Creating good work environments

Q: Given the boom and bust nature of the industry, how do you retain skilled staff?

Firm: Keith Hunter Building Ltd
Principal: Keith Hunter
Location: East Auckland
Staff: 10

The best answer is to just be a good guy to work for. Last year, I really started focusing on giving everyone in the business some responsibility and encouraging them to use their brains, because it creates a happy work place.

One of the initiatives I’ve started is giving everyone daily target sheets and the reaction has been really positive. At the start of every day, the guys take five minutes to write down what they think they can achieve that day, which gives them a mental kick start.

One of the other benefits has been that it’s actually given me a really good overview of a project. I can look back on those target sheets and see how a build has progressed.

I think the most important thing is just to create an environment people want to work in, so they’re not tempted to go elsewhere. We’re at a point now where I’ve received feedback from subcontractors who say it’s a pleasure working with my guys and, as an employer, that’s great to hear.

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Firm: Tomik Limited
Principals: Mike Hutchens &  Todd Flashman
Location: Waiheke Island
Staff: 22

The most important thing is to make sure you look after your staff. We work hard to create a family-orientated environment.

It’s about more than just remuneration. Ensuring people take holidays is important, as well as creating an enjoyable workplace. We run a few events outside of work every year, even if it’s just taking them out for a couple of drinks, because it helps build relationships within the team.

Teamwork is absolutely critical on a building site, so we have regular meetings where we talk to the guys to see if there are any problems. If there are any issues, you need to address that early otherwise it can create problems on site that affect everyone.

Taking an interest in your employees’ lives outside of work helps, because it creates a relationship that is more than just employer and employee. Training everybody properly is also important, so they know what is expected of them and understand how we operate as a business.

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Firm: Mike Reidy Builders Ltd
Principal: Mike Reidy
Location: North Auckland
Staff: 5

Because it’s so full-on at the moment and guys are screaming out for staff, the simple answer is to pay them more, but that’s not sustainable in the long term. You’ve got to offer guys a good team environment and make them feel involved in the business.

Simple things like having company t-shirts is a good place to start. I also get the guys together at the start of projects and ask them how they think we should approach a job – some good ideas come out of those discussions and it makes them feel valued as people instead of just a number on a payroll. I also make all of my staff responsible for different aspects of a job, whether it be site clean-up or something else.

Staff events are important, because they help create a good working culture where people get along. At the end of day, I think you’ve just got to value your people. It’s a two-way street; if you look after them, they’ll look after you and produce better work as a result.

Now have your say…

According to our readers, skilled staff are hard to find. How can the industry help increase the number of skilled builders in New Zealand?

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Email your answer with your full name, contact phone number, company name, number of full-time staff and the city or town in which you’re based to editor@pmundersconstruction.co.nz.

All responses must be submitted by 25 March 2016. The answers to this question will be published in Under Construction May 2016.