5 minute read

The construction industry is different from other industries

The onboarding process of new employees in the construction industry can be a little different from how other industries do it. In some cases, construction companies often ignore or overlook new employees after they are hired. It is not intentional, by any means, it is mostly due to how busy construction workers are that there is not a formal onboarding process in place. o

Onboarding construction workers is not just good business. In many countries, the law requires construction companies to have an onboarding process for new employees. The onboarding for new workers typically starts right after the hiring process is complete. It then becomes an ongoing process throughout their first few weeks of employment, where the company goes over safety procedures, workplace safety, company culture, among other important information.

Buildxact knows what works for builders and the challenges they face every day. Builders regularly manage multiple sites with many employees and do not have time to properly communicate company policies to existing employees or recently-hired ones. But, it is important for a construction company to invest time, money and effort to properly onboard construction workers and other employees to avoid putting their business and livelihood at risk. On-the-job training, along with safety training will help create a safe construction work environment for all employees.

The safety measures and safety procedures in place are not just for new hires. An experienced worker also needs to receive safety training to avoid workplace injuries, whether in the office or on a job site.

Providing proper training, at a good pace, creates a positive onboarding experience

New hires and prospective hires need to know how to use the tools a construction company uses in order to complete their job well. It is important that a new hire has adequate time to learn and practice using the tools they will use regularly. Construction companies should also establish a schedule to effectively onboard construction workers, whether it is only for one job, or if they will be with the company long-term. Some new employees will have used construction software, but in many cases, they are unique to each construction workplace, so adequate time and training must be provided for the employee to learn.

Making resources available to new hires

While sometimes it might be tempting for a new employee to ask co-workers about the job, asking them on a daily basis can cause a drop in productivity. Someone new to the job should reach out to the human resources department, which is better equipped to handle these situations. There are many resources a company’s human resource department can offer in terms of training workers who are new. The HR team is good at finding solutions to help new hires have a good first day and beyond. They can always provide more information on anything new workers might have questions about. Veteran employees at a company should help the HR department at times to help create a desirable place to work.

Create a positive work environment to attract prospective employees

Now more than ever, it is important to ensure your business is a place people like working for from the first day. Hiring is a long, expensive and complicated process, so companies prefer the new employee they hire stays with the company for a long time. It is important that the HR department listens to employee concerns when they bring them up and that they are handled adequately. Employee morale is vital to a company’s success. Happy employees produce better work and stay with a company longer, than disgruntled ones.

Workers liked to feel valued and cared for, so do not skimp on property training to ensure their safety. It is important for business owners, especially in construction, to remember to treat their workers with dignity and respect. It is important to price the proper resources to make sure a new worker is set up for success.