Strategies to Help Your Workers Become More Efficient

Thriving builders will seek every avenue available to maximize construction project profitability, whether it’s finding new ways to reduce construction budgets or taking every measure possible to avoid construction mistakes. But don’t forget the power of increasing worker efficiency!

Labor is a major contributor to the cost of a construction project, so increasing worker efficiency will have a positive impact on your bottom line. Here are the best strategies that we’ve found to help your workers become more efficient:

Foster a Positive Work Environment

Employee satisfaction isn’t just for Silicon Valley tech companies, and it doesn’t mean you need to offer perks like a gourmet coffee station at the jobsite or unlimited paid time off. It’s no secret that happy workers are more engaged, have lower turnover, and are more productive. So how can you keep workers happy without breaking the bank on benefits? Try some of these helpful, cost-efficient tips that have been proven successful.

• Spot Bonuses: Did someone really go above and beyond to help solve a problem, meet a deadline or cover for someone who was out sick? A $25-$50 gift card as a “thank you” will help recognize the worker’s accomplishment or good deed and will likely motivate other workers to step up when needed in the future.
• Anonymous Suggestion Box: To some, a suggestion box is used as a complaint box, which can be a reason why they’re not found at every company. After all, it might be uncomfortable to hear complaints from your workforce, especially if some issues are out of your hands. But if workers know that leadership is listening, it helps create a more supportive working environment, especially if those suggestions lead to positive changes. This turn of events can increase productivity due to employee satisfaction. As an example: a builder can’t control the summer temperatures, but if someone drops a note in the suggestion box to provide more large fans on the job site, or even a couple packs of water, you can expect happier (and more productive) workers when they arrive on the job site and see those suggestions had been taken seriously. Not only will they be more comfortable on the job site with a constant cool breeze, or fully hydrated during a few hours of tedious work, but even more importantly, they know you are listening and that their feedback made a difference.

Give Workers the Proper Tools for the Job

We all know that a circular saw is more efficient than a hand saw, but when was the last time you evaluated your team’s equipment to ensure they’re working with the most efficient tools? You may find out that minor investments in new equipment can lead to a major increase in productivity and efficiency. Tools nearing the end of their lifespan may fail more often, which can cause delays due to the increased maintenance needed. Power tools with underpowered motors can take longer to do the same task. Equipment that has aged may require excess caution during use, which is not only detrimental to efficiency, but more importantly, is a safety risk. Innovations and improvements in quality mean workers can do more work in less time. Run a cost-benefit analysis and you may find that investing in upgraded tools will directly lead to increased profitability through increased efficiency.

This isn’t only limited to power tools. Project managers and office staff benefit from better tools, too. Quality construction project management software can help with budgeting, managing worker hours, and complete delivery of tasks on tight timelines. When your project managers have high-quality, modern applications available to handle construction time management, you’ll see greater efficiency as they balance multiple projects.

Allow Sufficient Time Off and Breaks

Studies show that productivity sharply declines when a person works more than 50 hours a week. Overtime may be needed occasionally as emergencies occur, but overworking your employees long-term is a sure-fire way to decrease productivity and efficiency. Sure, employees may appreciate the higher paychecks from increased hours, but manual labor is a grind and overtime is not a suitable replacement for adequate staffing. If your team isn’t getting enough opportunities for rest and recovery, it may be time to consider growing your workforce in order to increase the entire team’s efficiency.

Time off from work isn’t the only break that’s important. Laws regarding mandatory breaks vary by state, so be sure to familiarize yourself with applicable state laws regarding meal breaks and rest breaks. You may find that allowing more than the minimum break time will get more results for your company. If workers are genuinely encouraged to take a breather, they’re more likely to head back to work refreshed and energized for the rest of their shift.

Sometimes it just takes a little thought to make a big difference when it comes to increasing worker productivity, and hopefully by trying some of our suggestions, you’ll find that the return on investment is worth it! If you’re a builder looking for funding on your next (or current) projects and you need a construction management software that will streamline your project management and accounting team’s roles, contact Snap.Build^® today to learn more about how we can help you build more houses, while earning and saving more money!