How to Get New Workers to Stick With It
BY AsphaltPro Staff
Help Wanted: Local paving company looking for laborers, drivers, machine operators.
Benefits: long hours, hard work, no set schedule, low starting pay, little to no time off, seasonal work.
When we outline the cold hard truth about starting a career on a paving crew, it’s no wonder why we struggle to attract the next generation.
Those of us who have been in the asphalt industry a while know the benefits of this profession. But for people just starting, that job description is pretty accurate. Not many will stick through the initially low pay (given the going rate for hourly labor these days), plus long hours and hard work to find out what you and I know: that the asphalt industry is a great place to build a career.
As a working owner, I get to experience what it’s like for the new members of our team every day on the job site. Here are a few things I’ve learned from my daily interactions with new employees.
No One Is Above Hard Work
Here at American Pavement Specialists, all employees —including family—start at the bottom. Crew members who have been with us for 30 years all started this way. They tie their boots that first day, they get a crew nickname, and we hand them a broom. I make sure new employees know no one skips this step. It can’t be skipped if you want to become a seasoned pavement specialist.
It takes two to three years to train someone to understand all the moving parts of what we do. Training is daily and constant on our crews. Each new employee shadows me or one of my best employees. The goal here is not only to help the new person learn the skills they need, but it also shows we want them to succeed.
When I see a new employee with potential—which is easy to recognize quickly (do they buy into what we’re doing, are they eager to learn, etc.)—I go the extra mile to build their confidence, let them know I see their effort, and show I’m as committed to their success as they are.
This training period is the price of the experience required to truly know our trade. But if someone is willing to put in the work through this ‘basic training’ period, the company will prosper and so will the new employee!
Not Just a Job, But a Career
There are quite a few six-figure guys on my crew. Every single one of them started off as $20/hour employees. After years of training, learning and building experience, they know their trade so well they are worth every penny.
But, how do we offer untrained, unqualified workers a high enough salary during the training period? The way I approach this with all new employees is more like dating than a job interview. We’re willing to date you for a while. If we like each other, we may get engaged. If we decide to get married, we promise you a very bright future and will do our absolute best not to let you down.
When I outline this approach with prospective employees, I make it clear that we need employees who want a career, not just a job. We aren’t on the dating app for a quick fling; we are looking for the real thing.
The Crew is a Kind of Family
No matter how many employees a company has, each paving crew consists of five to 10 people. They have to work together cohesively to get the job done, because paving isn’t a solo act. It’s an assembly line. Every employee needs to know their role on that assembly line, just as each family member has different roles and responsibilities.
And, if you plan on a career in this industry, you’ll spend more time with us than your actual family. During paving season, we’re going to be working long hours together with little time off. This is the nature of paving work.
That’s why team building and crew culture is so important. At APS, we don’t have time to take a day off to go to a forest and climb ropes together. We create our culture by how we treat each other on the job every single day. For example, building confidence is key to our culture. Every employee feels better when they experience success!
I strive to have work for my employees year-round so I don’t have to lay people off each winter. To learn more about how I do this, check out the article “APS Makes Winter Work Work” on theasphaltpro.com.
What’s In Store (If You Stick It Out)
Many years ago, my brother-in-law—an accountant at the time—joined me and my crew on a paving job. This single day led to a career change and a lifetime on a paving crew with no regrets. This story might not make sense to people who aren’t in our industry. But you and I? We get it.
This industry affords a career with good pay and opportunities to progress, the feeling of having built something tangible at the end of each day, a work environment with a group of people who become like a second family. Not to mention, the money saved on the gym and a great tan!
I think we need to shoot straight about the pros and cons of starting a career in this industry. The new guy or girl should know what they’re getting themselves into. But, they should also know what’s in store for them if they stick it out.
What do you like about working in our industry? Share your thoughts when you see this post on AsphaltPro’s social media.
Bill Stanley owns American Pavement Specialists, Danbury, Connecticut, with his wife, Colleen. Stanley has more than 50 years experience in the asphalt industry.