A new employee is often left to his/her own devices. Observe new personnel closely during the initial six to eight weeks. What exactly does this introductory period involve? What should new pickers know and be able to perform?
Write down what you expect the new picker to know. List the points and describe them for yourself. Also make a time frame to indicate when a new picker should be proficient at a certain task. For example, thinning on Mondays harvesting a third flush without damage, correctly harvesting three mushrooms per hand, posture dry/wet, bubble hygiene, house rules etc.
It is not only important to know what or how to do something but also when. Try to indicate just how detailed the knowledge should be. Also note the expected picking rate after a certain time and what you consider the word ‘quality’ to mean.
Marc Maas, C point
