Construction Project Management Services and Construction Books
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement

Is There Bullying on Your Construction Projects

16/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture

​Bullying is harmful on construction projects

Bullying is rife on some construction projects. Workers bully co-workers. Managers and supervisors can even bully those working for them. Clients bully contractors.

Bullying takes many forms, from physical contact to even discriminatory jokes. The bullying happens during work hours and after work.
​
Nowadays, cyberbullying is rife, and circulating rude messages and comments is a popular form of bullying. We often think of cyberbullying as being a scourge that only impacts kids, but it’s frequently used by adults as a nasty weapon.

​Diversity on construction projects

People on construction projects come from diverse cultural backgrounds. They have different educations and different intellectual abilities, practice various religions and have been brought up in different ways.

People that are different are often picked on and bullied. It’s unimportant that people have external differences. What’s important is that we work as a unified team, working to a common goal, using the best of our combined skills and abilities to deliver the project successfully.

Discrimination in construction – is it holding your company back?
Picture

​The impacts of bullying on construction projects

The suicide rates among construction workers are among the highest of all industries. Bullying is a major contributing factor. What you can do about the silent killer in construction that no one talks about – Suicide.

Bullying undoubtedly leads to mental health issues in construction workers. It results in depression. It impacts morale on the project. It lowers productivity. It results in absenteeism. It disrupts teamwork and causes disunity.

Bullying also leads to other problems, like alcoholism and drug addiction. Problems at work are often taken home where they impact families. It can result in sleep disorders. All of these inevitably negatively impacts the person’s work, leading to lower productivity, poor quality, and unsafe acts. The use of drugs and excessive consumption of alcohol - how does it affect your construction project?

Bullying sometimes leads to violence on construction projects when the bullied person can no longer take it and they turn on the bully. In the worst cases, people have been shot dead on construction project sites. Unfortunately, often others are injured and killed in these incidents – incidents that scar those on the project and lead to disruption of the construction project.
​
In “rough and tough” construction, workers can be scared to report bullying and they are afraid to seek help for depression and other mental health problems.

​But bullying goes further

As mentioned above bullying takes place between clients and the contractor, and between contractors and their subcontractors.

Paying contractors late is a form of bullying. Threats and intimidation are bullying tactics. Threats that “you’ll never work for me again” are intimidation.

Of course these forms of bullying place enormous stresses on the construction project and construction company managers. They can’t afford to deliver a service below cost and they also can’t afford to be blacklisted by clients. They have to pay their bills at the end of the month.
​
Bullying of contractors leads to contractors becoming bankrupt. When a contractor becomes bankrupt, they can’t pay their bills and they become demotivated.
​
In construction it’s important to know your clients. It could save you.

​What we can do about bullying

Stopping bullying starts with the example you set.  Here are a few personal checklist questions you can ask yourself about bullying on your project.
How do you treat people? – Are you fair and respectful? Would you want others to treat you in the same way as you treat them? Respect in construction - why it's important
Do you respect and understand the differences between cultures and people? – We are all different and have our own unique and sometimes quirky ways of doing things. What’s important is that we are all working to the success of our project and company.
Are you aware of what’s happening in your teams and between co-workers? – Is there bullying?  Pull bullies aside and remind them that bullying is unacceptable. Serial bullies should be reprimanded and even removed from the project.

Bullying and harassment are never acceptable and everyone on the project must be aware that bullying will not be tolerated. Those who have bullying problems or mental health issues must have a sympathetic ear to talk to. They must know that they can safely report bullying. They must know that bullies will be dealt with by management.
​
Stand up to bullies.

Bullying is toxic on construction projects

Nobody likes working in an unpleasant or toxic environment. Everyone should feel safe at work. No one should be bullied because of their physical, cultural, educational or monetary differences.

Bullying wrecks lives and it can wreck your project.
​
Make this a month to stamp out bullying on your project and in your company.
The good mental wellbeing of those working with you is essential to the success of your project.
​​Good employees are critical to the success of your construction project in more ways than one
​This article was first published on the ClockShark website. 
Please share this post
Picture
​To read more about the author’s books and find out where you can purchase them visit the pages on this website by clicking the links below:
  • '​Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide'
  • 'Building a Successful Construction Company: The Practical Guide'
  • 'Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors'
  • 'Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights'
  • ​'Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion'
  • and 'Build and Renovate Your Home With Your Eyes Wide Open'
'Construction Book reviews'
To read more about the author visit the page 'Paul Netscher'
Want to contact Paul Netscher please enter your details on 'Contacts'

Find out how Paul Netscher can help you

construction management construction project management
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    June 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    September 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    ​Note: We welcome genuine comments, especially comments that add additional information to the subject matter in the article. We however reserve the right to remove inappropriate comments, which includes comments that have nothing to do with the subject, comments that include inappropriate language, and comments that are an advertisement for a product or company, or which include an advertising link. Comments must be in English. We will not enter into discussion on why a particular comment was removed.

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Copyright 2016 - The attached articles cannot be reproduced for commercial purposes without the consent of the author.
    The opinions expressed in the attached articles are those of the writer. It should be noted that projects are varied and different laws and restrictions apply which depend on the location of the contractor and the project. It's important that the reader uses the supplied information taking cognisance of their particular circumstances. The writer assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss of any kind arising from the reader using the information or advice contained herein.
    Picture
    "I have what I consider some of the best books on construction management."

    Books are available from:
    Amazon.com
    Amazon.co.uk
    takealot.com

    kalahari.com
    Amazon.in
    Amazon.de
    Amazon.fr
    Amazon.it
    Amazon.com.au
    Powell's
    Fishpond
    uread
    bokus
    Amazon.ca
    Amazon.es
    Other retail stores

    Available in paperback or on Kindle
    Picture
    ​"28 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS AND BUILDING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES"
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

Construction Books

Successful Construction Project management
Building a Successful Construction Company
Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors
Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
​
Build and Renovate Your Home With Your Eyes Wide Open
Book Reviews

Construction services

Construction Management Services
Paul Netscher
Construction Management Blog
​Home Improvement Blog

Contact
Developing Successful Construction Project Managers.

Building Successful Construction Companies.
30 years of construction project management experience
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement