The latest statistics on green businesses indicate that one of the biggest issues facing lawn care companies is employment. If it’s not finding the most qualified person for the job, it’s retaining employees in such a competitive environment. According to Lawn & Landscape, more than half (56 percent) of lawn care companies have open positions. So if you haven’t dealt with this issue yet, odds are strong you will have to at some point in the near future.

Hiring qualified employees

So what will you do when faced with the task of hiring a new employee? Ask any green industry business owner and they will tell you that finding qualified workers is a big issue, especially when almost a third of their revenue is being invested in wages (30 percent per IBIS World).

Maybe leading employees comes naturally to you, maybe it doesn’t. Beyond hiring a few good employees, there’s the need for systems and processes so the business can continue to scale, allowing franchise owners the opportunity to work on their business, not in their business.

Green industry business owners who have investigated expanding and diversifying their existing business with a Spring-Green Lawn Care franchise have been pleasantly surprised on the support they would receive in this area from Spring-Green.

“I was looking for a partnership that could bring resources to the table that I could not—like a fully staffed IT department, digital media, marketing and business planning,” explained Jason Vahle, owner of Green Thumb Lawn Care n’ Landscape in St. Charles, Missouri, about his decision to expand with a Spring-Green franchise. What’s more, Spring-Green helps you build and coach a winning team, a critical component of your long-term success.

Retaining stellar staff

What if your concern isn’t hiring new employees, but keeping the qualified staff you already have? What should a lawn care entrepreneur do to ensure employees feel valued and engaged?

First, strive to create an atmosphere of teamwork. You want employees to feel like you are working together toward a common goal and that they are vital to achieving that goal. Especially in small operations, where you may already have a family-feel, fostering that sense of connection is huge. It helps your employees know that what they do is noticed and appreciated. One way to do this is by setting goals, whether these goals focus on production or the number of days employees go without injuries or taking a sick day, and then providing a reward for positive outcomes.

Next, a big reason many people move on from a job is they lack a clear understanding of what they’re responsible for day-to-day. Provide descriptions of each position, as well as an organizational chart to help in this area. Be clear about the responsibilities for each position and what your expectations are for every employee. And don’t be afraid to go over this during reviews.

Finally, give your staff room to grow and gain responsibility. When people feel there is room to advance or a challenge to be met, it gives them a sense of accomplishment. That feeling can in turn lead to better employee retention. Also important? Listening to your staff’s ideas and suggestions. Your business will benefit from their thoughts, and they will feel more connected and involved as well.

Spring-Green is there to ensure that the growth of your lawn care business does not stall because of the potential loss of one or more critical employees.

Want to learn how Spring-Green can assist you in hiring and retaining employees for your green business? Call 1-800-777-8608 or visit us at www.growmygreenindustrybusiness.com.