In David Gerstel’s book (Running a Successful Construction Company), he suggests incorporating your crew’s opinions in your company policy as a good way to support morale. How did you, and how do you continue to, develop your company policy?
I really wonder how many construction companies actually get their crew involved in their company policy. In chapter two, (A Builder’s Tools) this point is listed as “Crew involvement,†under “Policy Development†in the sidebar “Important Policy Issues†on page 38.
In a small company I’m guessing the best way to get your crew’s opinions would be to meet with them. Larger companies could use a questionnaire. In either case however, it seem that their would be specific questions that would apply in both situations.
- Have you involved your crew in your company policy?
- How have you done so?
I would suppose that every so often it’s necessary to change a company policy. I suppose this is why David lists “Periodic changes†as the other “Important Policy Issue†under “Policy Development.†With all that there is to in a construction company though, I have to wonder how often this really gets done.
I’m sure as time goes on, each company owner can see ways to improve his company policy. Only having been in business for myself a short while, I can already see policy issues I probably wouldn’t have thought necessary to address not to long ago. Of course, It sure would be nice to know in advance some of things I might want to change down the road.
It seems their would also be changes that an owner’s crew would be particularly interested in changing. Perhaps this would be because of changing circumstances, or perhaps even a change in employees. This brings up the question of when to meet with and/or ask your employees to fill out a questionnaire regarding your policy. I suppose it could be every six months, once a year, perhaps longer, every time a new employee has passed the tryout period, or a combination of sorts.
- How often do you change your company policy?
- What are some of the things you find yourself having to change?
- How do you handle getting your crew involved each time you do so?
–T
Replies
In David Gerstel’s book (Running a Successful Construction Company), he suggests incorporating your crew’s opinions in your company policy as a good way to support morale. How did you, and how do you continue to, develop your company policy?
I really wonder how many construction companies actually get their crew involved in their company policy. In chapter two, (A Builder's Tools) this point is listed as “Crew involvement,†under “Policy Development†in the sidebar “Important Policy Issues†on page 38.
In a small company I’m guessing the best way to get your crew’s opinions would be to meet with them. Larger companies could use a questionnaire. In either case however, it seem that their would be specific questions that would apply in both situations.
I would suppose that every so often it’s necessary to change a company policy. I suppose this is why David lists “Periodic changes†as the other “Important Policy Issue†under “Policy Development.†With all that there is to in a construction company though, I have to wonder how often this really gets done.
I’m sure as time goes on, each company owner can see ways to improve his company policy. Only having been in business for myself a short while, I can already see policy issues I probably wouldn’t have thought necessary to address not to long ago. Of course, It sure would be nice to know in advance some of things I might want to change down the road.
It seems their would also be changes that an owner’s crew would be particularly interested in changing. Perhaps this would be because of changing circumstances, or perhaps even a change in employees. This brings up the question of when to meet with and/or ask your employees to fill out a questionnaire regarding your policy. I suppose it could be every six months, once a year, perhaps longer, every time a new employee has passed the tryout period, or a combination of sorts.
-T
I don't get it. Why did you send me a copy of my post?-T
T,
It's not an exact copy.
It's a more curteous and readable copy.SamT
"It's not an exact copy.
It's a more curteous and readable copy."
Please excuse my ignorance, but the only difference I see on my screen is that the size of the text is smaller. Is this what you are referring to? Again, excuse my ignorance, but how is it more courteous and readable?
-T
Edited 7/25/2006 6:15 pm by JourneymanCarpenterT
it isn't
I'm sorry.
I didn't even notice that he left in all the colored fonts.
Probably because when the page isn't shouting in large and bold fonts, they're not so bad.
Font sizes 3 and up auto bold on my screen.
Your multi sized, bolde, and colored posts give me headaches.
But I like what you have to say, just wish you wouldn't be so Madison Avenue about it.
Screenshot "T"
View Image
Screenshot "Blue"
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SamT
"Font sizes 3 and up auto bold on my screen.
Your multi sized, bolde, and colored posts give me headaches."
Man! My post came out that big on your screen? That would give me a headache to.
Does anyone else prefer Geneva text in font size "1," as opposed to font size "2?"
(The previous message was deleted because it said the same thing, but was accidentally sent to the wrong poster.)-T
and readable copy
Dunno, OP read fine even on my dinky 800x600 l/t; Blue's was a tad on the "teeny" side for me.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
"The beatings will continue until morale improves."
Good one!-T
The beatings will continue until morale improves
Oh, so you work for my bosses, too . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
We just went through an execerise with our service crew to help improve some policies. We polled the guys on what they would like to see improve, and worked from there.
My experience is that most of hte crews aren't interested in writing the detailed policies, but having their input heard.
Here is what we addressed in their priority order:
- Cost of gas when traveling on the job - they wanted to see an increase in the mileage rate to reflect the current jump in gas prices. They dont like keeping all the reciepts and log books, so we use mileage.
- Being able to trade in two sick days for a vacation day, so people would get rewarded for showing up on the job everyday
- Making sure we kept the seasonal parties, BBQ's, etc, even when the budget is tight.
Hope this helps.
There's a fine line that you have to keep an eye on when trading sick days for vacation days because it may (great emphasis on *may*) lead to people showing up on the job being sick so they can still make that trade. Maybe put a limit on how many days can be traded.
Getting employees input is great but when I had employees I had to keep reminding them that I was running a a For Profit Business and not a Democracy. Many of their suggestions were going to cost me money and no increase in profit. Understandably their ultimate goal was to work less for more (my same goal) but in contradiction to what I was wanting from them.
Right now I'm dealing with only contractors but plan to have employees again in the not too distant future which will have me writing policy again. I do believe that a written policy is important to projecting a professioanl appearance and will draw in and retain the better people, the people you want to keep. Be sure to have the attorney review your policy & changes to ensure compliance with labor laws (state & fed).
Don't I know it - spent way too much time last year figuring the income parts of my guys car money. What a zoo!
see an increase in the mileage rate
Are you paying at the maximum IRS-mandated rate? If so, any amount over that has been previously ruled by IRS to be "icome" and requires withholding, etc. Keeping the records may be a pain, but being taxed for your gas money could be worse.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
"Hope this helps."
That sure did help, and so did the posts that followed. Thanks.-T
This post, 76474.17, is perfect.
Thanks.
I don't mess with the fonts unless I want to shout, because everybody has their browser set to the "View:Text Size" they prefer, and if you're not using default fonts, it'll change their view.
Default fontSize 1Size 2Size 3Size 4Size 5Size 6Size 7
Screenshot of Preview:
View Image SamT