Jobsite Managment

eric wayne

Hey Guys,

How many of you actually work on the job with your crews? Do you take care of business and have a job foreman or make yourself the job site foreman. I have a problem with getting my guys to work when I leave, they do very well when I am looking right at them.

TxElectrician

Sounds like you haven't hired the right guys.

If they are quailified to do the work, and just won't perform when you aren't onsite find someone who will. There are plenty of hardworkers looking for a job now and would love a chance to work.

If they are not qualified to work without supervision, either you or a foreman needs to supervise, or hire qualified people.

Leo G

I'm sure you have hired the right guys. It's just that you haven't fired the right guys. Start off easy. When you get back from the where ever you needed to be and the first guy you see that is slacking, tell him to go home. Not fired, just furloughed for the day. Make sure the other guys see it. Make lots of noise. Next time make it a few days and after that just let him go. The other guys will get the picture. Just explain to them that when they make you money, they have more work to do. Other than that they can sit at home or work at McDonald's.

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KentWhitten

The list is going to be long, there's no way to describe everything and have it come out right. You've got a problem with your guys slacking when you leave. That means you aren't getting certain points across to them. It may not really mean that you have good or bad employees, or that you have one corrupting all the others. You may...and you might not.

However, does that mean you have bad employees, or might it be you? I'm not trying to call you out or say you're doing it wrong, just step back and try to look at it unbiased if you could. What is it that your guys desire the most out of the work? Do they like working for you? Is it just a paycheck?

You saying that they work fine when you're there means to me that you may be ruling with an iron fist and they fear some retribution from you while you're there. Or that you may be motivational when you're there, but you can't get that motivation over to your guys core values.

Maybe have a serious sit down meeting with them and express your concerns and ask them if there's something they want to get off their chest. They may have something important to tell you that you'd never realize.

Also, is there a foreman you leave in charge? A bunch of guys working without a leader is a ship without a rudder.

What about a list of items to do? Do you just leave and say "git 'er done"?

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

strathd

Ship without a rudder. Very good analogy framerman (i'm working on my vocabulary) LOL. I have had good crews in the past. I know they try when I am not there. But yes, they need direction on how to get there and get it done efficiently.

loneframer

My sole intention of hiring a crew was for them to assist me in the construction of a home. There have been times when I left a few guys behind to finish up while I get the next one under way, but I have to be in the field because it's what I love to do.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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rbsremodeling

I think I have perfected the art of hiring the right guy and training the right guy.If you do these things right having help is a godsend.

If you just throw someone or guys together and think they will figure it out, it's not going to happen,

You also have to have systems in place for most of what you do. Then anyone can follow and understand the pretty pictures.

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Warren

Its also important to remember that no one cares as much or will work as hard as you because lets face it, your the owner and stand to benefit the most. Also important is to really know your personnel. I find that some of my guys are more suited to just framing, while others are a better fit for remodel work. Sometimes certain guys work well together and sometimes others may not, due to a variety of reasons (talkative, personality clash,age difference, etc.) Recently due to the changing economy, I find that I have had to leave the job much more than in the past. Looking into the future, this probably won't change and I feel comfortable leaving someone else in charge. When you do work alongside the guys I think you have to set a precedent of hard work and no excuses. If you frequently take days off, show up late, leave early etc for no good reason, you can expect the same from your crew.

KentWhitten

Exactly. Set the example because you are the example.

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

George Z

This paint contractor's prespective.

Be very selective about who you hire. This year we got hundreds of applications, interviewed about 30 people, second interviewed about 10
and hired 6. From these, 2 are already fired. The remaining ones, including ones that have been with us for a while, are a delight to have around and are trusted 100%. One of them came in as a job manager and she was that from the day one. Sorry about the HR talk, I have been through these problems for years and we now are getting somewhere.
We have 3 job managers. Everyone of them is e-mailed the job budget and scope of work in advance, to have time to prepare. An hour or two is spent at the jobsite before the crew arrives.
When production starts, there is no activity planned without a time value given to it. The job manager has about 1 hour a day to "manage' and make sure that things are being done well and on budget. This makes things very easy
They each get a quick call at a pre-determined time in the afternoon and are also expected to e-mail a budget-daily report.
This is the latest one from the manager that has only been with us for 1 week:

"We have worked 79 hours so we have 61 hours remaining on budget
Looking at the job info, we have 59 hours worth of work left to do.
Adding in a couple of hours for touchups, we should be done the job
right on budget or somewhere very close if all goes to plan from here
on!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, let me know if there is anything else you need"

Also daily fill check and initial and e-mail the supply and material list.

By the way all forms, work orders, budgets, time tracking communication are done with iphones.
Is everything working perfect lately? no way. Much better for sure.
But everyone is accountable (aspecially the job managers)
and at the same time, they are given all possible tools and support
to perform.
And of course, this is from a paint contractor, with simpler work orders and only 11 painters on the field.

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