Increasing Employee Turnover in HVAC

Talented Labor is Hard to Find, and Keep

It’s not news to hear that the HVAC industry has been experiencing a labor shortage for some time now. As far back as 2016, the situation was characterized as “severe,” with the demand for skilled labor expected to increase by at least 15% within a decade.

We’re halfway into that decade now, and the situation is only getting worse. In the wake of COVID, HVAC contractors have seen surging demand. Construction is booming as projects sidelined for a year or more come online, while at the same time older facilities are retrofitting or upgrading existing systems to improve air quality.

Rather than worrying about the competition, most duct fabricators and HVAC installers know they could win more business, if only they had the workers needed to fulfill contracts.

Making the situation worse, your competition may not be looking to win jobs away from you but to steal your most talented employees. Any worker who is capable, productive, and reliable can trade up to a new position where the grass is greener.

For large organization, this can be a painful hassle. For small companies, the loss of good talent can be devastating.

The True Cost of Employee Turnover

Employee loses may be voluntary or involuntary. We’ve all heard how after a couple of years of COVID stress, people are rethinking their employment and their careers. You may have people leaving to take on new challenges in different industries. Others may be looking for better pay and positions. And, of course, there are those whose low performance, absenteeism, or attitude may single them out for dismissal.

No matter the reason for employee turnover, an article on Builtin.com estimates the cost of replacing talent at $1500 per hourly employee and up to 100%, or even 150% of salary for technical positions.

A recent article in SNIPS Magazine delivers even more daunting figures, citing a study that put the cost to replace an entry level, minimum wage employee at up to $5,500.

Or course, dollar figures speak to recruiting, onboarding, and training costs, but there’s much more to worry about. Employee turnover results in:

• Low morale and lost productivity.
• Production and service errors.
• Lowered customer satisfaction.
• A race to the exits by other employees.

In today’s employment environment, duct fabricators and HVAC contractors can’t afford to take employee retention for granted. It’s important to focus on recruitment and attention with the same intensity as completing jobs on time and on budget.

Benchmark and set goals for employee retention. Don’t assume employee satisfaction, but discern though interviews and feedback opportunities what your company can do to make the talent you have feel like they’re making a difference.

Partnering Services Can Provide Some Backup

How can The Cincinnatus Group help your business compete in an environment of high turnover combined with a labor shortage? Our core focus is on systematic ductwork materials management. We offer advanced partnering services that can bolster or replace some of your most skilled positions.

Contracted Duct Take Off Services

Taking off duct work is one of the most error prone and inefficient processes in our industry. It stands to reason that reducing errors in pricing, eliminating double data entry, and optimizing the process for fast turnaround will help you win more bids.

CAD & BIM Services

Today, construction projects, project managers, and architects want more than metal. They’re looking for installation models so precise, they minimize field alterations (saving enormously on labor). They want a visual, easily accessible means for architects, engineers, and owners to work together in resolving conflicts through coordination meetings.

These needs are answered by offering experienced Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Building Information Management (BIM) systems.

White Labeled Services

When you work with The Cincinnatus Group, our services can be white labeled under your brand, or our consulting experts can help you build up your own internal systems to match the same precision and quality of results we deliver.

As your partner in success, The Cincinnatus Group helps your organization stand out in its marketplace, win more bids, save substantial costs through optimized processes, and build the knowledge and skills your own team needs to continually meet new challenges effectively and profitably.

To learn how we can help your company take the next step, give us a call today at 878.295.8009 or visit our Contact Us page.

Why Choose The Cincinnatus Group?

The Cincinnatus Group has served the HVAC Industry for over 17 years. Our expertise is backed up by a wide range of experience, enabling us to deliver services and insightful reviews and recommendations that few others can match.

Our strong work ethic, accountability, and pursuit of excellence set us apart from other HVAC ductwork designers, and our unique expertise and proprietary ductwork estimating systems make us unique among our competitors.

At The Cincinnatus Group, we like to say that we are “called to solve, where others struggle.” Our fabrication partners gain access to our unique experience and expertise, proprietary ductwork material systems, and our construction technology integration experts.

Our assets help you navigate the ever-changing markets of the 21st century. To learn more, call The Cincinnatus Group at 878-295-8009, or visit our Contact Us page today.