Work From Home is a Double Edge Sword

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly transformed work dynamics across various industries, including construction. While some roles within construction companies adapted to remote work, this shift has highlighted a growing disparity between those whose responsibilities can be performed away from an office environment and those whose roles necessitate their physical presence on construction sites. 

The Rise of Remote Work in Construction 

During the pandemic, construction companies around the world found different ways to maintain their operations while complying with mandates like masking and social distancing.  Some companies pivoted to remote work where possible, sending office-based staff home to continue operations safely. Other strategies involved splitting teams into A and B shifts so that only half the staff was in the office at one time.  Still, others chose to continue to work as before, using the logic that the industry had been deemed essential.

These changes, once thought to be temporary measures, have led to a reevaluation of work models in the industry as employees embraced the advantages of working from home.  A significant portion of construction employees' tasks can be performed remotely, which has encouraged companies to explore hybrid work arrangements. 

Construction roles such as project management, estimating, and administrative positions can be performed almost anywhere that access to the internet is available. However, this shift has not been feasible for field-based workers, such as field superintendents, forepersons, and laborers, whose tasks require a physical presence on-site to ensure safety compliance and address immediate issues. 

Challenges for On-Site Workers 

The construction industry is inherently hands-on, and many roles cannot be performed remotely. This creates a stark contrast between office-based employees who can work from home and on-site workers who must continue to commute to job sites. These workers face the ongoing risks associated with their roles, including exposure to environmental hazards and the physical demands of construction work. The inability to offer remote work options to these employees raises concerns about fairness and equity within the industry. 

Company Dilemmas and Decisions 

Construction companies are grappling with the decision of how to balance remote work opportunities with the need for on-site presence. While remote work can offer competitive advantages in attracting talent and improving employee satisfaction, it also risks creating a divide between employees based on their job functions. Companies must consider how to implement flexible work policies that do not disadvantage those who cannot work remotely.

Opponents of remote work claim that allowing employees to work outside of the collaborative office environment will lead to missed communication, delays in responding to urgent issues, and a lack of accountability for workers who are out of sight.  In the end, many construction businesses will decide to prohibit work-from-home not only due to the losses that could result from teammates not being face-to-face but also because it is inherently unfair to those whose jobs require a specific work location. 

As the construction industry continues to evolve post-pandemic, companies who choose to permit work-from-home to some team members must address the disparities in work flexibility. This may involve exploring hybrid models that provide some level of flexibility to all employees, such as job-sharing arrangements to ensure that sites are covered, investing in technology that can enhance on-site work conditions, and building a culture of transparency and communication to ensure all employees feel valued and supported.   

Spark Notes:

• The COVID-19 pandemic drove a shift to remote work in construction, exposing a divide between those who can work remotely and those who must be on-site.

• Companies adopted various strategies to maintain operations, leading to a reevaluation of work models in the industry.

• Remote work is feasible for office-based roles, but on-site workers face challenges, raising concerns about fairness.

• Companies must balance remote work opportunities with the needs of on-site workers, exploring hybrid models to support all employees.