What’s Holding You Back from Utilizing the TN Visa Program to Grow Your Team?
When it comes to looking for potential candidates from Mexico to come work on your farm, there are many things to think about and consider before you make the move. During the Ohio Pork Congress, Victor Ochoa of Swineworks answered some of the big questions on producers’ minds.
Q. What’s the most important thing you need to know before embarking on the process to hire an international employee?
A. First, you have to identify what position you want to fill. Why? There are many visa options that can bring over workers, but you need to determine what kind of position you need to fill so you can identify what type of visa you're going to use to qualify the candidate. Then, determine how many positions you will need and how often.
Q. What makes an appealing job offer for employees from Mexico?
A. When you create a job offer, 401K programs and insurances are not top of mind for employees from Mexico. To be honest, they are not thinking about the future that much. They are thinking about work-life balance. So, when you are structuring your offer and benefit package, more time off is often a bigger benefit than a 401K program or health insurance. They're more attracted to the wages than the benefits.
Q. Why is housing such an important consideration before bringing in employees from Mexico?
A. Remember, the majority of these potential employees won’t know anybody when they come here from Mexico. Make sure you can help them with housing for at least the first two to three months. We recommend hiring more than one employee at a time so they can share a house and don't feel so isolated and lonely.
Q. How much should I pay a TN Visa worker?
A. Just because they have a college degree doesn't mean you have to overpay for TN workers, my advice is always to pay the same wages you are paying your current employees, that way you create a healthy work environment for your current and new employees. In the other hand we are in a very competitive labor market so in order to compete with other industries we need to be creative not necessarily in their wage but in your benefit package for example: housing and time off is sometimes more attractive than 401 k and health insurance for some TN visa worker.
Q. What are some of the challenges this could cause your current team?
A. Keep your current crew in mind when you bring in workers on TN visas. Make sure you talk with your current crew, because they may feel threatened by these new workers if they come with more education. They will need to train new workers who don't know how to do things at the farm. It can create some problems if you pay new workers more because they come with a TN Visa. You have to take care of all of your employees and set your expectations straight.
Q. How do dependents fit into the picture when you bring someone over on a TN visa?
A. Dependents can come over with their family member who is on a TN visa. However, with the typically lower salaries in the swine industry, it’s going to be very hard for one person to support an entire family in the U.S. Often, they leave their families in Mexico until they figure out the cost of living in the U.S. That’s another reason why time off to see family is of such great value in the job offer.
Q. What’s one of the most important lessons you’ve learned about hiring international employees?
A. Plan ahead. I always call my clients and say, ‘Hey, are you okay with staffing?’ And they say, ‘Yeah, we don't need any more people.’ Then, they call me later to say two of their employees quit and they need someone right away. Consider your turnover rate and how many replacements you may need. Immigration can take 2-6 months to get people to the U.S. If you have a plan in place, it’s going to be easier for you to avoid being short staffed for a long time.
Read more:
7 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring Workers from Mexico
