compensation records, accident records, training records, and employer I-9 records.
Risk Management: Strategies to manage risks related to labor, including workers' compensation, liability insurance, and liability for independent contractors.
International Labor Management: Understanding the laws, regulations, and practices of managing international agricultural labor, including visas, employment contracts, and migrant workers.
Wage and Hour Laws: These laws govern the payment of wages and the regulation of working hours for agricultural workers. They ensure that workers are paid fairly, receive overtime pay, and are not forced to work excessive hours.
Workers’ Compensation Laws: These laws require employers to provide financial compensation to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job duties. The compensation covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs.
Discrimination Laws: Agricultural employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based on factors such as race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Discrimination can result in hefty fines and legal action.
Safety and Health Regulations: These laws require agricultural employers to provide a safe working environment for their employees. They may include regulations regarding the use of machinery and equipment, handling of hazardous chemicals, and other safety measures.
Labor Relations Laws: These laws govern the relationship between agricultural employers and their employees, including the right to collective bargaining and unionization.
Immigration Laws: Agricultural employers must ensure that their workers are authorized to work in the United States. Failure to comply with immigration laws can result in hefty fines and legal action.
Child Labor Laws: These laws regulate the employment of minors in agriculture, including the number of hours they can work and the types of tasks they can perform.
Family and Medical Leave Laws: These laws require employers to provide employees with job-protected leave for certain qualifying reasons, such as the birth of a child, serious illness, or caring for a family member.
Recordkeeping Laws: Agricultural employers must keep accurate records of their employees’ hours worked, wages paid, taxes withheld, and other related information.