Authorities in New York City allege that two construction companies paid laymen, including some allegedly hired from Craigslist, to ‘inspect’ buildings and issue approvals. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office says two companies avoided hiring certified inspectors at higher prices and opted to pay hairdressers, busboys, and others, to complete the required forms. A report…(Read More)
Summer brings hot temperatures that can lead to hot tempers, but emotions and disagreements can happen on jobsites in cold weather, too. Folks with hardhats must remain cool in order to prevent tempers from flaring. On-site emotions can stay in check if people are able to reframe situations and not take things personally. Consider…(Read More)
One of the latest reports on job growth in the construction sector is welcome news. Payroll processing company ADP says as the housing market continues to improve, construction jobs are being added. According to ADP, the construction industry saw 36,000 new jobs last month, the biggest monthly gain since February, 2006. Matthew Rocco writes…(Read More)
A new construction app is helping office teams keep in touch with field workers. It’s also keeping clients engaged throughout the building process. SiteMAX, which was developed by James Faulkner of Faulkner Brand, Inc., is getting rave reviews from Doug Scott, founder and president of Wales McLelland Construction in Vancouver, BC. The two have…(Read More)
Super skinny isn’t just for women’s clothing ads. Architects, designers, and engineers are going super skinny so they can erect skyscrapers on small, constricted parcels of land. In the U.S., we’ve seen the sleek design of the Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan, the mecca of tall buildings. A post on Sourceable…(Read More)
If you need just one more dose of new industry apps, it’s your lucky day. LetsbeFamous.com, a software tech company, has compiled a list of apps for construction and design pros. For instance, PlanGrid allows architects and contractors to share specs, project plans, and pictures. http://letsbefamous.com/computers-and-technology/software-computers…(Read More)
If the harsh winter is an indication of how hot the summer will be, it’s time to talk safety with your team. In addition to drinking a lot of water–and avoiding energy drinks–people who work outside should know the signs of heat exhaustion and dress to stay cool. http://www.forconstructionpros…(Read More)
Women need to toot their own hors for better roles on jobsites and in boardrooms. That’s the takeaway from seasoned women executives in construction. The execs encouraged some 300 younger women in the field to advocate for themselves and their careers. It was part of ENR’s Groundbreaking Women in Construction Conference that was…(Read More)
To weed out mediocre candidates, consider this technique used by Tejune Kang, founder of Six Dimensions, an IT services firm. Kang doesn’t have a zinger of a question as much as he throws out a statement to candidates to gauge their competitiveness and self-esteem. This can be a beautiful tool for construction companies…(Read More)
In my work with small and mid-sized companies, I see three common mistakes related to terminating poor performers. The first, and most common, is waiting too long. Most small business owners and managers are basically nice people. They sometimes tolerate poor performance much longer than they should, hoping the employee will turn things around…(Read More)
