Tēnā koe,

 

Having spent many years in the food and fibre sector, we know the value of our dedication and hard work. Our sector is the backbone of our economy, and without our workers, we wouldn't be able to produce the food and fibre that keeps Aotearoa New Zealand's economy going and growing. That’s why we’re deeply invested in addressing our employee retention issues, and why you should be too.

 

At Food and Fibre Centre of Excellence (CoVE), our research found that retention rates of new employees during their first 12 months of employment are low across many sectors, but the food and fibre sector performs far below average. We discovered some key driver of employees leaving were;

• Employees experiencing challenges with their mental health,

• Employees expectations of work not aligning with reality, and;

• Poor employee and manager relationships.

 

To help food and fibre employers address these challenges, we have created this toolkit to support employers to improve job satisfaction for employees and keep the right individuals in roles. 

 

Replacing an employee can be costly—around 30% to 200% of an employee's annual salary to cover recruitment expenses, lost productivity, and training time for a new hire. Furthermore, failing to meet your obligations as an employer can lead to legal troubles, adding even more cost and effort. Keeping an employee for more than a year can significantly reduce these costs. Satisfied workers are more productive which directly improves financial performance and the quality of our work. So, keeping our workers more satisfied isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for our business.

 

Creating a respectful and inclusive environment is a priority across the sector. Encouraging te ao Māori to be a part of your workplace can be pivotal in this journey. Approximately 1 in 5 of our employees have whakapapa Māori, and this number continues to grow. Our toolkit offers guidance in incorporating some elements of te ao Māori into everyday work, which aims to enhance relations with Māori employees, keep our Māori workforce, and enrich our overall practices.

 

I hope this toolkit serves as a valuable resource, offering practical advice to improve employee retention. By investing in our workers, we invest in the future of our food and fibre sector.​​​

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Nāku noa, nā,​