Agriculture comprises about 12% of employment in Canada,[1] representative of an active food supply chain ramping up to feed a growing planet.

But farmers and agribusinesses suffer from a shortage of workers, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability of migrant workers to cross into Canada for seasonal work.

Typically, immigrants have accounted for up to 75% of the agricultural labour force.[2] However, agribusinesses and farmers have struggled to find enough workers, as volatile commodity pricing and the physical rigours of the job have discouraged second-generation Canadian farmers and immigrant children from working in agriculture.

And the high demand and low supply is driving something previously unheard in the industry: the expansion of employee benefits for labour-intensive agribusiness jobs.

Using voluntary benefits to attract workers

When considering voluntary benefits, it’s important to begin by understanding where your employees fit within the provincial healthcare system. Make sure you can answer questions such as:

  • Are my workers eligible for provincial care?
  • Is there a waiting period?
  • Is there a gap in coverage?

Voluntary benefits are free for businesses to offer (in other words, the workers pay the bill). Even so, workers in agriculture still consider voluntary benefits an attractive perk, as they can access benefits that might otherwise be out of reach.

Common voluntary benefits for agribusiness workers include:

  • Supplemental health plans
  • Dental plans
  • Critical illness and disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Dental and vision coverage
  • Identity theft protection
  • Discounts on non-insured products and services

Customized for the population and designed to be affordable and add value, voluntary benefits help employers reduce turnover and stay competitive without added costs.

Foreign workers may be eligible for provincial coverage, but a voluntary benefits program can help to bridge the gap that might leave them at risk for catastrophic claims. These benefits are portable, so employees have access to them even in the off-season, when they may not be employed by the agribusiness.

In short, a voluntary benefits program offers benefits that all employees can appreciate and enjoy. And the care they feel from their employer helps them to remain connected.

Offering a voluntary benefits package to agribusiness workers creates a win-win situation. It provides much-needed benefits to the employees, who feel supported and cared for — and the employer winds up with a healthier, happier workforce.

Contact your HUB Agribusiness expert for more information and insights on leveraging benefits for employees.

 

[1]Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, Canada’s Agriculture Sector Labour Market Forecast to 2025, accessed September 8, 2021.

[2]Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, Agriculture 2025: How the Sector’s Labour Challenges Will Shape Its Future, accessed September 8, 2021.