In the midst of a growing labor shortage, companies are looking to creative ways to get work done. For many, that also means taking a hard look at what the future of work will look like for employees across all industries.
Employee engagement and satisfaction is crucial to keeping talent around. This includes everything from improvements to office environments to implementing nontraditional work schedules—yes, even in construction.
Four firms in the United Kingdom are currently undergoing a pilot program led by consultant Timewise. Skanska UK, Bam Construct, Bam Nuttall and Willmott Dixon are all working with the team at Timewise to offer flex schedules for jobsite employees. The consultant is working with each firm to customize shift scheduling and restructure scheduling processes.
Sure, this seems nearly impossible. But we look forward to seeing the outcomes of this 16-month program, because it seems to be working outside of the construction industry. Most recently, Microsoft Japan demoed a 4-day workweek for its workers and reported it boosted overall productivity by 40%.