New Employee Onboarding

First Day

Day one is paperwork, gear, and orientation. Complete your I-9 verification, tax forms, and handbook acknowledgment first. Then meet your crew leader, supervisor, and crew. You will receive your PPE (safety glasses, gloves, ear protection) and walk through every piece of equipment on the trailer — mowers, trimmers, blowers, edgers. Tour the shop so you know where tools, fuel, chemicals, and supplies are stored. Review your assigned vehicle and trailer loading procedures. Set up direct deposit through Gusto and save all emergency contacts plus your crew leader's number in your phone. Finish the day with initial safety training covering chemical handling and heat illness prevention.

First Week Goals

Shadow an experienced crew member on at least three different job sites. Practice proper startup, operation, and shutdown of every piece of assigned equipment under supervision — no solo operation until your crew leader signs off. Learn the daily pre-trip vehicle inspection and complete one independently. Study client property expectations: mowing patterns, trimming standards, cleanup procedures. Get familiar with the daily checklist and end-of-day reporting. Review the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every chemical your crew carries. Complete all required training modules and set up a regular check-in schedule with your crew leader for feedback.

First 30 Days

By day 30, you should operate all standard equipment safely without someone standing over you. If you are on a treatment crew, demonstrate proper chemical application technique. Follow safety protocols consistently — PPE, hydration, buddy system. Meet the quality standards for mowing, edging, trimming, and cleanup on every property. You will have a 30-day performance review with your supervisor to discuss progress and next steps.

Your Starting Rank & Career Path

All new hires begin as a Trainee — the entry-level field rank. As a Trainee, you wear a green shirt and work under direct supervision until you complete the required training and evaluation milestones. Once you pass, you are promoted to Crew Member (red shirt) and cleared for independent field work. From there, the path continues to Crew Lead, Supervisor, and Manager based on performance and operational need.

The company uses a defined 9-tier role structure covering every position from Applicant through Owner. Each role has specific responsibilities, authority, and criteria for moving to the next level. To understand the full hierarchy — including what each role does, who they report to, and what it takes to advance — read the [Roles & Hierarchy](/roles-hierarchy) page under HR Policies.