Benefit costs are skyrocketing, but they're becoming increasingly essential to retaining a loyal and productive workforce. In the first of a three-part series, REMODELING looks at how benefits affect the bottom line. More
This year, for the first time, Archadeck of Charlotte in North Carolina mailed questionnaires to every person on the company payroll. Barry Klemons, president of the deck-building franchise, says he sent the questionnaires to get suggestions from employees and subcontractors for making departments and jobsites run better. Those who responded by a set date received something else in the mail: a check for $100. More
Remodelers are facing one of the most unforgiving insurance markets in years. Slammed by soaring premiums and multiplying exclusions, impenetrable contracts and fleeing providers, they're struggling to afford and hold onto good commercial policies that won't leave them high and dry on the rare occasions they actually need them. More
Leigh Branham is an expert on employee retention. His most recent book is More
A salesman goes to work for the competition, after angrily charging his old boss with holding back thousands in commissions. A long-simmering feud between installers erupts in front of a customer. An employee quits for no discernible reason; two months later, charges of sexual harassment -- more specifically, creating a hostile workplace environment -- are filed against the company and one of its managers. More
Most remodeling company owners will lose a key employee at some point in their tenure. Whether the employee is being fired, relocating, or starting their own company, owners can prepare for this eventuality. They can be ready for the steps they will need to take when that person leaves. And they can set up policies and procedures that prevent major disruptions. More
Whether you're starting to think about regular employee performance reviews or want to revamp a casual process with something more formal, More
A key employee recently quit, and I was caught off guard. What can I do to avoid this happening again? More
Robert Criner, president of Criner Construction in Yorktown, Va., says remodelers must be proactive in their quest to retain employees. More than just money "In every statistic I read on retention priorities, money is fifth or sixth on the list," says Doug Nelson, president of New Spaces in Burnsville, Minn. Nelson says that more than a fair salary, employees want to be appreciated and feel like a vital part of the company. Lead carpenter Ross Gravrock, a 10-year employee of Doug Nelson at New Spaces, says he enjoys his job because Nelson gives him the freedom to do good work. More
A remodeler shares his proven strategies for finding, training, and keeping good employees — even while the labor shortage continues. More