WCMA Launches Free Employee Onboarding Videos for Dairy Processors
A new, five-part series of onboarding videos designed for the dairy processing industry is now available at no cost at WisCheeseMakers.org/free-onboarding-videos. The series was produced by Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) with generous industry support from partners the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin; sponsors Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Emmi Roth, Great Lakes Cheese, and Wapsie Valley Creamery; and contributors Specialty Cheese Company and Westby Cooperative Creamery.
"As the nation’s labor shortage presses on, a diverse set of recruitment and training tools is critical for any employer - especially in an industry tasked with supplying the world with safe, nutritious foods,” said WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy Rebekah Sweeney. “We’re pleased to offer these new, free resources to support their valued employees with the knowledge and encouragement they need to be successful in their new career.”
The series is currently available in English, with Hmong and Spanish versions set to be released in February. Ranging in runtime from approximately seven to nine minutes, each video focuses on a key concept new dairy processing employees will experience during their first days on the job:
- Episode 1: Welcome to the Dairy Industry
- Episode 2: Dairy Processing Basics
- Episode 3: Culture of Excellence
- Episode 4: Safety and Sanitation Essentials
- Episode 5: Grow With Us in Dairy
“This series goes beyond the basics of personal and product safety on the job, with perspectives and encouragement from industry peers to remind new employees that they’re joining a diverse, welcoming work environment, full of growth opportunities,” added Sweeney.
With the goal of supporting employee retention, as well as basic training, videos are most impactful for viewing within the first several weeks of a new hire’s start. A short quiz with an answer key for managers accompanies each episode to help employees exercise their learnings and set goals for the future.
In addition to the onboarding series, WCMA is also debuting a new free recruitment tool at WisCheeseMakers.org/news/career-opportunities designed to help attract new employees to the U.S. dairy processing workforce. The video showcases the wide range of dynamic career opportunities available in the industry, with compelling benefits such as flexible scheduling, competitive compensation, opportunities for advancement, and more.
This free video onboarding series is the latest in WCMA’s broad array of workforce resources, developed with input from the Association’s active Workforce & Education Committee. Members enjoy access to on-call staff support, highly-rated leadership trainings, informative webinars, a free online jobs board, dairy-focused job fairs, and scholarships for students pursuing careers in the dairy industry. Those interested in joining WCMA’s Workforce & Education Committee should contact Rebekah Sweeney.