b'WORKPLACE CULTURETheconceptofworkingfromhome evolved significantly over the pandemic, says Rodney. Before, it was a perk to work one day a week from home. Now, when youre hiringEMERGING VALUESpeople, its table stakes. Obviously, this doesnt apply to construction jobs where you need toTalk of workplace values tends to focus on work-life balance. be physically present, but if you tell someoneStill, there are other values that are also gaining importance.applying for an office role that they need to be in the office every day, good luck finding talent. MENTAL HEALTH: The pandemic has taken a toll on the Aggregate employees are also seeking moremental health of Canadians. As skilled labour looks for flexibility regarding time off. Industry demandswork, they are placing more value on employers canmakeitchallengingtoaccommodatewho recognize these challenges and take active vacation requests throughout the year, yet itssteps to support employee well-being, be it anothervaluethatdeservesconsideration.through meaningful dialogue, employee assis-Whenyouworkinaggregates,youcant stop.Wereallreallybusy,saysThornton.tance programs, or tailoring aspects of the job to That said, there are some small constructionindividual needs.companies that shut down for a week or two in July or August, not because they dont have theDIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: Recent years have seen signifi-work, but because they know it will help withcant social change. Employees are more inclined to sign worker retention. up with employers who understand that change and are WHAT DO YOUR EMPLOYEES VALUE? committed to building workplaces where every individual Towinthewarfortalent,employersmustfeels welcome and engaged, no matter their background. encourage consistent communication, and use workforce feedback to inform recruitment andTodays employees expect a culture of diversity retention efforts. Theres no such thing as tooand inclusion, affirms Jordan Rodney, president muchcommunication,notesRodney.Asaof MaxPeople HR. Companies need to build that company, you need to be communicating yourculture to be credible in the marketplace for talent.vision and values regularly. At our company, forexample,wedodailyhuddleseveryday at 9:15 in the morning, where we talk aboutBELONGING: A sense of community and belonging accomplishments,successesandchallenges.is also increasingly important among newer generations of Those huddles have been really important toworkers. Its not enough to conduct engagement surveys keeping our culture together. and make surface course corrections. Employees want to Staying in communication is equally essential,align with employers who embed meaningful and sustain-addsRodney,butsoisactingonworkforceable initiatives that foster a culture of belonging.feedback.Whatmattersaretheactions youtakeasanorganizationtomeetthoseRESILIENCY: The aggregate sector felt the impact of values and drive things forward. It might bepandemic shutdowns and restrictions. As such, skilled talent recognition programs, training or developmentplaces a high importance on an organizations demon-opportunities, but its important to not onlystrated ability to push forward and stay the course. listen to your people but followthrough. At the end of the day, there are merits toTOTAL COMPENSATION:Money still matters to becoming a values-based organization. Doingemployees. Yet while employers offering higher so means taking stock of what matters most towages than the company down the street may todays talent and making those values part ofhave an advantage, there is more emphasis on your organizations DNA. This is a long-term play,saysThornton.Thisisntsomethingwhat else comes along with a job offer. Todays were going to fix in a year or two. This is aboutemployees are like free agents who can command creating a strategic vision thats going to makewhatever the market is prepared to pay, notes Rodney. To ourindustrymoreattractivetoconstructiondifferentiate themselves, companies must talk about total talent for years to come. compensation. That means not only offering competitive pay, Were all fighting for the same labour force.but more benefits, creative offerings and work-life perks.The question is what values do we need to work on and embrace to stand out from thepack?WINTER 2022AVENUES 13'