Safety

When it comes down to fair pay for construction jobs, contractors, superintendents and skilled workers need to know their rights. In the U.S., state and federal governments require construction industry employers to provide their workers with specific benefits. The Fair Labor Standards Act zooms in on tradesmen’s rights, ensuring that they receive overtime pay, rest…

Temp-to-hire positions let candidates explore job opportunities without committing to a long-term placement. These situations are a great way for construction employees to decide if a company or job site is the right fit for them. It also gives contractors a chance to get to know contract workers, to see how they work with their…

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows that the construction industry accounts for more than 1,000 deaths and nearly 400,000 injuries across the nation each year. Can you afford to slack off on your safety practices? It takes planning and dedication to identify the challenges and create awareness of hazards on…

Studies show that morale is directly related to productivity. If morale is down, production goes down, and vice versa. This can hit particularly hard in the construction industry, where you have to battle equipment malfunctions, delayed shipments, rain, mud and whatever else nature decides to throw your way. When morale starts to sink, both permanent…

The workforce is changing, and there is a noticeable shift in the types of employees coming onto the market. While they may have more formal education, there is a shortage of employees within the skilled trade industries such as welders, machinists, and electricians. Most high schools today are putting a focus on four-year colleges and…

There are a lot of benefits to using temporary staff on the job site. From workforce flexibility, to lower overhead costs, to eliminating recruitment headaches, temporary staff is a great option. But that’s not say there aren’t any challenges either! One of the biggest issues we hear is that full-time staff simply don’t like “temps”.…

Electricians. Plumbers. Pipefitters. Oh my. Skilled laborers with a strong work ethic can be hard to find–and also hard to keep! A recent study by EMSI found that 53% of skilled-trades professionals in the U.S. were 45 years old–or older. Put simply, the demand for these skilled workers is outpacing the supply–and it’s only going…

Employee turnover can be a challenge for any business. But when an electrician or plumber doesn’t show up to the work site, the result can be even more far-reaching. Turnover in this industry means delays in the project, cost overages, and scheduling nightmares. So what can you do to help keep employee turnover from costing…