Workforce retention in meat processing plants

Summary

The Workforce retention project has been underway since mid 2004. Theproject sought to initially research and investigate the possible causes of highturnover and then to develop tools and resources to allow processingcompanies in the meat industry to improve their retention rates and to lowerabsenteeism.
Julie McQueen was the first project officer involved in this project, howeverapproximately halfway through the two-year project Sharon Fitzgerald andJenny Kroonstuiver took on the project management role.
During the first year of the project some valuable research data wasdeveloped, including a literature review, which was made available to industryand identified the possible causes of turnover, particularly in the meatindustry; there was also an analysis of high- and low-turnover companies, andresearch into how shut-down periods impacted upon retention levels oncecompanies resumed normal working production levels.
Employees’ entry to an organisation was a big part of the project. Significantinformation was sought to determine the necessary skills and attributesneeded by supervisors in processing plants, when dealing with new recruits,and a new unit was included in the meat industry Training Package, Supervisenew recruits. Along with the unit of competency training materials weredeveloped to support training in the unit and were trialled with severalcompanies to ensure they were effective.
Induction training was also an area of interest. A generic induction programwas developed to be turned into a product for the entire industry.
Traineeships in the industry were also researched, with a particular focus onfinding out what trainees themselves had to say about their training and howthey might be better supported. An updated version of the traineeshipinduction kit was then produced for evaluation and trial, and to complementthe materials a new page was added to the MINTRAC website.