Top Pitfalls to Avoid in Your H-2A Program

Key Takeaways from Our Recent Webinar

Thank you to everyone who joined our live session, Foundations of a Successful H-2A Program: Top Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them. If you missed it—or want a quick refresher—we’ve highlighted the most common mistakes that can derail an H-2A program and how to avoid them.

Most Common H-2A Pitfalls

From Enrique Gastelum, CEO of Wafla:

• Poor Planning and Late Filing
  Filing too close to your date of need can delay approvals and worker arrivals. Start planning 6+ months ahead.

• Incomplete or Inaccurate Contracts
  Missing job sites, duties, or HR policies can lead to contract rejections or violations. Ensure your job order is clear and complete.

• Housing Compliance Issues
  Licensing requirements, water testing, and occupancy rules are strict—and vary by state. Don’t file before confirming you can get licensed.

• Neglecting U.S. Worker Protections
  H-2A is a U.S. worker protection program first. You must recruit and consider qualified domestic workers up to 50% of the contract.

• Undisclosed Bonuses or Pay Structures
  Offering unlisted bonuses or incentives—even with good intentions—can result in fines for discouraging U.S. applicants.

• Undertrained Supervisors
  Violations often stem from supervisors who don’t understand the contract or labor laws. Provide regular training for all frontline leads.

• Weak Recordkeeping
  Maintain accurate pay, hour, and housing records for at least 3 years. This is often where audits and penalties happen.

From Diego Rodriguez, Director of H-2A Recruiting at Ganaz:

• Unvetted or Unethical Recruiters
  Employers are liable for recruitment fees charged to workers—even if you didn’t know. Vet your partners and have written agreements.

• Lack of Transparency with Workers
  If workers arrive without understanding the job, housing, or hours, it leads to low morale, turnover, or early abandonment.

• Hiring Blindly Without Screening
  Workers without the physical ability, experience, or motivation to meet job demands may not stay the season—or may underperform.

Access Resources

• ▶️ Watch the Webinar Recording

• 📑 View Wafla’s Slides

• 📄 Download the Ganaz Presentation

Questions or Need Support?

Reach out directly to our experts:

Enrique Gastelum
CEO, Wafla
📧 egastelum@wafla.org

Want to see how Ganaz can help you build a stronger, more compliant H-2A program? Request a Demo →