Are You Struggling with Labor Problems in the Construction Industry? Learn How to Combat Them

The construction industry is at an interesting place right now, especially in California. As the economy has improved over the past decade, and unemployment has gone down, there’s a boom in projects and sometimes a lack of workers. This has led some construction companies to hire whoever they can get. While this may seem like the smart process in the short term, in the long term it can cause serious issues at your job site.

Just like you wouldn’t stop and buy the first power tools you came across, you don’t want to simply hire who’s available on a given day. Look at the long-term health of your company and follow these tips. If you need finding the right supplies, remember that Grove Hardware is the leader in Southern California. Stop by our shop today or give us a call at 909-544-4331.

Make sure you’re properly vetting potential employees

What does your company do to check on potential employees? Some things you can do to improve the candidates you end up hiring include checking every reference, asking interview questions that actually reflect the challenges your company has faced, asking open-ended questions, and allow more than one employee to interview the candidate. This may seem tedious at first, but you’ll quickly learn that taking the time to hire a quality candidate saves you time in the long run.

Gradually add responsibility to new employees

Don’t simply hire someone and let them head up their own team. Start at the ground up and gradually add more responsibility to them. This applies to virtually all positions. After all, do you want a manager who doesn’t know what his or her workers deal with on a daily basis?

Have regular meetings

Don’t assume that your employees and you are on the same page. Each meeting should have at least two agenda points: What went well last week and what could we have done better? The more input you get from your employees, the better you’ll understand what everyone is facing. Ask them if they need additional tools, new anchors or fasteners, or other supplies that could change the workforce significantly.

Find the right balance

You do want to keep an eye on your employees, both so you can help them get any tools or resources they need, and also so you can ensure that you’ve hired the best crew possible. That said, no one wants a micromanager. If your employees feel as though they have to ask you before they can place a single nail, then you’re going to have an inefficient job site. Instead, find a balance in which you’re present and available for your employees but they have the power to make day to day decisions.

If you need assistance finding the best possible construction supplies then you need to pay a visit to Grove Hardware or give us a call at 909-544-4331. We look forward to being a part of your construction solutions.