Greenhouse Laborers

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, transplant, cultivate, pot and label vegetables, herbs, and flower plants. Operate equipment including forklifts, tractors, and UTVs and load and unload plants and materials. Plant, spray, weed, fertilize and water plants using hand tools and gardening tools. Load plants, and transplant or pot and label them within an assembly line. Tag trays. Count and check plants. Prepare soil and media growth. Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease. Inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality. Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings. Dig, rake, and screen soil and fill cold frames and hot beds to prepare them for planting. Move containerized plants using wheelbarrows or tractors. Move, load, and unload greenhouse grown plants. Sit down seed flats and get up seed flats for delivery. Clean work areas and maintain grounds and landscaping. Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels. Operate tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, spray plants and to load and unload. Maintain and repair irrigation and climate control systems. May repair and maintain nursery buildings. Work is very fast paced during busy season. Workers are also responsible for nursery sanitation including picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors and other nursery sanitation duties.

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. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. 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.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a 2 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 2 day 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 2 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

Three months of agricultural work experience required. Workers will be required to bend and reach repetitively, walk, sit, stand on concrete or other surfaces, stoop and crouch for long periods of time, repetitively use hand and finger movement, push and pull carts, lift and load up to 60 lb. bales of potting soil and work in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather. Must be 18 years of age or older. Employer is a drug-free workplace. Drug and alcohol testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process.