Question for construction contractors

jobs opens

whenever their jobs are larger than their staff can handel in their alotted time

Temp workers are usually scarcely needed in commercial construction.  Most temps are used for site clean up and small, menial construction tasks as they arise (short notice) during the project.  Since commercial work is typically awarded through an extensive bidding process, labor has already been considered before the bid is awarded.  A contractor who is behind in the schedule, due to his own inefficiencies, is at risk for very large penalties if he holds the project up.  He may have the need for 'skilled' workers.  The majority of this work is done by licensed personel.  Most 'experienced' temps have proven to have experience in areas other than that needed at the time.

Without exception, ALL contractors develop "recall lists" of people they know are really good at what they do. 

Some contractors keep entire staffs on recall, because they don't know when to expect a market surge or a stall.  Once the contractor gets a job lead that shows real promise, he begins the rounds on his recall list until he finds everyone he'll need for that job.  He reserves his crew on his word: construction roughnecks put more store by an honest man's word than a yuppie's contract.

Then, once he knows exactly who will be doing what, he files his bid.  Until the contractor KNOWS he has the bid, everyone is on standby: we know we're going to work sometime soon, turn down less lucrative offers.

If the contract goes sideways, the recalled workers know that it how it goes.  If it happens twice, we know better than to respond to his third call. 

Usually, we go to work and stay on the job until we have a final inspection and occupancy. 

The one thing I avoid like the plague is a temporary staffing agency: they pay pennies and they are not called slave markets for nothing.