Hey everyone! I'm hoping to get some input on a situation I'm facing at work. I'm employed by a property management company where I take care of the landscaping for multiple locations. One of these places is a housing estate with quite a bit of ground to cover: curbsides, greens, and a playing field. My employer expects me to finish the job in just one day, but since it's over an hour drive each way, they don't want to pay for four trips. The problem is that I only have a push mower, specifically a Honda GCV, and while mowing the area, I realized I'm actually covering about 12 miles in a day, which is really exhausting. This is my second gardening job; at the last one, we had the right equipment for larger jobs. Now I'm questioning if such a demanding workload is reasonable or if I'm just being overly sensitive. What do you all think?
2 Answers
Your employer is obligated to provide a safe working environment, so it’s essential to bring this up with them. If they’re asking too much and you end up getting injured or burnt out, they’ll face bigger issues. You might want to ask for better tools or ensure your workload is manageable each time you go there. Also, consider joining a union; they can offer tons of support and advice on what’s reasonable in terms of physical labor.
You might want to check out some better equipment options, like a petrol strimmer or even a ride-on mower for those larger areas. If it feels like too much work for one visit, then it’s totally okay to speak up about it. Remember, there are plenty of gardening jobs out there if this one isn’t working for you!
Thanks for your insight! I hadn't thought about the health and safety angle before. I'm considering joining a union, too, but I felt overwhelmed by the options. Any suggestions on good unions for horticulture workers?