THE LETTER
WIBBEN DETASSELING COMPANY
Cale Wibben Sarah Nowlen
PO Box 117 Emden IL 62635 Phone and text (217) 376-3230 Alt (217) 671-2724
email - wcale@yahoo.com
Higher pay rates are based on attendance and are earned by attending work!
Under 18 starts at $10.50 Over 18 starts at $13.00
Perfect attendance $13.00/hr Perfect attendance $14.00/hr
Miss 1 day $12.50/hr Miss 1 day $13.50/hr
Miss 2 days $12.00/hr Miss 2 days $13.00/hr
Miss 3 days $11.50/hr
Hourly attendance rates are paid for all field hours. Not completing the work day (clocking out early) may count against your attendance pay rate. You are still paid for hours worked if you clock out early.
Crew boss ~ $1.00/hour. Workers will receive an additional $1.00 per hour additional pay for crew boss hours. Crew boss positions will be filled on a daily basis from the worker pool. These positions are not necessarily filled with the fastest pullers. A good crew boss is much more than a good puller. They are responsible for the physical well being of their crew as well as their morale. They are accountable for the quality and the quantity of their crew's work. They must be a teacher, a supervisor, a leader, and a friend to their crew. Crew bosses are also responsible for general behavior on the bus. Crew bosses are expected to monitor, address, and if necessary, report inappropriate behavior or issues on the bus.
Hiring and Pay ~ We will hire returning employees from 2022 first, then in order of completed applications, based on availability and at our discretion. We communicate extensively through our website, and on Facebook. Names of employees with completed applications will be posted on the website, under the “Paperwork Complete” tab, in an abbreviated form, such as “Jane S****“ for Jane Smith. The list will be updated on Sundays throughout June and July, until field work begins. Please check the website, www.wibbendetasseling.com, daily after 6 PM during the work season to see if there are any changes to the schedule. We highly recommend that you friend us on Facebook so that you can be up to date on daily happenings. When contacting us on Facebook please do so in a private message, otherwise we might miss your comment and not be able to answer you!
Workers will be paid directly by Wibben Detasseling. We operate on a 2 week pay period, which starts the day we start field work. The first paycheck will be mailed. Final payday will be 5 days after the season ends. We will hand out paychecks at designated sign up locations. If you can’t pick your check up, we will mail it to you. Attendance pay and crew boss pay will be paid on the final check. We keep detailed records of daily hours worked by each employee, but we also recommend that you keep track of your hours for your own information. Your daily and weekly total hours are displayed on the tablet when you clock out daily. Hours are posted on the buses periodically, or you can call or Facebook message any time with questions about your hours. Workers are paid field time from the time you start work in the first field till the time you finish work in the last field, minus a half hour for lunch. Water and snack breaks are paid. Travel time between fields is always paid, unless on lunch.
Average work day
We work 7 days a week, rain or shine. (If there is a thunderstorm or severe weather, we will wait for it to pass then return to work). We arrive at the field and begin work at or just before 7:00. We try to work in the field until about 1:30-3:00. Some days may be a little later, and some days may be a little earlier. The fields are 30 minutes to 1 hour from the pickup spots, so on the average day workers will be returning to their pickup spot approximately between 2:00 and 4:00. Every day is different depending on how much work we have for the day, the location and the weather, but this is our goal!
Bus Travel
We offer courtesy shuttle bus transportation to and from the fields on a daily basis.
Bus Conduct
All employees must ride the bus to the field. No personal vehicles are allowed. No parental drop off or pickup allowed at the field. (Arrangements can be made in emergencies). While on the bus, your driver is your boss, as is your crew boss. Respect them. Stay in your seat and keep the aisles clear. Pick up your trash, on the bus and at the pickup spots. Good behavior on the bus and at the pickup spots is just as important as when in the field. Excessive rowdiness, inappropriate subject matter or language, roughhousing, or smoking (cigarettes or electronic) will all lead to immediate dismissal. If the driver has to stop the bus to talk to you, or reports you to us, you will not receive a second chance. No amplified music or speakers allowed on buses. Head phones are required when listening to music or playing games on the bus.
Covid safety
Hand washing facilities are easily available at all times, as is hand sanitizer. High touch surfaces are cleaned throughout the day, and at the end of every day. Restroom facilities are sanitized regularly. Unnecessary physical contact such as hugging and handshaking are still discouraged. At this time, masks are optional on the bus and in the field. Mandatory masking and other Covid measures may be implemented again at any time, in accordance with federal and local guidelines.
The Job
Each worker is assigned a row. Workers walk through the field, pull the tassels (top flower part of the plant) and drop them on the ground. Never throw them. Your crew boss and field supervisor will teach you what a tassel is. It usually takes a couple days to learn, by your 3rd day you should know what you are looking for. If you don't understand what to look for, ask for a refresher course. The standard is very simple: if a plant still has a tassel in it, pull it out. As the season progresses, so should your speed. Stay with your crew at all times, and know your crew boss’s name. Crew bosses, know your crew members’ names! Breaks for restroom, drinks, snack break and lunch are taken as a crew. If you come out of the field and don’t see your crew, stay right by your row until a supervisor gives you instructions. Never wander away!
Detasseling can be a lot of fun. It’s a great chance to gain valuable work experience, to make money, and to meet new friends. However, it is also a physically demanding job. Job requirements for the 2023 season are as follows: You must be able to walk long distances, up to 7 miles a day, on uneven terrain. You must be prepared to work all day in weather extremes such as cold mornings, hot afternoons, rain and mud. You must be able to stand and walk for up to 7 hours, excluding lunches and breaks. Everyone is expected to work the entire work day. Clocking out before the work day is done can count against your attendance pay rate. Clocking out early just because you are hot, tired, hungry or unprepared is not acceptable and can jeopardize your job. This is not meant to scare you, just to let you know what is expected so that you can be prepared for the job.
If you see something dangerous or inappropriate, tell your supervisor. If you have a problem on the job, physical or mental, tell your supervisor. We can’t correct it if we don’t know about it. Report any injury immediately, no matter how minor.
Poor attitude, inappropriate language, cursing and inappropriate subject matter can jeopardize your job.
Following are a few things that will not be tolerated and will lead to immediate job termination: • Absolutely no alcohol or drugs will be tolerated - zero tolerance for marijuana regardless of the legality
• No belligerent behavior
• No fighting or attempting to start a fight
• No tampering with anyone else's possessions, especially lunches
• No smoking of cigarettes or vapes, on the buses or in the field – Under 21, no smoking allowed, over 21, smoking allowed on lunch and breaks.
• No harassment of any sort
• No excessive rowdiness, horseplay, or insubordination, in the field or on the bus
• No cursing or profanity
• No throwing of tassels or anything else at any time
Wibben Detasseling strives to create a safe and inclusive workplace environment. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. If you feel that you have been a victim of harassment or discrimination, please report it immediately. Employees can make reports directly to our reporting hotline at 217-671-2723. Please see our full harassment policy, contact information, and definitions on our website, www.wibbendetasseling.com, under the harassment policy heading.
