General Farm Laborers

Job description

Workers will plant, cultivate and harvest sugarcane by hand or machine. Straighten sugarcane behind mechanical planters. Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Transplant and weed crops. Till soil and apply fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Clean, pack and load harvested products. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. Repair and general maintenance of fences and farm buildings including painting. Participate in irrigation activities, such as set up and operate irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Perform general farm maintenance including weed and grass control by operating weed eaters and lawn mowers. Assist with cleaning equipment using steam cleaner or high pressure water hose. Load field wagons with sugarcane stalk segments. Walk behind field wagon and hand plant sugarcane at designated intervals in furrow rows. Pick up dropped sugarcane in fields. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Workers with a valid license and doctor's certificate may operate vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours.

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. Workers may not report for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on company premises is prohibited and will be cause for immediate termination.

Special Requirements

Requires repetitive walking, bending, reaching, stooping, pushing and pulling for long periods of time, lift and carry up to 50 lbs; perform work in inclement weather conditions including extreme heat, cold and/or rain.