Solving Seasonal Labor Shortages
How to staff and grow your Lawn and Landscape business through the H-2B Program
The Covid-19 pandemic brought on the worst labor shortage in the U.S. since the Great Depression, however the inability to retain qualified and available workers is no stranger to the Lawn and Landscape Industry.
Each year, lawn and landscape employers increasingly report that despite extensive advertising and offering competitive wages and working conditions, they struggle to hire workers. Those they do hire frequently fail to show up for work, quit shortly afterward, or report to work under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
It’s no secret that a qualified, dependable workforce is key to growing your lawn and landscape business and can offer a better work-life balance. If you are tired of falling short on contractual obligations, endangering your reputation, or working overtime hours that could be better spent with friends and family, the H-2B Program might be the perfect solution.
What is the H-2B Program?
The H-2B Program allows employers to hire foreign workers to perform seasonal labor in the U.S. The Lawn and Landscape Industry by far is the leading user of the program, advertising upwards of 85,000 positions each year.
Benefits of the H-2B Program
- Get workers you can count on
- Increase productivity
- Improve work-life balance
- Expand revenue by on average upwards of 33%
- Legal workforce, Peace of mind
- Grow jobs, grow communities
How do I qualify?
An employer must demonstrate to the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security that it needs workers on a temporary basis, usually tied to a particular season of the year, to qualify for the program. It must also prove that there are not enough U.S. workers willing and available to fill the job opportunity.
Payroll records showing labor fluctuations, contracts or schedules of service depicting seasonality are some examples of compelling evidence that will help qualify your business for the program.
Steps to Grow your Business through the H-2B Program
1. Find a qualified consultant or immigration attorney – An experienced consultant like Aztec H2 Labor Experts that is familiar with ever-changing program nuances is paramount to your success in the program.
2. Strategize filing options – Since there are a limited number of visas issued each year, being willing to participate in a number of filing strategies will only maximize your chances of obtaining the workers you need when you need them.
3. Be patient – Sometimes it takes a season or two to weed through workers before you find your “A-team”.
4. Invest in your crew – Once you find a good crew, be sure to invest in company culture and incentives, like offering more hours or rewarding good behavior by bringing family members.
5. Maximize your free time - Spending less time in field operations, you can now take time to strategically plan sales, marketing and administrative activities to grow your business.
6. Grow the local workforce- Having the right workers to manage will free up higher level jobs in management that might interest local US workers so that you can give back to the local workforce. Each H-2B worker supports 4.64 American jobs.
Get Started Now for your 2025 Season
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