Mental Health of Individuals Working In the Construction Industry
The construction industry, globally recognized as one of the most emerging and promising sectors, is unfortunately accompanied by a daunting challenge. Amidst its profitability, the industry’s laborers face immense stress and demands, leading to alarming rates of suicide. According to reports by the CDC, 47,000 people committed suicide in the year 2019. This disturbing statistic is most disheartening because it receives minimal discussion and attention.
Challenging Work Environment
In an interview, Bobbi Hartshorne, a subject expert on employee well-being, highlighted the immense stress prevalent in the construction industry, emphasizing how deadlines are often unmet and projects frequently exceed their budgets. She said that this is a global phenomenon, and it is not limited to a particular country. She further described the toxic nature of the industry. She noted that individuals here often misbehave with each other, and workplace arguments are a common thing. While the sector demonstrates care for various resources and has shown increasing sensitivity towards environmental issues, it tends to overlook the well-being of its human resources.
Young Generation Resistant To Join Construction Industry
According to recent research, young people are getting disinterested in the construction industry, which is due to the declining reputation of the industry. Also, the industry is characterized by high accidental risks, further deterring potential workers. Moreover, the construction sector is facing a productivity crisis. Despite the need for increased productivity to compensate for low-profit margins, the current working conditions within the industry are deemed unhealthy. The toxic environment prevalent in this industry is one of the primary reasons for declining productivity. The construction industry holds great potential and is experiencing global growth. Under such circumstances, it becomes crucial for the industry to foster a healthy atmosphere that attracts the coming generation to work within it.
Creating a Healthy Work Environment
We are all aware that construction plays a vital role in the development of any nation, serving as the backbone of infrastructure and facilitating growth. Therefore, if the industry declines, the entire country will suffer. The question that naturally follows is how to improve the toxic work environment within this industry, considering that a positive work environment is directly correlated with increased productivity.
Bobbi Hartshorne, a subject expert on employee well-being, conducted a recent research study interviewing 20 senior leaders in the construction industry from the GCC and the USA. During this study, she realized that individuals within the industry are aware of exploitation and toxicity issues. They try to address it too. However, there needs to be a standardized practice model to tackle these challenges on a broader scale.
But despite this, Hartshorne sees this situation as an opportunity for improvement. During the interviews, she observed that professionals across the industry do not view each other as competitors in health and safety matters. Instead, they collaborate and develop safety methods, recognizing the critical nature of these issues directly impacting lives. This observation gives her hope and highlights the inherent goodness of people within the industry. Furthermore, she found that every person she spoke to in the industry showed a keen interest in creating a better working environment.
Hartshorne emphasizes the importance of open communication and dialogue among industry professionals. She believes that individuals across the industry must engage in meaningful conversations about their problems before implementing new inventions or practices. This collective voice will empower them to bring about positive change and create a more conducive and supportive work environment.
Leadership Development
Regarding technology that can help create a better work environment, things like the Plus survey are available for HR departments. Additionally, there are numerous other AI integrations. However, according to Hartshorne, these technologies must be updated for the construction industry. She doesn’t find them helpful because she believes this industry deals with massive amounts of data due to the thousands of construction workers. They could identify patterns and work on improving them. Nevertheless, what the industry needs more is leadership development.
She believes many people promoted to leadership positions in these industries are encouraged because they are good at their technical roles as engineers but need to develop additional leadership qualities through leadership training. Additionally, individuals in these positions often experienced poor treatment throughout their careers and subconsciously mistreat their subordinates later on. This is where the problem lies, poor leadership behavior affects the leaders and employees, creating tension and stress in the workplace. Hartshorne believes there is a need for human-centric leadership in this sector, and she thinks it is necessary not only in the construction industry but across all industries. She also feels many inefficiencies and wasted time and resources in construction, further contributing to stress, panic, fear, and decreased productivity. Such situations also eliminate room for productivity because caring about the people you work with becomes secondary to getting the work done at any cost, creating a toxic environment for those working in this industry. She states that many emerging technologies are helping in various ways, such as improving procurement, productivity, and time management. These technologies can have a profound impact on the employee experience in these industries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite its profitability and global growth, the construction industry faces a significant challenge of a toxic work environment leading to high-stress levels and alarming suicide rates. This issue receives insufficient attention, even though it affects the well-being of laborers. Young people are increasingly disinterested in joining the industry due to its declining reputation, high accident risks, and unhealthy working conditions contributing to declining productivity. Open communication and collaboration among industry professionals are vital to creating a healthy work environment. Standardized practice models and leadership development programs are needed to address exploitation and mistreatment issues effectively. Emphasizing human-centric leadership and leveraging emerging technologies can bring positive change, improve productivity, and enhance the employee experience in the construction industry.
About the Author
Eliyahu Rapaport is the CEO of Global Construction Tech, a consulting firm that specializes in enhancing construction processes and project profitability through innovative technology. Renowned as a thought leader, Eliyahu frequently serves as a keynote speaker on topics including innovation, leadership, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and digitalization in the construction industry. He is also the host of the "Contech On Site Podcast," where he interviews industry leaders about their innovation practices and visions regarding technology in construction. His insights and leadership are making a significant impact on how construction steakholders approach innovation and implement, manage and executed projects globally.
Get In Touch
eliyahu@globalconstructiontech.com
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