All workers at every business thrive on appreciation, but given the physical and “all-weather” demands of construction, it’s extra important to make sure that workers in the building fields receive the appreciation they deserve. Here are tips for construction business owners to put into practice.
Meaningful Recognition Pays Off
Strategic attention to appreciating workers is a gift that goes full circle in business:
retaining skilled workers has become essential to sustained success. As Jason Lamonica from Spec on the Job puts it: “Construction companies should view employee appreciation as a strategic investment in their workforce. By acknowledging hard work and dedication, they can not only promote their employees’ well-being but also improve their overall operations. In the process, they can appeal to prospective employees while simultaneously elevating construction work in our entire society.”
There are of course many ways to demonstrate appreciation, but what are the most important to the workers ar your company? If you have not already done so, it’s a good idea to go ahead and directly ask workers about meaningful recognition: “Construction companies can best recognize their employees by asking them what they want. There are many methods of granting recognition and enabling people to feel seen…Coming out and asking their opinion of the options will help point your way forward.” As you develop an ongoing appreciation strategy, here are three specific options to consider:
- One is simple public praise. Examples include Employee of the Month awards or the chance to thank others during staff meetings or company events.
- Helping workers gain new skills or refine existing ones is another way to show appreciation….Construction workers react well to employers that invest in their professional growth. This is another way for employers to forge a long-term commitment with employees.
- Offering tangible rewards like gift cards, bonuses, or other incentives is also a great way to make workers feel valued. In particular…giving people gifts they can tailor to their own particular desires. Instead of a gift card to a specific restaurant, for instance, you might consider offering them one to a whole collection of possible eateries. That way, they can choose their favorite cuisine or treat their spouse to theirs.
Workplace Fundamentals
Even the most heartfelt, clever and generous employee recognition efforts are likely to backfire if best practices related to hiring, onboarding, compensating and retaining a diversity of workers are not solidly in place at the roots of the business. One specific technique that can be powerful during onboarding and beyond is assigning a mentor for new hires. In addition to giving a long-time employee a vested interest in the success of a new hire, you’ll be ensuring the new employee feels welcomed from day one. Pros share these additional pointers for building a business where people want to continue working:
- Compensation levels need to be competitive, and the same holds true for benefits packages. Today’s workers also value autonomy and flexibility, so construction companies that can offer these policies — and back them up in reality — will position themselves well to succeed….
- Today, the only way construction companies will fill their ranks successfully is by recruiting people from a wide variety of backgrounds. To attract workers and keep them in their roles, however, these companies must ensure they feel safe and like they belong….Too many leaders and managers at construction companies regard diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as a distraction or an inconvenience….If construction companies tolerate bias and discrimination, instituting an appreciation program will likely fall into the same pattern of [elevating] some workers over others due to inappropriate criteria….This would naturally lead to resentment and demoralization.
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