- Set clear expectations and allocate adequate time for training to prevent oversights and accidents.
- You need to acquire the necessary licenses and certifications for new hires to ensure appropriate qualifications.
- You should encourage teamwork and offer development opportunities to boost morale and long-term success.
- Provide detailed and repeated training on tools, equipment, machinery, safety protocols, and job responsibilities.
- Assign a mentor to new hires to help them acclimate and focus on their responsibilities.
Running a construction business requires hard work and dedication. Hiring new employees can present unique challenges for even the savviest of managers. Training and managing new hires can be time-consuming and costly, but it’s crucial to ensure that everyone is up to speed and working safely and efficiently. In this blog, you will learn a few tips for managing new hires in your construction business to keep your operations running smoothly and your employees happy.
Set clear expectations.
When you bring on a new employee, it’s essential to ensure they understand what is expected of them. This includes both job responsibilities and company policies. Provide new hires with a clear job description and make sure they understand any safety procedures, employee conduct expectations, or any specific practices.
New hires should also get training on the tools, equipment, and machinery involved with the job. This training should be detailed, repeated when necessary, and explained thoroughly to prevent misunderstandings.
Allocate time for training.
It’s important to set aside adequate time to train your new hires, as rushing through the process can lead to oversights down the road which could lead to inefficiency or accidents, which would burst your timeline and budget. Your training program should cover the following things:
Demonstration of tools, equipment, and machinery
The demonstration of tools, equipment, and machinery must be done in a controlled environment and should include safety protocols, the use of the equipment, and any necessary maintenance.
Explanation of safety protocols and procedures
Explain your safety protocols and procedures to the new hire, ensuring that they understand them clearly. This will help ensure that everyone is following the same rules and regulations, reducing the risk of accidents or injury.
Overview of job duties and responsibilities
Provide an explanation of the job duties and responsibilities assigned to each role. This can include a list of tasks, hours, and expectations that have been set in order for the new hire to be successful.
Execution of hands-on tasks with guidance from a supervisor
Once the new hire has learned the basics, it’s important to give them an opportunity to practice with hands-on guidance from a supervisor or trainer. This will help ensure that they understand and can perform their tasks correctly.
By taking time to train your new hires properly, you can ensure that everyone is up to date with the necessary skills and knowledge.
Acquire licenses and certifications if needed.
Certain jobs or tasks may require a special license or certification. Make sure that you inquire about any potential licenses and certifications ahead of time and that the new hire is able to obtain them if necessary. This will help ensure that everyone has the appropriate qualifications for the job and that your operations are running smoothly.
And if your new hires don’t have a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card yet, you should schedule them for a CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) test immediately. This will help guarantee that they are fully trained and certified to work on construction sites. It will also show your clients that you are taking safety seriously.
Encourage Teamwork
Teamwork breeds success – in construction, it’s critical. Encouraging your team to work together can improve productivity and solve problems faster. The best leaders know how to inspire workers to collaborate and support each other to produce a quality job.
Avoid creating silos of people, especially with the new hires, without including them in team activities. Assign a ‘mentor’ to new workers to help them acclimate and to help them focus on their responsibilities.
Offer Development Opportunities
Taking your new employees to the next level is essential. If you want to develop loyal and committed employees, letting them know they have the potential for advancement can help. Offering them training, education, and advancement opportunities can make the difference between longevity and high turnover. These incentives can boost employee morale and lead to your company’s long-term success.
Managing new hires in any construction business is a time-consuming and costly process. However, setting clear expectations, allocating adequate training time, acquiring licenses and certifications when necessary, encouraging teamwork among employees, and offering development opportunities can help ensure that your operations are running smoothly and help boost employee morale, which leads to the company’s long-term success.
By following these tips for managing new hires in your construction business, you should be able to keep everyone up to speed with their job responsibilities and safety protocols while also providing an environment where they feel supported and encouraged.
