• Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Supplier Directory
  • SCB YouTube
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
  • My Profile
  • LOGISTICS
    • Air Cargo
    • All Logistics
    • Express/Small Shipments
    • Facility Location Planning
    • Freight Forwarding/Customs Brokerage
    • Global Gateways
    • Global Logistics
    • Last Mile Delivery
    • Logistics Outsourcing
    • LTL/Truckload Services
    • Ocean Transportation
    • Rail & Intermodal
    • Reverse Logistics
    • Service Parts Management
    • Transportation & Distribution
  • TECHNOLOGY
    • All Technology
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud & On-Demand Systems
    • Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)
    • ERP & Enterprise Systems
    • Forecasting & Demand Planning
    • Global Trade Management
    • Inventory Planning/ Optimization
    • Product Lifecycle Management
    • Sales & Operations Planning
    • SC Finance & Revenue Management
    • SC Planning & Optimization
    • Sourcing/Procurement/SRM
    • Supply Chain Visibility
    • Transportation Management
  • GENERAL SCM
    • Business Strategy Alignment
    • Education & Professional Development
    • Global Supply Chain Management
    • Global Trade & Economics
    • HR & Labor Management
    • Quality & Metrics
    • Regulation & Compliance
    • SC Security & Risk Mgmt
    • Supply Chains in Crisis
    • Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility
  • WAREHOUSING
    • All Warehouse Services
    • Conveyors & Sortation
    • Lift Trucks & AGVs
    • Order Fulfillment
    • Packaging
    • RFID, Barcode, Mobility & Voice
    • Robotics
    • Warehouse Management Systems
  • INDUSTRIES
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Apparel
    • Automotive
    • Chemicals & Energy
    • Consumer Packaged Goods
    • E-Commerce/Omni-Channel
    • Food & Beverage
    • Healthcare
    • High-Tech/Electronics
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Pharmaceutical/Biotech
    • Retail
  • THINK TANK
  • WEBINARS
    • On-Demand Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Webinar Library
  • PODCASTS
  • VIDEOS
  • WHITEPAPERS
Home » Blogs » Think Tank » Four Steps to Protect Contract Employees During the Pandemic

Think Tank
Think Tank RSS FeedRSS

Four Steps to Protect Contract Employees During the Pandemic

Construction
Workers move building materials at a construction site. Photo: Banna Farsai/ Shutterstock.
November 18, 2020
Kim Holly, SCB Contributor

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, operational practices are continuing to evolve for essential businesses like manufacturing facilities, construction sites and utility maintenance departments. What hasn’t changed is these businesses’ dependence on contract work — 51% of companies surveyed say at least a third of their work is outsourced to contractors, reiterating the need for an operational plan inclusive of contractors, in addition to employees. 

By including all on-site workers in operational plans, organizations can build trust with both their contractors and employees, laying the foundation for stronger project execution and a positive partnership with your contractors.

Establish open lines of communication. Partnerships between businesses and contractors can go awry due to a lack of communication. Between misunderstandings about training expectations prior to arriving onsite for the job, to the safety rules that need to be followed while onsite, failed relationships can result from miscommunicated details. 

Given the challenges of the pandemic and ever-evolving protection guidance, open lines of communication are a must. Proactively communicate what you expect from your contractors prior to the start of the job, while onsite during the job and after the job is complete. 

Keeping an open line of communication creates a relationship of respect. At a time when operational protocol can shift rapidly because of a sick worker or new protection requirements, open communication between parties is key for a successful project. 

Factor in safety parameters for new protocols. Seventy-five percent of organizations that hire contractors see improving safety culture and value alignment as an effective approach to reducing serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace. It’s important to remember that while COVID has brought new workplace protocols, employee and contractor safety can’t be sacrificed. 

For example, a common challenge we’ve seen recently is a mask mandate at construction sites. While the new requirement seems simple, many businesses overlook the effects a mask has on contractors. Factors like fatigue and heat exhaustion need to be taken into account. With these safety considerations, adjustments like frequent rest breaks and easy water access need to be part of the project process. 

Whether you’re integrating pre-shift health checks or establishing socially distanced work arrangements, new safety requirements will likely push timelines. To account for these changes, be flexible, set new expectations and always prioritize safety — your contractor partners and employees will appreciate the consideration. 

Consider an online management platform. As you refine relationships with your contractors, consider implementing an online contractor management platform to help your company better manage the day-to-day requirements of your contractor relationship. 

An online platform facilitates communication of new requirements with your contractor partners, provides a centralized location for corporate and field personnel to view a contractor’s qualifications, allows for real-time reporting and helps to easily identify new contractors. Using an online platform also helps with access to information via a mobile phone application, making it easier for field personnel to easily see if a contractor company, and the employee, are qualified to work on your project. 

Share information and best practices. While COVID-19 limits the ability to hold face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings have proven to be equally as beneficial for information sharing amongst industry peers. As companies across multiple industries prioritize the safety of their workers on site, forums for best-practice sharing have become increasingly popular to discuss new protocols, processes, requirements and successes as we navigate the changing environment. Given the thousands of customers online platform providers work with, there is an increased opportunity for information sharing and benchmarking amongst industries. 

The challenges associated with contractor relationships create opportunities for learning, growth and improvement. By communicating openly with your contractor partners and prioritizing safety, you can set up your operations for sustained success.  

Kim Holly is associate vice president of ISN.

HR & Labor Management

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED VIDEOS

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter!

Timely, incisive articles delivered directly to your inbox.

Popular Stories

  • DOCUMENTS BEARING THE INSIGNIA OF US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION LIE ON A TABLE

    New CBP Regs Call for Greater Diligence by Brokers in Reporting Security Breaches

    Freight Forwarding/Customs Brokerage
  • A WORKER IN A WAREHOUSE, SUPERIMPOSED WITH GRAPHICS SHOWING SUPPLY NETWORK

    Enabling Intelligent Visibility With Supply Chain Analytics

    Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)
  • A GROUP OF WORKERS RANGED IN AN OFFICE, OF DIVERSE RACE, GENDER, AGE AND PHYSICAL ABILITY

    Podcast | The Supply Chain Workforce of the Future Is Already Here

    HR & Labor Management
  • A HAND TURNS A LARGE, LIGHTED DIAL WITH THE WORD RISK ON IT iStock-NicoElNino-1364371014.jpg

    Measuring KPIs and KRIs for Comprehensive Supplier Performance Management

    Technology
  • INSIDE A WAREHOUSE, TWO HANDS HOLD A TABLET COMPUTER SHOWING A MAP OF THE WORLD

    Five Ways to Increase Supply Chain Visibility

    Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)

Digital Edition

Scb nov 2022 sm

2022 Supply Chain Innovator of the Year

VIEW THE LATEST ISSUE

Case Studies

  • New Revenue for Cloud-Based TMS that Embeds Orderful’s Modern EDI Platform

  • Convenience Store Client Maximizes Profit and Improves Customer Service

  • A Digitally Native Footwear Brand Finds Rapid Fulfillment

  • Expanding Apparel Brand Scales Seamlessly with E-Commerce Technology

  • How a Global LSP Scaled its Security Program and Won More Business

Visit Our Sponsors

Orderful Yang Ming Alithya
Barcoding Blue Yonder BNSF Logistics
CoEnterprise Data Capture Deposco
E2open GAINSystems Generix
Geodis GEP GreyOrange
Here Honeywell Intelligrated IFM
Infor Inmar Keelvar
Kinaxis Korber Lean Solutions Group 2H
Liberty SBF Locus Robotics Logility
LogistiVIEW Lucas Systems MCA Connect
MPO Nvidia Old Dominion
OpenText ORTEC Overhaul
Parsyl PMMI QIMA
Redwood Logistics Ryder E-commerce by Whiplash Saddle Creek Logistics
Schneider Dedicated Setlog Holding AG Ship4WD
Shipwell Tecsys TGW Systems
Thomson Reuters Tive Trailer Bridge
Vecna Robotics Verity
Verusen
  • More From SCB
    • Featured Content
    • Video Library
    • Think Tank Blog
    • SupplyChainBrain Podcast
    • Whitepapers
    • On-Demand Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
  • Digital Offerings
    • Digital Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Manage Your Subscription
    • Newsletters
  • Resources
    • Events Calendar
    • SCB's Great Supply Chain Partners
    • Supplier Directory
    • Case Study Showcase
    • Supply Chain Innovation Awards
    • 100 Great Partners Form
  • SCB Corporate
    • Advertise on SCB.COM
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Data Sharing Opt-Out

All content copyright ©2023 Keller International Publishing Corp All rights reserved. No reproduction, transmission or display is permitted without the written permissions of Keller International Publishing Corp

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing