Most of the United States experienced a busy month of construction in January. A press release from the Associated General Contractors says that despite harsh winter weather, construction jobs increased in January, 2014, as compared with January, 2013. Kansas topped the list for job creation, with a 10.7 percent hike, or 5,900 new…(Read More)
According to OSHA, only nine percent of people working in construction in the U.S. are women. This includes managerial, professional, and administrative positions. Has anyone parsed the data to determine the number of women who are deemed “bossy?” The ‘Ban Bossy’ campaign initiated by Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg looks to prevent stereotypes of women…(Read More)
The World Green Building Council has started to take an in-depth look at how green building strategies can positively affect the health and productivity of office building occupants. At the heart of the research are people, and how their surroundings impact overall health, sick days, employee turnover, and more. A post on GreenBuildingNews.com…(Read More)
Humility and confidence are among the attributes you should insist upon when hiring managers. Top notch construction project managers should also have superior communication skills. “A person who is frequently misinterpreted or who always seems to rub people the wrong way just won’t be the best fit for a management position, states Robyn Tellefsen…(Read More)
A New York-based company is beta-testing robots that can lay bricks and may be coming to a jobsite near you. The semi-autonomous mason machine, or SAM, is being watched closely by construction and robotics professionals alike. “At a full sprint, SAM can lay bricks at speeds comparable to a mason,” says Scott…(Read More)
February featured brisk job activity in the construction sector. Some 15,000 jobs were added last month, that despite the unseasonably cold and snowy weather in much of the country. Overall, the economy added 175,000 jobs, an unexpected increase compared with the two prior months that saw sluggish numbers. Also, Marketwatch reports that the…(Read More)
An associate business professor at Utah State University says he can determine if an employee is ready to jump ship. On the list of 10 factors, Tim Burns contends if six are positive, statistically, the individual is looking to separate. Burns maintains that based on the criteria, he’s correct 80 percent of the time…(Read More)
Bechtel, a global leader in the design and construction of complex power projects, has recognized dozens of partners for supporting their commitment to excellence. According to a company press release, subcontractors and suppliers who supported Bechtel Power’s communications, renewable, transmission, nuclear, and thermal projects during 2013 were recognized. Organizations were evaluated on multiple factors…(Read More)
Workers appreciate companies that offer unlimited vacation and sick days. Research finds people like the flexibility and, as a result, are more productive. The Society for Human Resource Management says only one percent of U.S. companies have updated their paid time-off policies, which also benefits employers. “Companies save by not having the administrative…(Read More)
Arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution process is still viable, but it doesn’t appear to be the beat all/end all process for all construction disputes, writes attorney Craig Martin, a partner at Lamson, Dugan, and Murray, LLP. Martin reminds us that several years ago, the industry mantra was to avoid litigation at all…(Read More)
