News Release

Farmworkers Love Their Jobs, Study Finds

Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of California - Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources

A University of California Cooperative Extension study found that farmworkers generally have positive attitudes towards their employment.

"Farmworkers love their jobs," said Gregory Encina Billikopf, the labor management farm advisor who conducted the research. "In the past, farm work has not been highly regarded in some circles, but the people who do it really like it.

Billikopf's conclusions are based on 1995 interviews with 265 seasonal and year-round workers in numerous Northern San Joaquin Valley agricultural operations. His report is published in the Jan./Feb. 1999 issue of California Agriculture magazine. It is the third in a series of articles reporting worker feelings and preferences.

For the most recent analysis, jobs were rated by farmworkers on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being terrible and 5 fantastic. On average, farmworkers rated their present jobs a 4. Crew workers and other field workers, such as irrigators and equipment operators, rated their jobs a 3.9, while dairy personnel rated theirs a 4.4.

"I would challenge any industry to do better in terms of worker ratings," Billikopf said. "It's wrong to talk derisively about farm work. Just because most of us are not accustomed to manual labor, it is not right to assume that farm work is demeaning. Farm work is honorable, and farmworkers have an attitude of gratitude toward it."

The positive feedback from farmworkers does not mean their jobs are perfect, Billikopf said. The study, which collected responses from workers that have clocked a total of nearly 3,000 years of farm work experience, includes suggestions on ways that jobs can be improved, notably through respectful treatment and higher wages.

Workers value foremen and crew leaders who do not put on airs of superiority, according to the study. They want to be spoken to in a calm way, and are offended by scolding, harsh words, shouting, anger, quick speech and finger snapping.

In keeping with Mexican customs, workers said they feel appreciated when the farm employer organizes an end-of-season meal.

"The ingredients should be provided by the farmer and the meal preparation should be left up to the workers, who will spice it up to their liking," Billikopf said.

For the most part, workers had positive comments about their employers. Said one subject, "¡Este patrón es una maravilla!" (roughly translated as "This boss is marvelous!"). One of the study subjects cherished the words of acknowledgement, although ungrammatical, he received from his grower-supervisor: "Mexicano mucho bueno."

Billikopf said conducting the survey of farmworker feelings, especially in the area of interpersonal relations, has paid him personal dividends.

"I found myself making some behavioral changes as a result of this study," he said.

Billikopf concludes the article with a list of recommendations for farm employers, where he suggests they show enthusiasm for the work, be friendly and treat themselves as "working people," compliment worker successes, be attentive to worker needs, and establish and maintain a job safety program.

He said farmworkers expect cold water and clean toilets near their work area. They value proper equipment and supplies (such as goggles and dust masks when working in dusty conditions) and training on job tasks. But above all, workers value supervisors who treat them with respect.

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For a copy of the magazine issue with Billikopf's article, send name and address to California Agriculture magazine, University of California, 1111 Franklin Ave., 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607-5200. For more information, contact Billikopf at 209-525-6800, gebillikopfucdavis.edu. This and earlier research reports on agricultural labor management are available at http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/7grisha.htm.



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