Construction workforce management strategies to reduce absenteeism

Abstract

Strategic workforce management decisions (e.g., hiring, training, and staffing) have a direct effect on the cost, schedule, and quality of work. This paper presents the preliminary findings of a survey of construction/site managers representing a set of building construction projects in Lebanon. The survey serves to capture current workforce conditions and management practices in an environment that is dominated by residential construction projects and a transient or migrant workforce. Despite the international location of the survey, the results indicate a worker demographic similar to that found in the southwestern United States and other areas with significant residential construction. The results also serve to highlight the significance of basic management techniques in reducing absenteeism: adopting training programs to increase the skill level of workers, providing incentives to increase the tenure of workers onsite, and arranging the working schedule to favor less overtime.