The Key Human Resource Challenges Facing Construction Companies In Europe

Introduction

As European countries advance their developments, construction firms play vital roles in the betterment of roads, pavements, houses and other types of buildings to support other developmental projects. Unfortunately, most of the construction companies across the globe, including Europe, face some challenges and problems that could adversely affect their operations (Hussin, Rahman & Memon, 2013). Since the construction industry tend to be large institutions that rely on different parties including construction companies, contractors and subcontractors, and numerous people from varied backgrounds, it (the construction industry) encounters diversified issues that revolve around management of human resources.

Problem

The booming construction industry in Europe has brought along Human Resource (HR) issues related to work safety and finding qualified staff.

Research Question

What are the he key human resource challenges facing construction companies in Europe?

Objectives

To identify the common challenges faced by construction industries across Europe as it relates to Human Resource Management

To identify the specific Human Resource areas that needs improvement so as to combat the issues identified

To assess the contemporary Human Resource Issues issues that have emerged as a result of technological advancement within the construction industry in Europe.

To explore the possible recommended solutions to solve these issues.

Literature Review

Health And Safety Issues

Several deaths and injuries have continually tainted the construction industry. Since construction companies operate with risky equipment and tools that entail heavy machinery and electricity, injuries and deaths among employees tend to be common (Cooke & Lingard, 2011). Besides, exposure to loud noise and poisonous fumes could attract more harmful effects among the workforce.

Finding Skilled Workers

Many construction contractors encounter lots of trouble while trying to recruit appropriate workers for their projects. As more projects emerge in Europe and other parts of the globe, the number of available skilled workers would shrink (Black, Engbersen & Okólski, 2010). Conversely, more than half of construction firms would not find their desired workforce. As a result, some companies may fail to complete their projects on time, and may not deliver high quality projects.

Advancement In Technology

As technology advances, it significantly influences operations and processes in the construction industry. Unluckily, the construction industry tends to be slow with regards to adoption of new and changing technologies (Lu, Huang & Li, 2011). Since construction companies and their subcontractors could use different types of software and programs, it would be a challenge to harmonize and streamline all operations. As a result, productivity and performance of workers could drastically decline when construction firms and their subcontractors embrace unsuitable technologies or fail to adjust and adopt new technologies. Hence, construction firms could fail to embrace the otherwise beneficial technological changes due to prevailing high costs and difficulties.

Workplace Diversity

Although diversity in the workplace could attract some vital benefits to the different industries, certain challenges tend to exist. Workplace diversity could attract synergy that facilitates better performance, problem solving and critical thinking of the workforce. However, such workplace diversity could draw unwanted effects that may entail discriminations, disrespect and hostility due to specific reasons that could include biases and prejudices (Burkard, Boticki & Madson, 2002). Consequently, unmotivated and less-productive workforce would emerge.

Payroll

Since apt remuneration is vital for virtually every employee, firms should endeavor to ensure they attain such an objective to attract and sustain their desired workforces. Unfortunately, some organizations may encounter high employee turnovers, high absenteeism and reliance on less-motivated workforces due to poor remunerations that could exist due to failures of employed payroll software (Kazaz, Ulubeyli & Tuncbilekli, 2012). Faulty payroll systems could lead to unwanted outcomes that could entail unnecessary deductions and overpayments that adversely impact on businesses and their employees. Accordingly, payroll systems which tend to be ever changing pose lots of challenges to construction and other organizations.

Research Design

This research will adopt a descriptive research design. The relevant aspects related to HRM issues within the construction industry will be looked into by gathering data from secondary resources that include articles and books. The qualitative research design would endeavor to describe and explain the major HR issues affecting construction firms in Europe. Luckily, the approach encourages objective analysis and evaluation of the situation as well as presentation of detail information about the subject under study (Pandve, 2016).

Conclusion

Construction firms in Europe are facing certain HR related issues that could attract adverse consequences if the concerned companies fail to adequately address them. The main HR issues facing the construction industry entail payroll, advancement in technology, workplace diversity, finding skilled workers and health and safety factors. Conversely, the otherwise booming construction industry in Europe has brought some HR issues related to work safety and acquisition of skilled staffs.

References

Black, R., Engbersen, G., & Okólski, M. (Eds.). (2010). A continent moving west?: EU enlargement and labour migration from Central and Eastern Europe. Amsterdam University Press.

Burkard, A. W., Boticki, M. A., & Madson, M. B. (2002). Workplace discrimination, prejudice, and diversity measurement: A review of instrumentation. Journal of Career Assessment, 10(3), 343-361.

Cooke, T., & Lingard, H. (2011). A retrospective analysis of work-related deaths in the Australian construction industry. In ARCOM Twenty-seventh Annual Conference (pp. 279-288). Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM).

Hussin, J. M., Rahman, I. A., & Memon, A. H. (2013). The way forward in sustainable construction: issues and challenges. International Journal of Advances in Applied Sciences, 2(1), 15-24.

Kazaz, A., Ulubeyli, S., & Tuncbilekli, N. A. (2012). Causes of delays in construction projects in Turkey. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 18(3), 426-435.

Lu, W., Huang, G. Q., & Li, H. (2011). Scenarios for applying RFID technology in construction project management. Automation in construction, 20(2), 101-106.

Pandve, H. (2016). Qualitative research in Ergonomics: An added advantage. J Ergonomics, 6, e150.