The labor shortage continues to affect landscape companies’ ability to grow and thrive. In preparing for the busy spring season, managers and owners continue to face the threat of employees being lured away to other companies.   

When one landscape business noticed that a few reliable seasonal employees had not returned this year, they identified a pattern. They soon learned that one employee had left for a competitor, and that new employer was offering incentives for employee referrals.  

When a fourth team member announced his resignation, “we were able to talk with the employee. After the department manager had a few meetings with him about the direction of the company and his place in it, [they] talked about a career ladder, and with an unplanned pay increase, we were able to get that employee to stay,” explains the HR manager at the affected company. 

Colorado landscape companies have reported instances of business owners entering a job site and offering crews work elsewhere. One ALCC member noted that, due to a positive work culture where their team is happy on the job, employees have let them know about the recruiter and even shared a business card. Managers have contacted the “poacher” and asked them not to enter their job sites. 

A valuable tactic to avoid losing employees to competitors is to “build trust and a good work environment.” As one recruiter told us, “We know [recruiting by competitors] is happening because our employees tell us.” 

After having employees stolen, some leaders also see an opportunity to improve company culture. “I expect that as the labor shortage goes on, poaching is going to become an increasing problem. For now, we're trying to infuse greater transparency into our culture so we all know where we stand with each other,” one HR manager explained.