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. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive employer's vans or other transportation vehicles to transport workers on and off the farm 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. 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

Walk and stand for up to 7+ hours, bend and squat repeatedly, lift, carry and load up to 20 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.