What are your Workamper® staffing challenges?

Do you use work campers? How do you recruit them? What makes a good staff member? How do you qualify them and what can be done when things go wrong?

A big part of making our RV lifestyle a reality is finding parks that need work campers. Those individuals or couples who are willing to work at the park they stay at on a full-time or part-time basis in exchange for their site, monetary compensation or a combination of both.

My wife and I have work-camped at a few RV parks over the years and we found no two are alike. Our latest gig at Turtle Rock RV Resort in Gold Beach Oregon was a new experience for us. Located on a beautiful stretch of the southern Oregon coast, it is considered both a destination location and a pass-through park when traveling the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway.

Talking with the Park Manager I learned that staffing the resort with the right type of people isn’t easy. And with more than 24 workampers on site during their season she knows a thing or two on the subject. I saw first-hand how important it is to research a prospective employee before hiring.

Workamper.com for finding opportunities and providing some protection for RV parks

In my opinion Workamping.com is a great tool – not only for the worker but also the employer. Being clear on what is expected from both sides is critical for a positive experience. With Workamper.com I am able to find opportunities from ads the parks run. I also like reading what others write about their experience workamping at the park. But equally important is the ability for the RV park to report on their experience with the the workers.

Pitfalls of hiring work campers

Before beginning our workamping time another couple had come to the park asking about volunteering for their site. They were hired but soon turned out to be a nightmare. They systematically got themselves fired by not doing what they were asked, then refused to leave! These folks knew what they were doing. They quickly hired an attorney to prolong their stay. It was miserable not only for the manager, but also affected the moral of the other hard-working workers who felt bad for the manager and anger towards the bad apples.

When they finally left they did it in the middle of the night. The following morning the manager contacted other RV parks in the area to warn them about these crooks. I could not help but think that if they were hired from the Workamper website she could have alerted them and other RV parks across the country to be aware of this couple and what they were doing.

Enticing the right workers for your Park

Another challenge this manager shared with me is recruiting. Finding people to work in this remote location is challenging in the winter. She often wonders what she could offer to get more workers in the off season.

Help your fellow RV park owners and managers

Just as this park manager reached out to her other local parks to warn them, I encourage you to share your experiences with other park managers and owners right here. Together we are stronger. How do you go about hiring work campers? What tried and true tips do you have for other RV parks? Share your experiences and read about others by leaving a comment.