Protecting Your Operation

Protecting Your Operation. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Last Friday we began a discussion with Washington Farm Labor Association’s Dan Fazio regarding a recent article highlighting sexual harassment and assaults in the ag industry. And while there aren’t any more cases reported in the ag industry than any other it is important for employers to protect themselves.

FAZIO: Washington Farm labor Association has a complete program for compliance. We have model policies, on-site training, webinars, investigations, mediations, etc. and they’re all available at our website. And I will say the agriculture employers from what I’ve seen in Washington State have stepped up.

Fazio also says there are some factual inaccuracies in the article.

FAZIO: They talk about low income clients in agriculture not having access to legal services or legal representation and that’s absolutely false. It’s well documented that farm worker in Washington has better access to excellent free legal assistance than a retail worker in Seattle.

If you wind up with a report of harassment or abuse Fazio says to immediately call the police.

FAZIO: It was kind of unfortunate that this case happened in Washington State but they interviewed a lot of people and talked about a problem that is a problem in America.

If you want more information regarding their training programs visit their website at wafla.org.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.