Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” In short, learning should never stop. Rather than seeing learning as trip with a final destination, it should be seen as a lifelong journey that never ends. This is the concept behind ongoing learning—learning continues beyond the classroom and testing center. It’s a concept that is as true in the construction industry as it is in any other industry, and it can only benefit your construction industry. Here’s why.

Why You Should Emphasize Ongoing Learning

Ongoing learning can and should take many forms for your construction operations. It can include creating mentor-mentee relationships for new employees, requiring workers to get certifications (that you pay for) beyond those required, hosting morning toolbox talks, sending workers to conferences and workshops, and more. Ongoing learning can focus on topics like safety, the processes within your construction niche, new technology, tools and equipment, mental health, addiction and drug use, interpersonal interactions, and more.

There are numerous reasons why every construction operation should adopt an ongoing learning model for its workers. They include:

  1. Best Practices Can Change. For most things in the construction industry, there are a few different ways to get a job done, and some ways are better than others. However, new processes are always being developed, and your employees will hear about them the quickest if you show them. They will also learn new “Best Practices” the right way from the start. 
  2. Technology Advances Almost Daily. Technological advances can revolutionize how your construction site operates, but there is generally a lot to learn when adopting new tech. Ongoing learning allows employees to use and learn the tech to an expert level.
  3. Rules and Regulations Change. OSHA standards, state and local laws, insurance requirements and more can all change, meaning your employees will need to be taught new information and processes. 
  4. Humans Make Mistakes. Workers can be tired, ill, or otherwise distracted, making it more likely they could fall back on bad habits to cut corners. Ongoing learning emphasizes the correct processes for any job and emphasizes the dangers and pitfalls of cutting corners.
  5. Practice Makes Perfect. Ongoing learning emphasizes the processes and methods you want workers to use on your jobsites. It gives everyone from apprentices and new employees to management and seasoned workers the opportunity to perfect their craft.
  6. Creates a Company Culture. Ongoing learning sets the tone for your company. If you want to be able to say your company is “safety-centered,” is “committed to excellence,” and “delivers quality every time”—and really mean it!—then ongoing learning is the way.
  7. Shows You Value Employees. Ongoing learning is an investment in your employees and shows that your company values them and their skills. Employees can have a great deal of loyalty to a company that shows it is truly invested in its workers.

There’s another Einstein quote: “Once you stop learning, you start dying,” and it means that the alternative to ongoing learning is stagnation for your company.

At Tucker Paving, our employees are the heart of the operation. We have nearly 30 years of experience in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. We utilize our expertise for residential, commercial, and municipal clients alike. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or fill out our contact form online, and let us help you with your next concrete or asphalt paving project!