How to retain your skilled tradespeople through engagement

August 9, 2022

A new study says that if contractors want to retain their skilled tradespeople, it all boils down to one word:

Engagement.

Engagement is the degree to which people feel enthusiastic about their work. Many studies show that companies with higher engagement show greater sales, higher profits and higher customer satisfaction.

“Engagement is the propensity of people to feel good about their jobs and be committed to their jobs. It’s a term that’s not used lightly in academia,” said Branka Minic, CEO of the Building Talent Foundation (BTF), a non-profit committed to creating the next generation of skilled tradespeople that spearheaded the study.

“It’s a process. You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to leave your job. First, you disengage. Then you see yourself in another company in a year’s time. Then you start actively pursuing it. But everything starts with people becoming disengaged.”

A disengaged employee can easily become a former employee, and then the contractor has to deal with the hassle of refilling that position. It can cost as much as $15,000 to separate from a tradesperson and find his/her replacement.

What are the keys to engagement?

The keys to engagement? Expanded opportunities for career development and improved supervision.

“Giving employees raises does lead to an increase in engagement, but if career advancement, skill development, and supervisor leadership are not at acceptable levels, the increase is temporary,” Branka said. “Employees who experience low engagement see themselves in different jobs in a year and are thinking of another job now.”

The study was conducted by the Oxford Centre for Employee Engagement in collaboration with the BTF. The study was based on a survey of 1,462 of people employed in residential and commercial construction. The study was funded by the Leading Builders of America.

The importance of career advancement and skill development

Here are some of the steps contractors can take:

Communicate opportunities for advancement and help employees take advantage of those opportunities.
Foster a positive, team-centric atmosphere and culture in which team members are encouraged to learn from each other.
Set aside time and resources for employees to pursue professional and skill development.

The importance of supervisors’ leadership skills

The person overseeing the skilled tradesperson on the job site, usually a foreperson or lead tradesperson, often isn’t adequately trained, especially at smaller contracting companies. Consequently, most leaders have no idea how to be a leader and may disengage their people on a daily basis without realizing it.

“We need to prevent disengagement, bring them back,” Branka said. “Otherwise, they get on that path and it’s a battle lost. Increasing their pay doesn’t solve the problem. That just gives them a little boost for a bit but if the reasons they became disengaged aren’t addressed, they’ll go back to the path of leaving the company.”

Here are the supervisor activities that can foster employee engagement:

Having frank conversations about performance early on
Achieving tasks on time and on budget through effective resource allocation
Running effective meetings
Managing time
Setting goals and managing performance
Employee motivation

“Engaged employees are more productive, dedicated, and happier,” Branka. “Put simply, companies with engaged workforces are more successful.”

The big/small divide

Branka acknowledged it may be harder for smaller contractors to make headway on career advancement/skill development and improving supervisory skills. Large companies often have a dedicated human resource department as well as the resources and expertise to provide opportunities for training and advancement.

Fortunately, there are a number of no-cost and low-cost training modules, tools, and resources that are available.

“If you make those free and low-cost resources known to employees and acknowledge when an employee goes to the next level of proficiency, a smaller contractor can make a big difference in increasing its employee engagement. It’s something. That’s better than losing that employee.”

She said that small companies do have some advantages they can leverage. For example, they can be more agile and flexible than larger companies. Also, a smaller contractors’ ownership is often closer to the tradespeople.

Focusing on employee engagement will benefit employers in the short term and will help the industry as a whole in the long term. As more people are happy and growing in their careers, the building industry will gradually develop a reputation for offering rewarding, viable careers, which will, in turn, helps the recruitment of new talent into the sector.

“The time to invest in engagement is now,” Branka said. “Our industry is already investing heavily in recruiting and training new talent and those efforts will be twice as effective once the sector is better and engaging and retaining its workers.”

Did you like this post? Check out 13 ideas for retaining skilled tradespeople

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A group of construction workers wearing hard hats and safety vests are smiling.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Urban Commercial Construction

March 27, 2024

Urban commercial construction brings a whole set of challenges that contractors in the suburbs and rural areas never have to consider. But revitalization is extremely important for urban cores to survive and thrive, so these projects can be quite lucrative. Here are some common difficulties, along with tips to overcome them and remain on good terms with the neighbors. Tight Spaces In urban areas, there simply isn’t as much space to move around. You might have difficulty getting some of your heavy machinery to fit, or your subcontractors could be trying to paint an apartment the size of an average broom closet. Rise to the challenge by thinking outside the box. Carefully survey the entire space before you get started, and develop a detailed project plan in advance. Be sure to include entry and egress routes, alternative ways of getting things done, and even subcontractor schedules that minimize the number of people working in the same space at the same time. Local Regulations Many urban areas have byzantine construction regulations that are confusing and hard to follow. Take the time to research these regulations and understand what you need to do. Then, boil it all down into a simple, easy-to-read document that you distribute to everyone involved. Get to know the local authorities and find someone whom you can call whenever you have questions or concerns. Make sure your team members are ready to pivot if you find out that you missed or misinterpreted something significant. Always have a backup plan. Community Engagement Transparency can go a long way toward getting the local community on your side. Let people know what you’re working on and how it will benefit them. Explain why the project is happening, how long it will take, and whether it will impact their costs (such as taxes). If you’re redeveloping a historic building, be especially sensitive to the concerns of preservationists and meet with them separately to explain your plans. Noise Control You won’t endear yourself to the local community if you’re making a lot of noise when residents are trying to sleep. And remember, even if you’re working on an office building, there could be luxury apartments right next door. Use sound baffling measures to reduce noise. Whenever possible, work during daylight hours. Minimizing Disruptions No matter how careful you are, urban commercial construction projects are inherently disruptive to the neighborhood. But you can mitigate this with careful planning. Try not to block streets during morning or evening rush hours. Be considerate of any upcoming local events. Do your best not to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic patterns. When you do need to create a blockage, be sure to put up signage and work as quickly as you can without compromising safety. Need a Skilled Trade Professional? At Great Lakes Skilled Trades, we specialize in connecting contractors with professionals in the skilled trades throughout the Great Lakes region. If you need a skilled tradesperson, learn more about our services, and then contact us today!