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Employer's Life

Home /Grooms life/That is just how it is

That is just how it is

Lucy Katan, Executive Director of the Equestrian Employers Association shares her thoughts about changing attitudes and the importance of Good Employment Week.

'That is just how it is when you work with horses’ - a phrase I have heard hundreds of times over the past fifteen years since forming the British Grooms Association.

However, I think and I hope, that I am hearing it less and less - which is good news.

I am a social entrepreneur – that means that I want to ‘see and bring about change for my community'.

If I, and the rest of the team working at the British Grooms Association (BGA) and the Equestrian Employers Association (EEA) sat back and accepted the above phrase, the change would never happen.


We passionately believe that everyone who works has the right to be employed legally, fairly and kindly, and the equestrian industry is no exception.

Good Employment Week (GEW) is our annual occasion where we raise the awareness of the importance of employing staff in a ‘Good’ manner.

Times have changed in our equestrian sector. Although I acknowledge that it is not perfect yet, progress has happened and the pace of change is increasing.



So, what is Good Employment?

This is a phrase that I kind of made up!

However, for me it encompasses everything that I experienced in just one position when I was working as a groom:

I had the correct employment status and a written statement of terms of employment (contract) before I started the job. I was paid correctly for every hour I worked, I received payslips, had my tax and NI paid, my pension was set up and paid into and I was always paid on time.

My salary was reviewed annually, and I had key performance deliverables that resulted in a small annual bonus.

The holiday was planned at the beginning of the year, and we were positively encouraged to take all 28 days. We rarely worked extra hours, but when we did, we were paid overtime or given time off in lieu.

We felt valued as a team and thanks to regular team meetings and 1-1 appraisals I didn’t feel frightened to share any issues or how I was feeling. This really was the very best job I ever had, and it stuck with me forevermore.

This highlights that, even all those years ago, equestrian employers COULD and still CAN run a successful business

Do you employ your staff like this?

The simple question is if not, why not?



Employers, we are here to help. Please use the EEA to be compliant and to adhere to Good Employment – it really does make good business sense and is easy!

Protecting your business is vital and this starts with Good Employment. If you are unsure where to begin then the EEA’s Code of Employment is a great place to start.


GIVE YOUR STAFF A PIZZA DAY

'Give your Staff a Pizza Day' was also my idea, and this derived from another great employment position that I previously held.

Many years after I ceased working hands-on with horses, I was a PA in a company. Once every so often, and without much warning, the boss asked me to treat the staff (35 of them) to pizza on a Friday lunchtime.

I would simply order the pizzas and then send out an all-staff email at midday saying “Pizza arriving in 30 mins” – I could hear all the individual office rooms whoop with delight at the surprise.

This simple effort, which really didn’t cost much in the big scheme of things, brought the team together and really was an appreciated thank you.

I always witnessed the following Monday the team come into work with a spring in their step and with a positive feeling towards their work, the company and their boss!

This year’s Give your Staff a Pizza Day was the biggest yet, with yards from all sectors joining in.

It was really lovely to see how it was embraced from the well-known equestrians like Carl Hester and Piggy March, to riding schools, hunt yards and many more.

 

Let’s together make this phrase “That is just how it is when you work with horses”…. a positive statement meaning that when you work with horses you are only ever employed with Good Employment.

We get that it is not easy, but we are committed to bringing about this change with you - the real question is... are you?

 



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