How Hybrid Working Is Changing the Construction Industry
Covid-19 has transformed the workplace in many industries and the construction field is no exception. One trend that has emerged is that many employees now prefer working remotely, a concept once inconceivable in general, but particularly in the building industry.
Today, as the world enters a post-pandemic phase, working remotely has become the new normal. This can be challenging for the construction industry since its very nature requires being physically on-the-job with limited flexibility in workers keeping their distance. However, construction managers are attempting to find ways to meet employees in the middle rather than risk losing them to jobs that provide the enticing ability to work from home. Still, the concept is not without its pros and cons and has led construction managers and executives to re-evaluate the concept of hybrid working in the building field.
Virtual Roles Versus Physical Roles
The first step in incorporating hybrid working into a field that more than any other industry requires being on the job site is to determine which positions can be done remotely and which ones demand a physical presence. For example, it would be impossible to build structures, perform safety checks, and supervise construction projects from a remote location. These tasks obviously need an on-the-job presence.
However, there are areas in construction where working remotely can be beneficial for employees and companies both on a morale and financial basis. For example, virtual meeting software and video walkthroughs have enabled building companies to keep employees safe from Covid-19 and save time traveling to and from locations. As a result, these technologies reduce the need and costs of real estate space necessary to conduct both.
Another area that works remotely in construction is support personnel, such as estimators, construction managers and project managers. Allowing employees not needed on job sites to work from home or in a hybrid capacity with some days spent working from home and some days on site, can help to balance labor shortages and diminish the need for creating work environments that protect workers from poor ventilation where Covid can thrive. Working remotely or on a hybrid basis also rewards employees with more flexibility and demonstrates that a company trusts them to do their jobs and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them safe.
Of course, there are some construction roles that just can’t work in a remote or hybrid capacity. A building can’t build itself remotely, for example. Or testing valves is a procedure that can only be conducted at the job site. But in the future, wearable construction suits could provide a solution for some tasks in that it will mean less people needed on the ground since only one person would be required to look at a situation and then transmit what they see back to those who are working remotely.
Construction Companies Must be Flexible to be Competitive
The pandemic has revealed an important caveat for survival in that construction companies must embrace flexibility in order to remain relevant. Many workers like working remotely and are often more productive as a result. In order to attract good employees – something that has always been a challenge in the building industry – construction companies must meet this demand whenever possible, especially when parts of a project do not demand that an employee be on site.
No doubt about it, the pandemic has forced companies to allow workers to do their jobs from home or at least partially at home. The concept is one that would never have been considered prior to Covid-19, but financial survival has forced the industry’s hand. And what is perhaps surprising to many managers and company heads is that employees are not taking advantage of this freedom, but rather actually work harder and better when allowed the opportunity to be responsible and comfortable. Of course, technological advances have helped, such as 360-degree construction site mapping, in addition to zoom meetings and technological advances.
Remote Working is Good for Business
Covid-19 has undoubtably changed the willingness of management to allow employees to now work from home. What began as a necessity in order to continue to do business while keeping workers safe, has become advantageous for different industries, including construction.
For one thing, working from home enables employees to have balance in their lives between their work and home lives. But it’s also beneficial to management in that remote and hybrid working results in a reduction in real estate expenses for the company because less space is needed.
In addition, a remote or hybrid model provides a bigger hiring and talent pool since companies are no longer restricted by location and neither are employees. And despite the expectation of lower productivity, the opposite has actually happened – employees who work from home feel better and therefore work harder and are more productive. Workers also feel more connected to their company’s culture and more positive about their contributions.
Finally, remote and hybrid working is better for the environment and for workers’ pocketbooks and time. Not having to commute means less pollution and less money spent getting to and from work. It also reduces stress and time spent commuting.
Finding Ways to Improve Conditions for On Site Workers
Of course, in construction there will always be some positions that can never be done remotely. The building field by its very nature requires some employees to always be on site. But that doesn’t mean that construction managers can’t find ways to alleviate the burden and prevent the burnout and exhaustion that are prevalent in the building industry.
One way to do this is to compress the work week for on-site employees. It’s not unusual for construction workers to work seven days a week, often resulting in a high turnover rate. Reducing their time at the site to five days a week and less than 50 hours weekly can be emotionally and physically beneficial and prevent accidents and careless mistakes.
Job sharing is another way to give on-site employees more flexibility and a better work-life balance. Offering part-time work can also provide more opportunities to a wider employee pool in a market where full-time construction work is usually the norm. This could also be appealing to female workers, particularly mothers who need a more flexible career path.
Remote and Hybrid is Here to Stay
Unlike other industries, construction can never be entirely a remote or hybrid industry, but it must be flexible in order to compete. The pandemic has given employees a voice in what kind of work environment they desire, and it is pertinent that management listens.
This means that construction executives need to create remote or hybrid conditions for those workers who can easily do their jobs from home. And it also means management must develop ways for on-site employees to feel more satisfied and valued – and to know that if there are parts of their responsibilities that can be done off site or shared, they have the opportunities to do so.
