Farmworker

Job description

Heavy labor of picking lemons or avocados as per color and size requirements. Climbing 3-point ladder as needed to pick fruit. Worker will be using proper shears for picking lemons. Cutting, not pulling the lemon with hand shear. Putting fruit into sack which is carried on the front of the body, with straps around the shoulder and back for support. Sack full of fruit can weigh up to 50 lbs. Sack is emptied into bin in a manner as instructed by supervisor. This is repeated until bin is full. Worker will need to walk around the tree, under the tree and within tree branches and from a ladder to pick the designated fruit. Workers will wear safety protection, including hard hats gloves, protective sleeves, knee pads, and eye protection. Workers will use hand shears and hand loppers to skirt the lemon trees. Workers will be expected to work in conditions normally associated with uneven fields and the California climate. These conditions include: dust, extremes of temperature and humidity, wind and at times, exposure to high levels of pollen. Workers should wear clothing suited to these conditions, including closed-toe shoes, hats, gloves, protective sleeves, and jackets which will provide adequate protection and allow freedom of movement.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a workers Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Start times vary depending on the weather (fog or heavy dew). 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-reason. 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.

Employees are expected to take meal and rest periods as outlined below. Rest and meal periods will be staggered accordingly, an unpaid lunch break of 30 minutes for every 5 hours of work and 10 minutes paid rest period for every four hours worked or major fraction thereof. In a workday of more than 10 hours, a second unpaid meal period of 30 minutes is authorized but may be waived if working 12 hours or less and the first meal period was taken. The second meal period cannot be waived if working more than 12 hours. Employees will be relieved of all work during meal and rest periods, if rest periods are interrupted by work, employees must notify management. Lunch must be eaten in the assigned area(s) away from the employee’s work site.

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 workers performance fails to satisfy the employers 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; 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

One month of farmwork experience required. In order to perform this kind of work, workers must be able to work outside for a minimum of eight hours a day in all kinds of weather and be in possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to conduct harvest activities, including working rapidly and skillfully with hands. The worker will be provided all necessary equipment to perform these harvest-related tasks.

Workers may be subject to mandatory drug testing if involved in a reportable accident or upon reasonable suspicion at employers expense. All drug testing will be conducted post-hire and is not part of the interview process.