Worker Shortage
HELP! HELP!
How to cope with the shortage of workers by Tom Grandy, Grandy & Associates
T
he phone is ringing. People are out there spending money. All of a sudden, it seems like everyone who had ever thought about wanting a pond — both residential and commercial — suddenly wants you to build it, tomorrow! Sales are through the roof. Clearly, the economy is back. But, just there’s one problem. There is a serious shortage of qualified technicians — not just in the pond industry, but also throughout most of the trades out there. If you were hoping for a silver bullet that would allow you to immediately hire as many workers as you needed, I am afraid that you’re going to be a bit disappointed. While there are no instant answers to the worker shortage, there
July/August 2021
are a few strategies and ideas that might just help attract help in the not-too-distant future.
Reward Performance Workers tend to be attracted to companies that appreciate and award good performance. Every employee needs a sort of carrot dangling in front of them to increase productivity. Likewise, your workers want you to know they’re doing a good job. The point is pretty simple. Create a system that rewards performance. If they work a bit harder or more efficiently, they earn a bonus. You’ve likely heard the age-old advice, “Reward performance you want repeated.” How does that help recruit new workers? Good employees are currently out there seeking out companies that both appreciate their work and provide rewards for outstanding performance. POND Trade Magazine 13
