HUMAN RESOURCES
The Importance of HR
The new world of HR is critical
to the construction industry
By Rob Starkell, Co-Owner, West-Can Human Resource Solutions Inc.
In the past, human resources (HR) has
had a bad reputation in manufacturing
and construction industries, having
been seen as adding administrative
burden (cost and time) to already time-critical
processes like hiring, training
and employee management. Whether
the issue stems from operating in a very
(cost) competitive market or due to the
highly time-critical nature of operating
on a worksite alongside a myriad of other
contractors and professionals, slowing
things down to ensure team members are
happy with their job or to ensure only
the best candidates are considered for
vacancies will, at first look, seem like a
waste of precious time. However, whether
a company retains in-house HR talent or
outsources this role to a recruiter or full-service
HR support provider, there are
three main areas of focus construction
companies should pursue that underscore
the importance of the HR function and
puts to rest any concern that HR is a waste
of time.
Firstly, HR puts a focus on the
importance of creating and maintaining
a comprehensive set of employee
policies and procedures. All too often,
organizations start off small with few (if
DMITRII SHIRONOSOV/123RF
PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST-CAN HUMAN RESOURCE SOLUTIONS INC.
Rob Starkell
any) documented procedures or policies
because communication with owners/
decision makers is direct. Not being
constricted to narrowly defined policies
or strict operating procedures allows
for flexibility and the ability to pivot
quickly as the organization grows and
expands into new areas. However, as the
number of employees grows, certain areas
of the business grow apart or distinct,
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