b'YCL EVENTYCLPRESIDENTS PANELWHATS KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT? By Warren HeeleyON APRIL 26 at the Old Mill inthe pressure being felt in the industrysolving, fosters buy-in and creates Torontos west end, the TCAbecause of the skilled labour shortageexcitement among staff. And to build Young Construction Leaders (YCL)and the large numbers of retiring skilledthe right culture, you need collaboration hosted a Presidents Panel discussiontradespeople that are proving difficultbetween leadership and staff.on whats keeping you up at night.to replace. The key issue with attracting More than 100 attendees were treatedand retaining staff, he said, is to createLeadership members need to be to a frank discussion about challengesa safe and respectful workplace wherelistening to their people and personally and changes in the post-pandemicworkers are supported both in the officewalking through offices and jobsites to construction environment, the currentand on the jobsite. Workers are mentallyensure they are clean, well staffed and economic climate and managing and physically worn out because ofsafe. Post-pandemic company leaders labour issues. the pandemic, so companies need toalso must address the cultural issue have a culture that stresses supportof working remotely. Remote work was The panelists for the session includedmechanisms for their people.quickly instituted by government health Philip Ristevski, managing director andFlynn agreed that culture was anauthorities in 2020, and the concepthead of Manulifes Canadian Real Estateessential aspect of a desirable workplace.has remained popular among workers section; Paul Sprokay, project executiveHowever in his opinion, there is no skilledsince then.at Canadian Turner Constructionlabour shortage because everything in Company; Doug Flynn, president andthe industry is managing to get done. Ultimately, companies need to bring CEO of the Flynn Group of Companies;people back to the workplace to take and Donald Schmitt, principal ofThat said, the industry must understandadvantage of face-to-face interaction Diamond Schmitt Architects. that construction is now competingbetween team members. So the long-with industries like manufacturing andterm remote work solution might involve The session moderater was Michaeltechnology for a smaller pool of people.a hybrid approach between remote and Whiteley, project manager design-buildThe culture of a company is critical tooffice/jobsite work. The hope is that staff with EllisDon and YCL chairman. Hisattracting the right talent and companieswill soon buy back into the importance of introductory remarks focused on howwith the best culture are going to attractworkplace collaboration and its positive complicated the industry has becomethe best people, said Flynn. effect on productivity.with changing technology and fallout from the pandemic, which continues toOther panelists agreed that culture is anMOVING FORWARDimpact material pricing, the supply chainimportant aspect of a companys appealThe second topic of discussion was and labour issues.to current and potential staff. The cultureinflation, escalating interest rates and must come from senior leadership and betheir effect on new projects. Ristevski LABOUR ISSUES reinforced throughout the organization.noted that challenges of inflation and The first topic for discussion was labourSchmitt considered culture to be a teamrising interest rates in the construction issues, and Sprokay drew attention tosport that promotes group problem- industry revolve around procurement 26Quarter 22023 BUILDERSDIGEST'