Many construction companies view their workers as plug-and-play solutions. For example, you’ll hire a bricklayer and you’ll expect that person to complete a certain number of square feet each day. However, in real-world situations, numerous factors can hinder employees’ productivity.
Besides being an arduous, physical job, construction projects are often dependent on logistics. When materials are running late, you have no other choice but to reschedule daily tasks. This can push back things that have to be completed today in favor of non-urgent activities.
Furthermore, your workers might get sick, but they may still have to come to work nonetheless. They will charge you full daily wage but will only produce half of that. Even worse, some of them might try to steal time by using a buddy-punching system.
Whatever the case might be, foremen have to understand these potential problems and address them the right way. In this article, we’ll talk about the biggest challenges and what to do in each situation.
1. Time Theft
The construction industry is notorious for time theft. Being such a hard, physical job, many employees cut corners as soon as their bosses turn their backs. To make matters worse, you probably shouldn’t penalize your crew, given the significant shortage of construction workers.
The best way to address time theft is to introduce construction time tracking apps. These programs monitor the location of each person, showing you whether everyone’s accounted for when the shift comes to an end. Besides mobile apps, there are also digital punch-in clocks that use employees’ biometrics.
The other way to counter time theft is by introducing quotas. Each person should be responsible for a certain number of square feet or rooms on a daily basis. Those who go above the quota should receive bonuses, while others will have their wages reduced.
2. Long Breaks
Depending on the work tempo, you might have one or two breaks during the day. These breaks might last 30 minutes (for lunch) or 15 minutes (for coffee and smokes). Unfortunately, although there is a time limit, most crews add 5 to 10 minutes to the clock.
The biggest issue with breaks is that they don’t affect all workers the same. Some of your crew members will be able to go to work and recuperate lost time. Others, especially those lacking skill, might not be productive. Longer breaks will effectively prevent them from meeting their quotas, which is detrimental to both them and your company.
As crews usually eat together, not everyone will reach the meeting point at the same time. Therefore, it is hard to determine when the break actually started, which prevents accurate tracking. The best you can do in these situations is to assign a person who will track the length of the break and rush employees to their stations.
3. Drug Testing
Over the decades, crew testing has become much more serious. Back in the day, workers could come to the construction site drunk, endangering themselves and others. Just to have a better understanding of the problem, 12% of construction workers are alcoholics compared to 7.5% of the country’s average.
Luckily, this is a thing of the past. Construction companies have started drug testing their crews for illicit substances, pushing down the usage numbers. We recommend that you introduce these tests on a more frequent basis, so you can not only comply with the legislation but also increase construction site productivity.
Many companies have even started using HR software such as Viewpoint to streamline these tests. With this program, you can monitor employees’ results over time and notify foremen prior to tests. You can share the workflow with your crew so they’re better acquainted with the process and understand what is expected from them.
4. PTOs
Another reason why construction companies lose productivity is the frequent PTOs and sick leaves. Absenteeism is a major issue within the industry, with 60% of UK workers taking leave for musculoskeletal issues, and 25% of them having to take sick leave for stress and poor health.
The nature of the profession takes its toll on the brain and the body, which is why it’s becoming increasingly harder to find quality help. This leads to further problems for businesses, as the salaries have gone through the roof in recent years.
The best way to manage sick leaves is by monitoring employees’ burnout. Although it’s in your interest for workers to be as productive as possible, you should moderate your expectations, especially from hard-working guys. We also recommend that you invest in tools and equipment, as they can all improve employees’ long-term health.
We recommend that you streamline your PTOs with software. Create a schedule for your staff to avoid conflicts. Having a clearer picture of PTOs makes life much easier for everyone. These vacations give your crew a chance to unwind and return to work refreshed.
5. Conflict Resolution
The loss of productivity is often a result of mismanagement. Given the nature of the profession, many employees are constantly under duress. Small work conflicts or bullying can tip them over the edge, affecting their attitude on the job site.
The best way to improve the atmosphere is to be very careful when onboarding new staff. Despite the fact that there’s a shortage in the industry, you should be very careful who you’re hiring. Ideally, you should give the job to hard-working people who are also great team members.
The method for resolving daily conflicts between different parties is by introducing communication software and policies. Workers should be able to notify each other about the progress of their daily activities, so there’s no overlap. For this particular purpose, we recommend programs such as Trello.
Conclusion
Although construction jobs are really hard, that doesn’t give your crew an excuse for being lazy. On the other hand, you, as a foreman, should do everything in your power to motivate them and increase their productivity. By ensuring your crew is healthy and has a good work environment, they’ll show much better results.