If you’re in hiring mode like everyone else in the industry, one of the issues you’ll want to watch out for is the complacent crew member. Asphalt Pavement Specialists’ Bill Stanley offered his ideas for bringing on new workers who have staying power and for weeding out the workers who start dragging things down. One of the ways he knows a new hire presents a liability is when the guy shows apathy and no situational awareness.
In his February Street Smarts article, he talked about the worker who shows up, does what he’s told to do, but needs constant guidance and supervision.
“If you don’t give them the next move, nothing happens,” he wrote.
If you have a worker on your team who leaves tools or equipment in the way where it could trip someone or get run over, if they leave the fuel cap off the skid steer overnight, if they play games on their phone while waiting on trucks instead of helping maintain the site, this worker isn’t really on the team. As Bill shared in his article, that kind of approach to the job not only slows the crew down, but it also puts extra pressure on the rest of the crew members. There’s going to come a point where this creates a safety risk as well as a drain on morale. Keep an eye out for the worker who creates risk through lack of awareness.
Workforce development recognition is on tap during CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Forward this week’s tip to your HR department, hiring manager, or other relevant folks and make sure everyone knows to come to the Reliable Asphalt Products booth C32804 at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 4, for the Workforce Development Signing Ceremony with AsphaltPro Magazine and Rogers Group Inc.
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