How can construction managers cope with this issue and ensure that their projects run smoothly and on time? Here are some tips to help you manage holiday labor shortages in construction. Finding enough workers to meet the increased demand can be a challenge, especially in the midst of the ongoing labor shortage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 10.4 million job openings and 7.4 million unemployed people in October 2021, leaving a gap of 3 million workers.
So how can you attract and retain holiday workers in this competitive market? Here are some tips based on the latest research and best practices.
1. Enhance the employee experience. One of the main reasons why workers are leaving their jobs is because they feel burned out, unappreciated, or bored with their work. To make work more fulfilling and sustainable, you need to tap into your employees’ sense of purpose, create meaningful work, and ensure that they feel valued by their organization and boss. For example, you can:
– Communicate your mission and vision clearly and show how your employees’ work contributes to it.
– Provide feedback and recognition regularly and celebrate achievements and milestones.
– Offer opportunities for learning and development and career advancement.
– Support your employees’ well-being and mental health by providing resources, flexible schedules, and reasonable workloads.
2. Improve the employer-employee relationship. Another key factor that influences employee satisfaction and retention is the quality of the relationship with their manager, mentors, and leaders. You need to invest in your leaders’ capabilities and hold them accountable for creating a positive and supportive work environment. For example, you can:
– Train your managers on how to coach, motivate, and empower their teams.
– Set clear expectations and goals for your managers and employees and provide regular check-ins and feedback.
– Use data to measure and improve manager effectiveness and employee engagement.
– Encourage collaboration and communication among your teams and across departments.
3. Be creative with recruiting. To attract more holiday workers, you need to stand out from the crowd and reach out to your target audience. You also need to offer competitive compensation and benefits 
that match your employees’ needs and preferences. For example, you can:
– Identify and find potential holiday workers who might benefit from picking up some extra work during the holidays, such as students, retirees, freelancers, or gig workers.
– Use different channels to advertise your job openings, such as social media, online platforms, referrals, or specialized recruitment agencies.
– Offer incentives such as signing bonuses, referral bonuses, performance bonuses, or gift cards.
– Provide perks such as discounts, free meals, flexible hours, or remote work options.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of finding and keeping holiday workers during the labor shortage. Remember that your employees are your most valuable asset and treat them accordingly. By doing so, you can not only boost your productivity and profitability during the holiday season but also build a loyal and engaged workforce for the long term.
Attempting to manage holiday labor shortages in construction can be a challenge, but they can also be an opportunity to improve your planning, hiring, rewarding, and adapting skills. By following these tips, you can manage your projects effectively and efficiently during the holiday season, and ensure that your clients are happy and satisfied with the results.
Sources:
How to attract holiday workers during the labor shortage https://www.upside.com/blog/how-to-attract-holiday-workers-during-the-labor-shortage
The Great Attrition: What to do about the labor shortage https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/the-great-attrition-what-to-do-about-the-labor-shortage
How Facilities Managers Can Deal with Labor Shortages During the Holidays https://facilitiesmanagementadvisor.blr.com/human-resources/how-facilities-managers-can-deal-with-labor-shortages-during-the-holidays/
Stay safe during holiday labor shortages – Concentra https://www.concentra.com/resource-center/articles/will-labor-shortages-and-year-end-burnout-increase-workplace-injuries-this-holiday-season/
