Beyond Salary: How to Attract & Retain Top Veterans in Construction

Veterans in construction are a valuable asset. They bring a unique blend of skills, experience, and work ethic that can make a significant difference on your job sites. But attracting and retaining these talented individuals requires more than just offering a competitive wage. Streamlining payroll and managing veteran employee benefits efficiently are crucial aspects of showing your appreciation for their service.

This post will explore the advantages of hiring veterans in construction, along with practical tips on using eBacon software to simplify payroll for your veteran workforce. We’ll also delve into construction salary benchmarking to ensure you’re offering competitive compensation packages.

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Why Hire Veterans in Construction?

Leadership and Teamwork: Veterans often possess strong leadership qualities honed through their military experience. They understand the importance of teamwork, clear communication, and following through on commitments. This translates well to the construction environment, where collaboration is essential for completing projects on time and within budget.

Pre-existing Training and Skills: Many veterans have received extensive training in construction-related fields, such as carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and heavy equipment operation. This reduces the need for extensive on-the-job training, saving your company time and money.

Low Absenteeism and High Retention: Veterans are known for their dedication and work ethic. They tend to have lower absenteeism rates and are more likely to stay with a company for the long term, reducing the need for constant recruitment and onboarding.

Self-motivated and Reliable: Veterans are accustomed to working independently and taking initiative. They understand the importance of deadlines and are reliable team members who can be counted on to get the job done.

Adaptable and Safety-conscious: Military service instills adaptability and the ability to learn new things quickly. Veterans are often highly safety-conscious, which is a crucial quality in the construction industry.

Challenges of Hiring Veterans in Construction

Potential Health Issues: Some veterans may have physical or mental health conditions stemming from their service. However, with the right support systems in place, these veterans can still be valuable employees.

Negative Stereotypes about PTSD: There are misconceptions about veterans and PTSD. While some veterans may experience PTSD, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t affect everyone who serves. Providing resources and creating a supportive work environment can help veterans with – or without – PTSD thrive in the workplace.

Difficulty Transitioning to Civilian Life: The transition from military life to civilian life can be challenging for some veterans. Companies can ease this transition by offering mentorship programs and helping veterans understand the company culture.

Competition for Veteran Talent: The construction industry is increasingly recognizing the value of veterans. This means there’s more competition for top talent. Offering competitive salaries and benefits, a positive work environment, and clear career paths will help you attract and retain veterans.

Understanding Veteran Benefits: Many veterans receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It’s important for construction companies to be familiar with these benefits and how they may impact payroll.

Construction Salary Benchmarking for Veterans

Staying competitive in the construction industry requires offering competitive salaries and benefits. Construction salary benchmarking allows you to compare average salaries for different construction positions in your geographic area.

Here are some resources for construction salary benchmarking:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides salary data for various construction trades – https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/construction-laborers-and-helpers.htm.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): The NAHB offers salary surveys for construction jobs – https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2023/03/nahb-releases-salary-bonus-and-benefit-data-for-39-jobs-across-the-home-building-industry.
• Salary.com: Salary.com provides salary data for a wide range of construction positions, including veteran-specific companies –https://www.indeed.com/cmp/US-Department-of-Veterans-Affairs/salaries?job_category=construction.

Once you have a good understanding of average salaries in your area, you can adjust your compensation packages to attract top veteran talent.

Tips for Construction Workforce Management Teams

• Develop a veteran recruitment strategy: Target organizations that support veterans, such as veteran service organizations and military bases.
• Highlight veteran-friendly benefits: Promote your company’s commitment to veterans in your job postings and company materials.
• Offer mentorship programs: Pair new veteran hires with experienced mentors to help them adjust to the civilian workplace.
• Provide resources for mental health: Offer resources and support services to veterans who may be struggling with mental health challenges.
• Be flexible with work schedules: Consider offering flexible work schedules to accommodate veterans with disabilities or family commitments.

How eBacon Payroll and Workforce Management Software Can Help

Managing payroll for a veteran workforce can be complex, especially when it comes to veteran benefits and deductions. eBacon simplifies this process by offering a user-friendly platform that streamlines payroll for veterans.

Here are some key features of eBacon that can benefit construction companies with a veteran workforce:

• Tax Withholding Management: eBacon handles complex tax withholding rules for veterans, including federal and state income taxes, FICA taxes, and state and local taxes. This takes the burden off your payroll team and ensures compliance with tax regulations.
• Garnishment & Deduction Management: eBacon can handle court-ordered garnishments for veterans, such as child support payments. This ensures that these deductions are made accurately and on time.
• Customizable Reporting: eBacon provides customizable reports that allow you to track veteran employee benefits and deductions easily. This helps you stay organized and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
• User-friendly Interface: eBacon’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for payroll administrators to manage veteran benefits and deductions. Even if you don’t have extensive payroll experience, you can quickly learn how to use the system.
• Security and Compliance: eBacon takes data security seriously. The platform uses industry-standard security measures to protect your company’s data and your employees’ personal information.

Additional Benefits of eBacon for Construction Companies

In addition to streamlining payroll for veterans, eBacon offers several other benefits for construction companies:

• Reduced Administrative Costs: eBacon automates many time-consuming payroll tasks, which can save your company money on administrative costs.
• Improved Accuracy: eBacon reduces the risk of errors in payroll calculations, which can save you money on penalties and fines.
• Increased Efficiency: eBacon streamlines the entire payroll process, freeing up your payroll team to focus on other important tasks.
• Employee Self-Service: eBacon allows employees to access their paystubs, tax documents, and other payroll information online. This can save your HR team time and improve employee satisfaction.

Hiring Veterans in Construction is a Smart Investment

Hiring veterans is a smart investment for construction companies. Veterans bring a wealth of skills, experience, and dedication to the workplace. By offering competitive salaries and benefits, a supportive work environment, and using eBacon to streamline payroll, you can attract and retain top talent for veterans in construction.

eBacon is a valuable tool for construction companies that want to streamline payroll for their veteran workforce. The platform’s user-friendly interface, automated features, and robust security features make it an easy choice for companies of all sizes.

By investing in veterans in construction and using eBacon to simplify payroll, you can build a stronger workforce.

The material presented here is educational in nature and is not intended to be, nor should be relied upon, as legal or financial advice. Please consult with an attorney or financial professional for advice.