Attracting more women to the industry was a component of the discussion.
Prodealers of varying sizes discussed employee retention, recruitment, and company culture this morning at the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association’s 2023 Spring Meeting & Legislative Conference.
A meeting of the NLBMDA’s Manufacturers & Services Council opened today’s conference here at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Capitol Hill.
Moderated by Allison Ward, NLBMDA senior membership and operations associate, with questions fielded from a room full of council representatives, navigating the current labor climate quickly became the focus of the meeting.
A labor shortage, a declining skilled labor pool, and competitive wages from other businesses, including fast food restaurants, have resulted in today’s dealers facing job market challenges. Why take a rigorous starting job at a yard when you can stand around and make fries for a similar wage.
Company culture is key to attracting and retaining employees while providing an enjoyable workplace. And this includes allowing employees flexibility, and allowing them to take care of personal and family matters outside of their careers.
Scott Engquist, president of Engquist Lumber Co. in Harcourt, Iowa, said his company has employees that are cross-trained.
“When our CDL driver might have a doctor’s appointment, we have a salesperson who has a CDL license and can deliver the load,” Engquist said. “Our employees are cross-trained so they can back each other up. You have to be flexible.”
In Bonner Springs, Kansas, Vesta Lee Lumber remains “lenient” regarding its employees’ schedules compared to a competing employer.
“I think we pay a fair wage and we are more lenient than another employer might be,” said Jim Bishop, owner of Vesta Lee Lumber and chairman of the NLBMDA. “We work with their schedule.”
In addition to full-time staff, Vesta Lee Lumber employs about 15 part-time high school employees. But Vesta Lee has a secret weapon when it comes to recruiting.
Bishop's son is a basketball coach at the local high school and helps put the word on the street that there are jobs to be had at Vesta Lee.