Nursery Workers

Job description

Plant, transplant, cultivate, pot, label, load and unload ornamental plants, trees, shrubs and grasses. Pull plant orders for shipping. Workers must keep pace while planting on a moving line. Place plants and/or pots onto or off of moving line. Pot, label, weed and water plants. Count and check plants, pots and materials. Space and prepare planting areas, greenhouses and fields. Inspect plants to assess quality and scout to detect the presence of insects or disease and report to supervisor. Cut and transplant seedlings and cuttings. Must be able to stick 1300 unrooted cuttings in 1 hour. Move containerized plants. Record information about plants and plant growth. Select and prepare plants for shipping according to supervisor’s instructions. Load and unload plants and materials. Assist in removing and disposing of bad plants and covering greenhouses. Clean plants by removing rotten leaves, weeds and debris and placing into a container. Dump debris into trash can. No containers are to be left on the floor. Trash cans are to be removed from the greenhouses no later than the end of the work day. All plants are to be handled with care not to damage. Plants will need to be placed or hung in the appropriate or assigned areas. May transport product to market and may be offered additional hours. As a minor activity, workers will use hand tools and operate nursery equipment including forklifts, electric carts and trimmers. Workers are also responsible for nursery sanitation duties including cleaning and maintaining work areas, picking up trash and sweeping floors.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker’s ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker’s Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

Workers will work Monday-Thursday from 7:00 until 2:30, Friday-Saturday from 7:00 until 11:30. Workers will have 7 hours Monday through Thursday, 4.5 hours on Friday through Saturday.
Reasonable Expectations:

All workers are subject to qualitative performance evaluation relative to employer’s reasonable expectations. In assessing worker performance, employer evaluates whether the worker: (1) adequately complies with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures disclosed to worker; (2) complies with all health and safety guidelines, including proper use of tools or equipment according to operating instructions and best practices designed to protect employer’s property, crops, and avoid injury or damage; (3) treats company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.) with care and respect, avoiding damage or improper cleanliness or maintenance standards; (4) timely and consistently follows instructions duly communicated by supervisors and other management personnel; (5) adheres to employer’s quality control standards for ensuring a marketable product, avoiding crop damage, etc.; (6) reports to work consistently at the time and place instructed, and remains at work for the agreed-upon work hours unless such absence is excused or approved in advance;

Special Requirements

Walk and stand for up to 7+ hours, bend and squat repeatedly, lift, carry and load up to 80 lbs, push/pull loaded carts weighing up to 200 lbs, climb ladders up to 8 ft to hang baskets and work outside on a black surface in extremely hot (90+ degrees), cold and/or wet weather conditions. Employer is a drug-free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process. The employer may, at its discretion, promulgate additional written Work Rules, Housing Policies, and other reasonable policies governing behavior in the workplace and on employers property. Copies of all such policies will be provided to worker in writing (in a language understood by the worker) during orientation and/or onboarding and shall be considered binding and enforceable for purposes of job retention. Employer attests that all policies will be consistent with local, State, and Federal laws and regulations and will not waive (or purport to waive)