Maintenance Laborer

Work description

Temporary Need Statement I. Background Infinity Property Solutions LLC dba Countywide Landscape (established in 2008) is a Downingtown, PA- based employer engaged primarily in Landscape Contracting. We have a temporary, seasonal need for 5 workers to be employed as Maintenance Laborers (SOC 37-2011.00 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). While we are an established H-2B program user, this is our first time seeking to employ Maintenance Laborers using the program. Historically, we have relied on temporary U.S. workers to meet our seasonal labor needs for snow removal. In recent years, however, we have found it difficult to locate a sufficient number of qualified and available U.S. workers to fill the job positions, and have thus turned to the H-2B program. II. Regulatory Standards Per the regulations, a seasonal labor need is one in which the employers need for services or labor is traditionally tied to a season of the year by an event or pattern and is of a recurring nature. Employment is not considered seasonal if the period during which the services or labor is not needed is unpredictable or subject to change, or is considered a vacation period for the employers permanent employees. The request for seasonal workers must also represent bona fide job opportunities for the number of workers requested. III. Temporary Need A. Period of Need Infinity Property Solutions LLC dba Countywide Landscape is a veteran-owned landscaping and lawn care company headquartered in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2008, we have over 15 years of experience providing professional landscaping and lawn care and maintenance services to residential and commercial customers throughout Chester County, Delaware County, and the surrounding communities. It is important to note at the outset that this H-2B application pertains exclusively to our winter snow operations and the Maintenance Laborers requested herein are employed solely for that purpose. Our Landscaping and Lawn Care activities, performed during the fair-weather months of March through November, are carried out by a separate workforce and are not at issue in this application. The seasonal pattern described below therefore reflects the labor needs specific to winter operations, which, by nature, is tied to the winter season. Our labor need is tied to the requested period of need by both natural factors such as sunlight, weather, and temperature, as well as fluctuations in consumer demand and other market conditions throughout the year. This pattern is both predictable and recurring and is not a vacation period for our permanent employees. Our seasonal demand for Maintenance Laborers begins in December, when average temperatures in the Chester, Pennsylvania area drop to levels that produce sustained snowfall and icy conditions. Historical climate data for the area confirms that average temperatures fall to 23-40F in winter months, with 34 inches of average monthly snowfall (Figures 1-2 below). These conditions trigger the onset of snow removal activity and a corresponding surge in customer demand for our winter maintenance services. (Continued on attachment)