Nursery Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor to transplant, prune, thin and harvest large shade trees. Load and unload trees, pots, stakes, tools and equipment. Use hand tools such as pruning shears, shears, pole pruners, ladders, shovels, hoes, rakes, loppers, crimping tools and tapeners to transplant, prune, thin, and harvest large shade trees including, Acer-Maple, Betula-Birch, Metasquoia-Dawn, Parrotia-Parrot, Quercus-Oak, Taxodium-Bald Cypress, and Ulmus-Elm. Prepare fields by removing rocks and sticks placing them into buckets, trailers or constructing a pile. Load potted plants onto trailers for planting. Groups of workers will transplant trees by removing potted plants off of trailer that is moving down the row, digging a hole with shovel, placing tree in hole and covering with dirt using a shovel. After tree is planted, place empty pot back onto trailer. Use tapener to tape bamboo around tree to hold the tree in place in order for tree to grow straight. Work in groups when harvesting trees to wrap, strap and crimp basket onto root ball and use twine to wrap branches to prepare tree for shipment. Walk nursery carrying ladder down assigned rows to thin, prune and shape trees as instructed by supervisor. Limbs must not be torn from the tree, nor should limbs be completely stripped of leaves. Scoop soil into pot from pile and place filled pot back onto trailer in order to prepare for the upcoming season. Install irrigation by laying drip tube and punching holes. Clean, repair and maintain irrigation. Clean and maintain work areas. As a minor activity, operate tractors and farm equipment and may operate nursery vehicles and machinery while spraying for insects and weeds.

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 should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations. Non-U.S. workers may be displaced as a result of one or more U.S. workers becoming available for the job during the employer’s recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences.

Special Requirements

Three months of verifiable wholesale nursery experience required. Work outside in inclement weather conditions including extremely hot, humid and/or wet weather for extensive periods of time; perform prolonged walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs; climb 6 ft. ladders and reach over head for extended periods of time.Employer is a drug-free workplace. Drug testing and background checks are conducted post offer at the employers expense and are not part of the interview process. Negative drug test results are required before starting work. The employer does not employ persons convicted of sex related, violent, or drug related crimes except under extremely limited circumstances. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration at the request of the applicant.