Labour management practices on construction sites and some of their consequences

Cheetham, D W (1982) Labour management practices on construction sites and some of their consequences. Construction Papers, 1(3), pp. 37-53. ISSN 0144-8587

Abstract

Contractors' methods of obtaining work and the consequent employment pattern for operatives are described. Declared employment policies are contrasted with the actual practices observed on sites. It is suggested that the measures labour turnover and labour stability, which originated in the manufacturing industry, are both inadequate and inappropriate for construction sites. Data gathered on sites are reported and a method is devised for distinguishing changes in numbers employed which result because of changes in the nature and quantity of work from changes occurring for other reasons. Operatives' employment experiences are reported and their reasons for job changing discussed.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: labour; management; construction site; site operation
Index terms: management practice, turnover, construction site, manufacturing industry, stability, site operation, operative, employment
Subjects: operations management, business management, practitioner, structural engineering, work location, industry analysis, management
Topics: Engineering Principles, Human Resources, Site Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions
Descriptive scope: 2 PC

N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here