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Some 20 Lakeland milk suppliers have been learning how to hire and manage farm workers for the past four weeks.
The labour management course, organised by Lakeland Dairies, Macra and Teagasc, covers how to identify the right person and attract them to the farm.
"The course provides information on how to go about an employee search, including advertising in relevant places and interview skills.
The course also covers interpersonal skills
"It also covers employment law and how to provide appropriate working terms and conditions," said Lakeland member relations manager Eamon Duignan.
"The course also covers interpersonal skills including how to manage and motivate staff and the establishment of ongoing working relationships that work well for both the employer and employee."
Training is led by management consultant Dr Nollaig Heffernan and delivered by co-ordinators from the Lakeland Dairies-Teagasc joint programme and representatives from the Workplace Relations Commission.
One in three employ staff
A recent survey of Lakeland milk suppliers found that one third currently employ staff, most of them part-time.
The farmers in the region plan to expand milk production by 5% on average every year to 2022 and "the benefits of additional labour far outweigh the possible stress of ‘going it alone’ which can, in itself, constrain the progress and success of a growing farm," said Duignan.
The course is one of four organised by Macra Skillnet, Teagasc and dairy co-ops, with Aurivo, Dairygold and Kerry also offering labour management training this year.
It runs for one day a week over four weeks at a cost of €100 to each farmer, thanks to subsidies from the co-ops.
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