M AY 2 0 1 6 | I S S U E 5 / V O L U M E 2 2 2W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

Tips to Boost Your Productivity

Get More Done.

Why We (Kinda) Suckat Productivity–and Easy

Ways to Improve p.6

Stop Wasting Time:Improve Your Field

Productivity p.14

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UNITEDCONTRACTORS

UNITEDCONTRACTORS m

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United Contractors Magazine (ISSN: 2166-3777) is published monthly, except December, by United Contractors, 17 Crow Canyon Court, Suite 100, San Ramon, CA 94583. Editorial comments, letters, and article submissions are welcomed and encouraged. Correspondence should be directed to the United Contractors office at the above address, by phone at (925) 855-7900, by e-mail at info@unitedcontractors.org or by fax at (925) 855-7909. Reproduction of editorial material in this issue is permitted if accompanied by proper source credit. Periodicals postage paid at San Ramon, CA and other offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: United Contractors Magazine, 17 Crow Canyon Court, Suite 100, San Ramon, CA 94583. © 2016 Published in the U.S.A.

2016 UNITED CONTRACTORS BOARD OFFICERS

President ...........................................Donna Rehrmann

Vice President/President-Elect .................. Brett Kincaid

Secretary/Treasurer .................................. Brett Kincaid

Secretary/Treasurer-Elect.......................... Kim Scruggs

contentsUNITED CONTRACTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORSKevin Albanese, Joseph J. Albanese, Inc.; Bruce Daseking, McGuire and Hester; Paul Cianciarulo, Graniterock; Steve Clark, Granite Construction Company; Randy Jenco, Viking Construction Company; Brett Kincaid, O’Grady Paving, Inc.; Michael Landucci, Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.; Mike McGrath, Graniterock; Christi Plum, P C & N Construction, Inc.; Donna Rehrmann, Stomper Company, Inc.; Mary Rotelli, Teichert Inc.; Kim Scruggs, Columbia Electric, Inc.; Guy Smith, St. Francis Electric LLC; Dominic Sposeto, Vanguard Construction; Hal Stober, Gordon N. Ball, Inc.

UNITED CONTRACTORS COMMITTEE CHAIRSAssociates: Mike McGrath (Associate Director), Graniterock; Michael Landucci (Associate Director-Elect), Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc. | Caltrans: Michael Ghilotti (Chairman), Ghilotti Bros., Inc. | Legislative: Rob Layne, O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. | Political Action (PAC): Chris Young (Chairman), D.W. Young Construction Co., Inc. | Safety & Insurance: Paul Evans, Ghilotti Construction Co. | Attorney Roundtable (ART): Facilitated by Mark Breslin | SF City Contractor Liaison: Mike Ghilotti (Chairman), Ghilotti Bros., Inc., Miguel Galarza (Chairman), Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction, Inc. | Scholarship: Michael Landucci, Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

UNITED CONTRACTORS STAFFMark Breslin, Chief Executive Officer; Leslie Lord, Deputy Director; Kelly Montes, Executive Assistant to CEO; Randy Ruby, Director of Labor Relations; Ruby Varnadore, Labor Contracts Manager; Lucia Maramonte, Labor & Member Services Representative; Steve Geney, Labor Negotiations Consultant; Shelbie Tieman, Director of Finance & Administration; Terese Pollock, Finance Assistant; Katrina Bauchou, Administrative Assistant; Stacy Anderson, Director Communications, Events & Education; Denise Ramirez, Online Services Manager; Joan O’Brien, Education Manager; Marlo Fregulia, Event Manager; Angelica Hobbs, Event Assistant; Michelle Vejby, Publications Manager; Emily Cohen, Director of Government Relations; Man-Li Kelly, Legislative & Policy Affairs Manager; Julia Phillips, Assistant to Director of Government Relations; Eddie Bernacchi, Legislative Advocate; Christopher Lee, Safety Consultant; Tony Dorsa, CARB Consultant

M AY 2 0 1 6 5

M AY 2 0 1 6 | I S S U E 5 / V O L U M E 2 2 2W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

Tips to Boost Your Productivity

Get More Done.

Why We (Kinda) Suckat Productivity–and Easy

Ways to Improve p.6

Stop Wasting Time:Improve Your Field

Productivity p.14

6 UP Front Why We Kinda Suck at Productivity(and Easy Things To Do To Improve It)By Mark Breslin, UCON CEO

LABOR• UCON-Laborers Business Strategy Meeting• Spotlight on Negotiations:

UCON-OE3 Master AgreementBy UCON Labor Relations & Member Services

INSIDE The CapitolMaximizing Advocacy: How to Get the Most Out of UCON’s Advocacy EffortsEmily Cohen, Director of Government Relations

MAY 2016I S S U E 5 , V O L U M E 2 2 2

8

More Inside:

www.unitedcontractors.org

22 FACES24 WE ARE UCON26 NEXT UP - EVENTS28 NEXT UP - EDUCATION30 SAFETY CORNER34 LAST CALL

C O N N E C T W I T HU N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S :

12

• Improve Field Productivity• How to Be More Productive at Work• Improving Management Productivity• Multitasking is Not the Devil

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PRODUCTIVITYT R E N D I N G N O W

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Why We Kinda Suck at Productivity(And Easy Things To Do To Improve It)

• Emphasize productivity. Every week on every job we emphasize safety. Everyone knows it’s important—and now we have a culture of zero accidents and injuries expected. How about using those 50 meetings a year to deliver a message on the importance of productivity and staying on task and pre-planning and…there is no limit, but you have to push the message to create behavior change.

• Pre-job planning. The best job process I have seen is where the person who bid the job confers with the person who is going to build the job. That means foremen need to be involved. That gap in communication and coordination is costly and often ends with office vs. field finger pointing instead of productivity and profit enhancement.

• Goal setting. Spend some time this season discussing the importance of daily and weekly production goal setting by foremen and superintendents. How to do it, and how to communicate it to their crews.

• Accountability. Just as safety is all about accountability, so must personal effort and performance. It’s always “boss before friend”. No one gets slack cut just because they’ve always been here. No one gets entitled because they hang out with their foreman. No one gets to roll in 25 minutes late 2x per week.

• Invest in technology and the training to get it right. A lot of companies have good technology, but the learning and adaptive curve for the employees is all over the place. And a lot of Boomers kind of refuse to adapt at all. Give people the time and resources to learn it well-and use it effectively.

• Incentivize your foremen to ask their crews for ideas on better, faster, smarter, safer. Engaged and involved employees produce more in all workplaces.

• Provide leadership training. Focused on continuous learning and upgrades for your PMs, Superintendents and Foremen (see UCON programs specifically geared for PMs, foremen and senior managers). The younger generations

Productivity in our industry, for the most part, sucks. Part of it is your people. Part of it is you. Most of it can be improved. But it is going to require a focused effort.

A recent study of major capital construction projects showed that on average, most craft workers are actively on their tools just over about 50% of the time on an 8 hour shift. The remainder of the time is eaten by things like waiting for materials, start and stopping for break times, extended breaks/early departures, wrong tools available, poor planning delays, and related. So here are ways to improve productivity for your field operations that can help everyone from sucking this construction season:

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of leaders today are hungry to learn and improve. Many companies are seeing significant returns and improvements in retention on this investment of time and money.

• Emphasize positive reinforcement. Praise and recognition is the number one motivator in the workplace. This is almost absent in rough and tough construction environments. Do it. Teach it. Make it part of the workplace culture and leadership value system.

In closing there is one more critically important way to improve productivity. But you have to be open to change.

Productivity in the end depends on the people—but the systems they operate within can dictate results in a big way too. We have a lot of people in this industry willing to work their asses off, and many times they are limited by systems, policies, or management. It is senior management’s role to move these obstacles out of their way. So for the final strategy, starting today, do what I try to do and ask these two questions over and over.

#1. So what do you need to do your best work? #2. What stands in the way right now of you doing it?

Careful though. If you ask, you have to be prepared to act. Gaining on productivity means gaining on engagement and effort, too. So be committed to it and you will see the gains that can make a big difference to your schedules, quality and bottom line. u

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8 W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

UCON-LABORERS BUSINESS STRATEGY MEETING United Contractors members, labor staff, and representatives from the Northern California Laborers leadership met in Napa at the end of March. The focus was on both relationship-building and strategic planning, with labor and management sharing challenges and ideas.

LABOR By UCON’s Labor and Member Services Department

“At these retreats, we have been afforded the opportunity to really work together as industry partners. We are able to discuss and collaborate on areas of mutual concern and interest that we could not do during the bargaining cycle.”— Donna Rehrmann, Stomper Company, Inc.

Key items discussed included:• Non-union competition and organizing• Skilled workforce issues—recruitment and

retention, as well as complying with recent legislation and developing supervisory employees

• Subcontracting and one-job agreements

There will be opportunities throughout the rest of this year at our Industry Partner Meetings to continue those collaborative discussions. Please contact Randy Ruby, Director of Labor Relations, if you are interested in participating.

Thank you to all of our contractor members who attended and contributed to the success of this meeting:• Ron Bianchini; Preston Pipelines, Inc.• Robert Chrisp; Chrisp Company• Michael Ghilotti; Ghilotti Bros., Inc.• Greg Goebel, Jr.; Goebel Construction, Inc.• Kevin Hester; McGuire and Hester• Rusty Hoseley; Hoseley Corporation• Randy Jenco; Viking Construction Company• David Kennedy; RGW Construction, Inc.• Dina Kimble; Royal Electric Company• Donna Rehrmann; Stomper Company, Inc.• Joseph Rehrmann; Stomper Company, Inc.• Samantha Santana; Bay Area Traffic Solutions• Bardie Scarbrough; Granite Construction Company• Jack Shewmaker; Viking Construction Company• Robert Spinardi; St. Francis Electric LLC

“One of our best Laborer’s Retreats yet! Great food and wine tasting, and good camaraderie—but the commitment to addressing the industry’s issues together as a team is a truly unprecedented effort!”— Mike Ghilotti, Ghilotti Bros., Inc.

“Thank you to UCON for facilitating a great opportunity for us to work with leadership in the Laborers Union on strategy and goals that make a difference for us contractors in 2016.”— Dina Kimble, Royal Electric Company

M AY 2 0 1 6 9

Joseph Sweeney jsweeney@smwb.comRoger Mason rmason@smwb.comBrad Bosomworth bbosomworth@smwb.comStuart Schmidt sschmidt@smwb.comChristoper Olson colson@smwb.comRomin Thomson rthomson@smwb.com

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10 W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

SPOTLIGHT ON NEGOTIATIONS:NEW UCON-OE3 MASTER AGREEMENT Informal discussions concluded earlier this year for the settlement of a new four-year Master Agreement between United Contractors and Operating Engineers Local No. 3 for Northern California. The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will become effective July 1, 2016, immediately after the expiration of the current agreement. An interim prevailing wage determination was submitted to the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).

LABOR By UCON’s Labor and Member Services Department

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the negotiating team members for their dedication, and for all their contributions of time and expertise.

UCON Operating Engineers Negotiations Team:Rich Gates; DeSilva Gates Construction (Co-Chair)Steve Clark; Granite Construction Company (Co-Chair)Kevin J. Albanese; Joseph J. Albanese, Inc.Ron Bianchini; Preston Pipelines, Inc.Rob Doud; McGuire and HesterGreg Goebel, Jr.; Goebel Construction, Inc.Brett Kincaid; O’Grady Paving, Inc.Steve Lydon; TerraCon Constructors, Inc.Shirley Ow; GraniterockUnited Contractors Staff: Mark Breslin, Steve Geney, Randy Ruby, Leslie Lord, Ruby Varnadore

Highlights of the new agreement include:• Express waiver of California and other local (S.F.,

Oakland, Emeryville) paid sick leave laws, as well as language waiving any future paid sick leave laws that allow for CBA waivers

• Provisions to help signatory contractors be more competitive on private works - increased permissible ratio of apprentices, expansion of Entry Level Operator classification to 3000 hours

• New language on heat illness preventative recovery periods similar to language in other craft CBAs, subject to grievance procedures

• Adoption of Board of Trustee recommendations for creation of Vacation, Holiday & Sick Pay Trust Fund

Further information on the new agreement is available to our members in the Contractor Resource Library of the United Contractors website (www.unitedcontractors.org).

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Photo courtesy Shimmick Construction Company, Inc.

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Maximizing Advocacy:How to Get the Most Out of UCON’s Advocacy Efforts

UCON has some of the most engaged contractors of any association, nationwide. Our members contribute to our PAC, participate in UCON-hosted fundraisers for political candidates, utilize our online grassroots center to engage with their representatives, fly to DC with us each year to meet face-to-face with members of congress, attend our legislative roundtables with elected officials, lobby with us in Sacramento, and more! Your direct engagement has helped UCON earn a reputation of being one of the most engaged and effective member associations in state politics— regardless of industry. That is something to be proud of and it’s a reputation we must continue to build upon.

12 W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

INSIDE By Emily Cohen,Director of Government Relations

If you are looking for ways to make the most of UCON’s Advocacy program, strengthen the business environment for union-contractors and are interested in ways to engage your elected officials, consider the following opportunities:

4 Click on UCON’s Advocacy webpage. This is a great opportunity to quickly and efficiently review UCON’s legislative positions, read about key bills that impact our industry, and send a letter of support or opposition to your own elected official. In addition, it’s an easy way to engage your staff and others in your network about critical legislation that we need action on.

4 Maximize your support of the UCON PAC. The UCON PAC is our opportunity to “put our money where our mouth is” when speaking for union contractors. Through your member “dues-discount” donation, an independent contribution, or through the UCON annual PAC fundraiser, you can support the UCON PAC. This money is overseen by the UCON PAC Committee and is used to make direct contributions to candidates who support our industry. Contributing to the UCON PAC is an important way to strengthen the political voice for union contractors.

4 Meet face to face with your Representative. Set up a meeting with your elected officials: Assemblymember, State Senator or Member of

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Congress. Talk to them about the funding crises that face our industry, or a specific piece of legislation. UCON has the resources to assist you in this effort, and we are happy to facilitate.

4 Attend a UCON political roundtable or meet-and-greet. Each year, UCON hosts multiple roundtable meetings with elected officials. This is a unique opportunity for our members to engage with legislators in an intimate and industry-focused environment. Let us know if you’d like UCON to host a meet and greet with your representative!

4 Attend a UCON political fundraiser. Attend a UCON-hosted fundraiser for a politician. Each year UCON hosts a select number of private political fundraisers for key legislators who are our industry’s strongest allies. By contributing to one of these fundraisers you send the message that you support UCON’s advocacy efforts and stand with our industry.

4 Participate in UCON’s Government Relations focused committees. From the Legislative committee to Caltrans Committee, the San Francisco Liaison Committee to the Safety Committee, UCON has many opportunities for direct contractor engagement on the policy issues that impact your businesses daily. These are open committees that members are strongly encouraged to participate in.

4 Join us October 29th. This year’s Government Relations Auction will be held at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley. This is a fun, engaging and important opportunity to support UCON’s year-round advocacy efforts, including all lobbying efforts. Save the date and consider a sponsorship. We look forward to seeing you there (see page 26 for additional details)!

4 Support our Bond Measure Campaigns. UCON is the leading industry association when it comes to support for local industry bond measures. In 2016 alone, we anticipate over a dozen local transportation ballot measures on county ballots just in Northern CA. Stay engaged and participate in industry efforts to support the passage of these measures.

For more information on UCON’s legislative activities, and how you can get involved, contact Emily Cohen, Director of Government Relations at ecohen@unitedcontractors.org, (925) 362-7304. u

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PRODUCTIVITYT R E N D I N G N O W

Improve Field ProductivityTaking steps to eliminate wasted time on the jobsite can lead to significant savings

Finding ways to lower your field costs will allow you to be more competitive and profitable. Material costs are relatively the same for all contractors and typically can’t be reduced. For this reason, contractors must evaluate and address labor—the largest portion of most total job costs—in order to reduce field expenses.

Construction field production labor usually adds up to about one-third to half of the total job cost for most construction trades. The best and easiest method for lowering job costs is to start a productivity improvement program, which consists of small, simple steps toward productivity. Each step or standard in the program will reduce your costs by small percentage points, which will add up to large overall improvements in your business.

Imagine setting a company goal to improve your annual field labor costs by 10 percent, which is the equivalent of six minutes per hour. Could you make a commitment to achieve a six-minute improvement per hour? Would it improve your bottom line enough to make it worthwhile? Let’s look at the numbers:

Total annual sales = $1,000,000 Total annual labor at 33% of total sales = $ 333,000 Improve labor productivity with 10% savings = $ 33,000 Net annual labor savings = 3.3 %

For a small labor productivity improvement of only 10 percent, your company is now 3.3 percent more competitive in the marketplace. By reducing your overall costs by 10 percent, you also may be able to increase your total volume, which will add even more to your net profit. With that in mind, what simple standards can you implement to improve your field labor costs?

Steps to Improved ProductivityThe average construction field crew wastes approximately two to four hours per day. Improving field labor costs starts with identifying and fixing areas that are slowing down your crew or holding them back from operating at their maximum capacity. These productivity pressure points are caused by many field project factors including poor planning, lack of supervision, untrained crews, lack of materials, the wrong equipment, waiting for decisions, bad attitudes, mistakes, unordered workflow, missing materials, broken or lack of proper tools or no standard field systems.

To get started making your production fix-it list, first observe your crews for a full day. Get to the jobsite before they arrive, and be the last to leave. Take a look at their start times, end times, break times, if and when the crew meets with their foreman, how they roll out the tools, if they keep the site clean, how they care for tools, if their storage area is organized, how often and how far they have to walk to the restroom, cellphone use, smoking while working, location of power poles and access gates, site layout and logistics, location of trash bins, jobsite congestion, crew production activities versus waiting for their boss to show them what to do, or any other activity that is distractive or disruptive to a productive workflow.

By George Hedley,Hardhat Presentations

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To find simple ways to fix these problems, gather your field crew and ask for their ideas and input for improving productivity. Start by establishing standardized companywide employee job rules. Get everyone to consider and agree on the following rules and questions, and use this list to create simple standards for your firm:

• What is start and finish time?• What is roll-out and roll-up time?• Enforce a 30-minute lunch and 15-minute breaks• No smoking or cellphone use• Clear drug and alcohol policies• Policies for use of safety attire, gear and hard hats• Daily crew meetings and cleanup• Weekly punch list completion• Jobsite safety inspection• Who is in charge when the foreman leaves?• Equipment operation rules• Jobsite logistics and layout• Material storage location to reduce transportation• Trash bin locations and requirements

The Rules—No ExcusesMany foremen don’t want to deal with a set of standard rules that are often difficult to enforce. In reality, these factors can add up to wasted dollars. When employees know what the rules are, they follow them. I always explain what I call The McDonald’s Rule: If employees at McDonald’s can’t do it, we can’t either. If a McDonald’s employee is late, he doesn’t keep his job for long. McDonald’s employees can’t smoke or use cellphones while working. Long breaks or lunches result in a warning and docked pay. No excuses or exceptions. The same should be true at any construction company.

By implementing these field standards, your productivity will improve by at least 10 percent. Involve your team or start a competition to find ways to save money by being more organized, planning better and setting simple and clear standards for everyone to follow. u

George Hedley is a licensed business coach, professional speaker and author of Get Your Business to Work! and The Business Success Blueprint for Contractors. He works with business owners to build profitable companies. Email gh@hardhatpresentations.com to request your free copy of Winning Ways to Win More Work! or sign up for his free monthly e-newsletter. To hire Hedley as your BIZ-COACH, to speak or to be part of his ongoing peer mastermind BIZ-GROUP, call 800-851-8553 or visit hardhatpresentations.com. Article edited from Construction Business Owner, online, July 2014, www.constructionbusinessowner.com.

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Work smarter, not harder. We need to be smarter about how we work. We need to prioritize better and make sure we have a good work-life balance. Here are some tips for how you can be more productive at work:

Don’t Work Overtime—Working Overtime Will Burn You Out.In most companies, productivity and loyalty are

measured by how many hours an employee spends at their desk.

Judging loyalty and productivity by hours worked is the wrong attitude to have, as research clearly shows that it lowers performance and causes mental and physical health issues.

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that working longer hours reduces your cognitive functions.

Researchers asked subjects to complete different tests measuring vocabulary and verbal recall. Those who worked 55 hours per week showed poorer vocabulary and reasoning than those that worked 40 hours.

Working longer hours increases your risk of depression. All that time spent sitting at your desk at work does massive damage to your body (seriously, research found that people who sat for 11 hours or more each day had a 40 percent higher chance of dying from any cause; Entrepreneur, April 2015—go to unitedcontractors.org/media-center/ucon-magazine for 17 desk stretches that might save your life).

People who work longer report sleeping less, which has enormous effects on your health and causes you to be less productive at work.

By Jacob Shriar,OfficeVibe.com

How To Be More Productive At Work(Backed by Science)

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Try to Get Natural Light (if you work indoors)—It Makes You More AlertMany people might not have the luxury of being able to sit near a window, but for them I’d say try and go outside as much as you can.

Research shows that getting that natural light from a window will lead to a better night’s sleep. When you get a better night’s sleep, you’ll come in well rested the next day and be much more productive.

Northwestern researcher Ivy Cheung tracked workers, where half of them worked near a window, and the other half worked in windowless rooms.

The workers that sat near the windows slept for an average of 47 minutes longer each night. Plus, office workers who sit near windows have lower rates of absenteeism.

Learn to Say No—It Helps You FocusIn order to have the best return for your investment of time on tasks, you need to prioritize and stay

Continued on next page

IMPROVING MANAGEMENT PRODUCTIVITYTop 10 Ideas for Saving Time

Improve “filters” for your email (“Sane” email)

Flag emails that need action

Spend your time on what you’re good at = use your strength more

Decide if a task can be delegated to someone with the strength to do it

Make separate “To Do Lists” for personal and business

Use electronic calendars

Cancel voicemail use

Use internal messaging (“Slack”)

Follow effective meeting practices

Communicate progress vs. plan frequently (Use Visible Dash Boards)

Source: The CEO Roundtable… a group of CEOs from 14 different and diverse companies who meet monthly to learn from each other. Their objective is to improve as leaders and do their jobs better for the success of their business. During a recent session each CEO shared the “best practice” which they use to save time and get more done in their jobs. The CEOs agree that “time” is the number one resource they must manage more productively. They hope this list of “Top 10 Ideas for Saving Time” is helpful to all managers who read it.

Contributed by Jim Cederna, Coach for the CEO Round-table April 2016, Moderator for UCON’s L.I.N.C. 2014 program. He can be reached at Cederna International, Inc., (412) 736-8310, jim@cedernainternational.com, or visit his website at www.cedernainternational.com.

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laser-focused. There’s no way that you could accomplish everything on your to-do list, and every little interruption costs you time.

Learn how to say no to things that won’t have a significant return for you, and focus your efforts where it will make a difference. It’s much better to do 5 things incredibly well, then 10 things half-ass.

Saying “no” is easier said than done, because we all want to be nice to others, but it will help you get ahead.

Don’t Be A Perfectionist—RelaxOver the years, there have been several studies that have found links between perfectionism and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and increased suicide risk. Studies have also found links between perfectionism and physical problems like asthma, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome. This is most likely due to the amount of stress perfectionists place on themselves. Research has also shown that perfectionists have a 51 percent increased risk of death due to high levels of stress.

If you’re a perfectionist, you need to learn to relax and let things go. It’s very likely that you will burnout because perfectionists are never satisfied, so they’re always overworking. Seriously, just relax.

Take Time to ThinkDowntime helps the brain to process information, be more creative, and form stable memories.

Go for a Walk—Increase Problem-Solving SkillsWalking has been shown to increase people’s problem-solving skills. The effects of sitting all day at work take a serious toll on your health. Sitting has been called the new smoking, and it’s encouraged to get up and walk at a minimum every 30 minutes.

Researchers at Stanford University wanted to look at the effects of walking vs. sitting. They found that creativity improved by an average of 60% when the person was

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walking. Even more interesting, they found that it was simply the act of moving, not necessarily being outside in nature that spurred creativity. In their experiment, the participants that were indoors and on a treadmill were more creative.

Walking meetings are a great idea, because they make you more creative and take you out of your usual context, which helps you come up with new ideas.

Work in Sprints—to Increase EnergyMore than 50 years ago, a sleep researcher named Nathan Kleitman discovered that at night when we sleep, we go through a period of light to deep, then back to light. This process takes 90 minutes.

He later discovered, that our bodies operate by the same 90 minute rhythm during the day.

When we’re awake, the movement is from higher to lower alertness. This is what’s known as our “ultradian rhythm.”

Many of us will ignore what our bodies are trying to tell us and try and eat or grab another coffee to power through the day. This is the wrong way to go about working. We need to take time to rest and recuperate, to come back feeling fresh and ready to go. u

By Jacob Shriar, Director of Content at Officevibe; reprinted (with editing) from the Officevibe blog, July 2015, officevibe.com. For the entire article, plus additional company culture content, visit their website today; you’ll learn something new and fresh to help your company push ahead.

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Multitasking is Not the DevilTake it from me, I’ve been a multitasker my whole life–it’s all those distractions that get in the way

Work on just one project? One thing at a time? Don’t be a perfectionist? I’m doomed. Two strikes. According to all of the recent business articles on successfully increasing productivity, multitasking (as well as perfectionism) must be put aside. I say, no way! Multitasking is not the devil, and if your goal is zero-incidents out in the field, then a perfectionist is exactly what you need to be.

Putting together a better to-do list, and minimizing your distractions will help you perfect your own multitasking skills.

A Successful To-Do ListIs your to-do list adding to your stress level? There is a better way. When making that list, break projects down into more manageable tasks, instead of one, exhausting item. Then, work on the important stuff first. Reorganize throughout the day, so that you have at least some, unterrupted time to get through a few of those important tasks. As you complete items (whether they are on the list or not—because we multitaskers all know how things get “added” to the list throughout the day), be sure to write a separate “done” list. You’ll see that you’ve accomplished more in the entire day (large projects or small).

Towards the end of the day add some review time. Take a look back on your list and the projects you have worked on, and what exactly got completed (or at least achieved the anticipated progress):

• Did you need another person on the job site today? Did you have too many people on site? Was the equipment sitting idle for more than a couple hours? How will you communicate your needs for the next work day? What will change tomorrow?

By Michelle Vejby,Publications Manager

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Do not end your day without at least some mental preparation for the next work day. Or if you are feeling daring, write out the next day’s list.

Minimize Your Distractions—Just say “No”It’s not only important to minimize your own distractions, but also the distractions of your team. Schedule the day. If you are on site, make sure that everyone understands the schedule, and communicates with eachother. Then when complications (and distractions) arise that may alter the schedule, people are better able to talk with each other, and ultimately achieve a solution.

Plus remember that distractions are exactly that—things that prevent you from giving your full attention to something else (normally something that you need to finish). Say No to distractions that keep you from completing your projects (those “important tasks” from your to-do list). The real key is knowing whether or not the distraction will have an effect on the final project outcome.

Reward Yourself— Break TimeGetting through items on the list? Time to take a break. Studies show that taking a break at work helps to keep us focused, retain information, make connections, stay healthy, oh, and increase our productivity. There are great new break methods: the Pomodoro, 90-minute work cycles, two 15-minute breaks per day (yawn), and more. What can you do for a break? Let’s make a list: take a walk, eat, read, check email, get coffee, listen to music...

Take a look at www.open.buffer.com/science-taking-breaks-at-work/ to learn about the break methods listed above and great ideas for your next break. Your brain will thank you as you get back to multitasking that to-do list. u

Michelle Vejby is UCON’s Publication Manager. Connect with her on LinkedIn, mvejby@unitedcontractors.org, or (925) 413-4038.

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FACESFEARLESS FOREMEN–LEADING STRATEGIES THAT HIT HOME Change starts from within. This is the focus of UCON’s cutting edge Fearless Foreman Seminar, held Thursday, April 7th. UCON’s CEO, Mark Breslin, led students through interactive strategy sessions with his “No BS” approach, challenging participants to rethink how they would like to be portrayed in the industry by providing methods, techniques, and people-skill behaviors to elevate themselves as the true professionals they are. No other program in the construction industry provides this uniquely focused training. Did you miss it? The next seminar is scheduled for October 13th. For more information visit www.unitedcontractors.org.

“I am happy to see that this is being put out and someone cares. I am living this right now and I can see results every day.”

“Great insight and direction for me being a young Foreman just starting my career.”

“I am inspired to do a better job elevating myself to elevate others.”

“If every foreman went through this training, it would impact our trade for the better.”

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UCON

MAY ANNIVERSARIESUnited Contractors would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank the following companies who are celebrating their anniversary of membership with our organization in May:

39 YEARS – 1977Associate Member:Reed & Graham, Inc.Sal Guido

25 YEARS – 1991Associate Members:J.M Turner Engineering, Inc.Adrianus Vermeulen

United RentalsGeorge Calligeros

23 YEARS – 1993Associate Member:R & B CompanyReed Mack

18 YEARS – 1998Contractor Member:Power EngineeringConstruction Co.Ken Lindberg

Associate Member:Burnham BrownAndrew Shalauta

17 YEARS – 1999Contractor Member:Columbia Electric, Inc.Jo Anne Scruggs

16 YEARS – 2000Contractor Members:MCK Services, Inc.Mark Hazen

Proven Management, Inc.Alan Varela

Sposeto Engineering, Inc.John Sposeto

Associate Member:All American RentalsMike Carter

15 YEARS – 2001Contractor Member:Duran & Venables, Inc.Sean Venables

14 YEARS – 2002Contractor Member:Yerba Buena Engineering &Construction, Inc.Miguel Galarza

12 YEARS – 2004Contractor Members:Shimmick ConstructionCompany, Inc.Paul Cocotis

Shimmick ConstructionCompany, Inc./ObayashiCorporation JVPaul Cocotis

Vanguard ConstructionDominic Sposeto

Associate Members:Central Concrete Supply Co., Inc.Dave Perry

RDO–VermeerMark Meyer

22 YEARS – 1994Associate Member:TravelersBob Garaventa

20 YEARS – 1996Contractor Member:Andrew M. Jordan Inc.dba A & B ConstructionAndrew Jordan

19 YEARS – 1997Contractor Member:T & S Construction Co., Inc.Arthur Spinella

• Employment Law Counseling • Employment Litigation

• Prevailing Wage Compliance • Labor Commissioner Matters

• Wage-Hour Class Action Defense • Trust Funds Litigation

• Arbitrations, EEOC, and NLRB • Employment Contracts

• Union Disputes • Employee Handbooks

• Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition

website: www.sgijlaw.com

◆

SIMPSON, GARRITY, INNES & JACUZZI, P.C.Attorneys At Law

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Paul V. Simpson, Ronald F. Garrityand Marc L. Jacuzzi

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N O V / D E C 2 0 1 3 35M AY 2 0 1 6 25

11 YEARS – 2005Contractor Members:Las Vegas Paving, Inc.Bill Wellman

Lewis and Tibbitts, Inc.Buster Segura

10 YEARS – 2006Associate Member:BakerCorpMatt Garay

9 YEARS – 2007Contractor Member:Waller, Inc.Michael Waller8 YEARS – 2008Contractor Member:Bayside Stripe & Seal, Inc.Ramy Mughannam

6 YEARS – 2010Associate Members:Adler Tank RentalsErik Peters

3 YEARS – 2013Contractor Member:Sierra Traffic Markings, Inc.Ron JohnsonAssociate Member:Prestige Printing and GraphicsRose Maloney

2 YEARS – 2014Contractor Members:Berkeley Cement, Inc. (BCI)Ron Fadelli

Labor Services, Inc.Greg Goebel

R. E. Maher, Inc.Rod MaherTucker EngineeringPete Benson

Valley Demolition, Inc.Monica SalinasAssociate Members:California Rock Crusher Corp.Anthony BeatoPentaRisk Insurance Services LLCJim UntiedtThe Management Advantage, Inc.William H. TruesdellValley ServicesMike Salinas

1 YEAR – 2015Associate Members:AGTEK Development Company, Inc.Bill CopeBay Area Backhoes, Inc.Greg ChiaravalleHSG Safety Supplies, Inc.Harry GrewalRhumbixZachary Scheel

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SOLUTIONWhen they were selected general contractor for the new Carlsbad Desalination Plant project, Kiewit Shea Desali-nation turned to Trench Shoring Company. The challenge: Protect the water delivery pipeline during excavation,bed and pipe installation. This pipeline would produceseawater desalination of 50 million gallons per day. Our solution? Provide 287 trench shields, plus heavy-dutyZ-Shores™, Trench Tops® (steel plates), hydraulic walersystems, Flo-Line™, gas monitors and other shields tosuccessfully deal with wide varieties of soils and trench depths. Trench Shoring Company had the size, inventory and experience to attack this crucial California waterdelivery project and also ensure that utility equipment remained unharmed. Trench Shoring Company will be there for your challenge too!

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up By Marlo Fregulia,Event Manager

ANNUAL BBQ & CHILI COOK-OFFThursday, August 4, 2016, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton

Join us at the Alameda County Fair Grounds in Pleasanton for our largest event of the year, UCON’s BBQ & Chili Cook-Off! Last year was a record breaking year with over 1250 attendees! 15 teams will compete for the coveted Chili Perpetual Trophy and we need you to be the judge! Most of all, enjoy spending time, having fun, relaxing and networking with friends and colleagues. “Anyone who misses this, misses the UCON event of the year. It’s a must go!”Register today: unitedcontractors.org

SAL RUBINO GOLF CLASSIC Friday, September 9, 2016, Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Club, Seaside

UCON will be taking over both courses at Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside. Last year’s event sold out and rated “first class”, don’t find yourself on the waiting list, sign up early! We have new hotel accommodations this year at The InterContinental The Clement

Monterey in downtown cannery row for 9/8 and 9/9, call 831-375-4500 to get your room. Mention United Contractors/Sal Rubino Golf Classic to receive the discounted rate. Register today: unitedcontractors.org

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AUCTION & DINNER Saturday, October 29, 2016, The Claremont, Berkeley

Join us at our NEW event venue, the Claremont Club and Spa, A Fairmont Hotel in Berkeley for Old Hollywood Glamour night. Contact Angelica Hobbs at ahobbs@unitedcontractors.org or (925) 362-7309 for donation options.

M AY 2 0 1 6 27

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28 W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

up By Joan O’Brien,Education Manager

UCON UNIVERSITY’S CONSTRUCTION BLUE PRINT COURSE—PLAN READING ONE SYMBOL AT A TIMEOn March 19th UCON University launched its first ever Construction Blue Print Reading Course. Students participated in hands-on basics of how to read and comprehend a typical set of City, State and Private Drawings. The course highlights included: efficient ways to write a Request for Information (RFI), how to do a quantity take-off of standard items of work, equipment schedules, understanding scales, quantity measurement and more.

If you would like more information on UCON’s educational programs, contact Joan O’Brien at jobrien@unitedcontractors.org, (925) 362-7303.

“Great course overall. I improved my ability to recognize and apply the different concepts that good plan reading requires for successful estimation.” “I’ve learned a lot in this training to take back to my daily projects.”

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Find your next project, perform it safely, complete it on time and under budget with the Laborers. The Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Southwest is a partnership between the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) and their signatory contractors to secure projects and jobs, increase market share, and advance market-related interests throughout the states of Arizona, California and New Mexico. Learn more @ www.lecetsw.orgSOUTHWEST

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BUILDSThe Laborers’ Union knows that its members’ success goes hand-in-hand with the contractor and provides the resources to foster mutual success. No matter what the issue is, the Laborers are here to help.

• Project tracking and alerts• Training and apprenticeship• OSHA and regulatory assistance• Workers’ Comp / ADR programs• Flexible, highly competitive agreements

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30 W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SAFER JOBSITESAn alliance of trade associations and other construction industry organizations was formed in 2012 to promote and support the implementation and enforcement of effective substance abuse policies on construction jobsites. The Construction Coalition for a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace (CCDAFW) was created with the mission to provide construction companies and organizations the resources necessary to incorporate successful drug- and alcohol-free policies into their business practices.

The CCDAFW was launched by several key construction industry organizations, including the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT), the Construction Users’ Roundtable (CURT) and Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE), to establish a unified industry approach to tackling the issue of substance abuse and eliminating the injuries and fatalities that occur because of substance abuse-related incidents on construction jobsites.

By Cari Elofson,Assistant Director,

OSHA Training Center

The CCDAFW has created a website (http://www.drugfreeconstruction.org/) offering a variety of resources, including:

Best PracticesThe industry “best practices” section (http://www.drugfreeconstruction.org/best-practices.php) pertains to substance abuse policies, testing procedures, disciplinary policies and various state/local laws relating to substance abuse testing requirements and regulations. These best practices are designed to help companies strengthen their substance abuse policies using resources created and implemented by fellow industry partners. Implementation Guidelines for Alcohol and Drug Regulations in Highway Transportation offers a detailed report on the effects of alcohol and controlled substances. Other helpful resources include:

• Additional Definitions for Substance Abuse• Enforcement Disciplinary Policies and Procedures• Various Substance Abuse Testing Methods• Additional Resources (Drug Testing Labs, etc.)

PoliciesThe policies section (http://www.drugfreeconstruction.org/policies.php) features a Model Substance Abuse

SAFETY

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Policy modeled after standard industry substance abuse guidelines and written to allow contractors the ability to edit each section to comply with state and local laws. The State by State Substance Abuse Testing Policy document contains a breakdown of laws pertaining to substance abuse policies and testing procedures. Companies are strongly encouraged to reference this chart to ensure that their substance abuse policy complies with their state’s requirements.

The centerpiece of the CCDAFW website (http://www.drugfreeconstruction.org/index.php) is an invitation to construction firms and organizations to join fellow industry leaders in pledging their support for the implementation of strong substance abuse policies as well as the promotion of industry best practices to help achieve the goal of zero substance abuse-related incidents on jobsites.

Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace Pledge:I pledge that my company will take reasonable action to create and maintain a workplace free from substance abuse. My company will work to increase awareness of the dangers of substance abuse within our workplace and throughout the construction industry.

Over 2700 organizations, including general contractors, subcontractors, trade associations, insurance companies, regulatory/government agencies and employee representatives/unions, have pledged their support to eliminating substance abuse-related incidences in the workplace.

The Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), an organization of construction and engineering executives representing major corporations, helped establish

the Construction Coalition for a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace to support the ongoing safety efforts of construction company owners and contractors. According to Gregory L. Sizemore, Executive Vice President of CURT, his organization believes the road to zero incidents encompasses all facets of effective safety and health programs, including effective substance abuse policies.

Continued on next page

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SAFETYWomen Construction Owners & Executives National Executive Director Penny Pompei recognizes that while the health and safety of the construction industry workforce is of primary importance to company owners, small businesses often don’t have the resources to develop in-depth substance abuse awareness and prevention programs. She believes the CCDAFW initiative is an important resource for small business owners to help combat the dangers of substance abuse.

Mark Casso, President of CCDAFW founding member Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT), views participation in the Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace initiative as critical to reinforcing the importance of safety across the wide range of disciplines involved with construction jobsites. His organization sees not only the pledge as the centerpiece of this effort, but also the educational materials, model policies, informational aids and best practices that are featured on the program’s website.

The Construction Coalition for a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace program is an important step in the ongoing effort to keep construction workers sober and safe and

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) gathers information about substance use and dependence or abuse. The data below represents findings from the 2008 to 2012 surveys of substance use behaviors—past month illicit drug use, past month heavy alcohol use, past year substance use disorder—among persons aged 18 to 64 employed full time in construction.

• Current Illicit Drug Use - 11.6% • Current Heavy Alcohol Use – 16.5%• Past Year Substance Use Disorder - 14.3%

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicated the following construction industry statistics:

Position Illicit Drug Use (%)

Heavy Alcohol Use (%)

Laborers 5.6 2.7Supervisors 8.9 12Other Workers 6.7 7.3

According to the Eighth Special Report to the US Congress on Alcohol and Health and the US Department of Labor, substance abuse is a factor in:

• 35% of workplace injuries and fatalities• 35% of all absences• 38% - 50% of all workers’ compensation claims• 40% of thefts

to help owners and contractors improve their safety performance—on and off the jobsite—leading to the elimination of accidents and injuries. u

The OSHA Training Center (OTC) at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District is authorized by OSHA to deliver training and has been conducting OSHA’s courses since 2008. OTC is one of UCON’s Partners in Education, and a UCON member since 2010.

DRUG USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

UNION SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICIESAll of the UCON Master Agreements contain individual union substance abuse policies—some are fairly general while others have very specific details on procedures that apply to employees of that craft, including procedures for implementing the policy. Employers need to be sure to check the procedures for their signatory unions and incorporate them into their substance abuse policies.

Copies of all the current union substance abuse policies and any required forms are available to our members in the Contractor Resource Library of the UCON website (www.unitedcontractors.org), along with a reference chart that summarizes key items in those policies. Need assistance accessing the Library? Follow our walk through in April’s UCON Magazine (unitedcontractors.org/media-center/magazine, on page 28).

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34 W W W. U N I T E D C O N T R A C T O R S . O R G

UCONCan Help!

You’ve heard it before: the best way to increase productivity is to focus on those critical activities—those that fall into the “high importance” and “high urgency” square of the popular “Eisenhower Box” theory. That’s right, Dwight Eisenhower, our 34th President of the United States, who launched programs that led to the development of the Interstate Highway System (yes, it’s true), the exploration of space (NASA), alternative energy sources, and more, was incredibly productive. From his method of time management and task management, we have this simple decision-making tool.

INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

URGENT

So, while you work on those tasks which are Urgent and Important, don’t forget that UCON is here to help. With experts in HR, Labor, Legislation and Advocacy, Regulatory, Safety, Legal, Education and Training, and more, we can assist with labor questions, pre-job conferences, HR, regulatory and CARB concerns, safety and educational advice, leadership training, and have many readily available resources and solutions. Our members are always in the Urgent/Important square.

Call UCON—because, for UCON, when it comes to your business, everything is important to us.

NO

T IM

PO

RTA

NT

NOT URGENT

IMP

OR

TAN

T DO

do it now

DELEGATE

who can do it for you

DECIDE

schedule a time to do it

DELETE

eliminate it

FERGUSON.COM/WATERWORKS Nobody expects more from us than we do®

©2014 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

COUNT ON US1,350 locations. All 50 states. 19,000 associates.

61 years in business.

In the waterworks business, time means money. At Ferguson and Groeniger, we understand our customers’ needs.

As one of the leading suppliers of waterworks products in North America, our inventory is huge with

thousands of waterworks products in stock. And we fill your orders accurately and right away.

WATER | SEWER

DRAINAGE | HYDRANTS

VALVES/FITTINGS

GEOTEXTILES

RosevilleHaywardModesto

FresnoSacramento

Bakersfield (2)SalinasPlant

ChicoSan Jose

ClovisRedding

Sparks, NV

Ferguson/Groeniger Waterworks Locations

Source: James Clear, April 29, 2014, www.entrepreneur.com

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 53

FERGUSON.COM/WATERWORKS Nobody expects more from us than we do®

©2014 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

COUNT ON US1,350 locations. All 50 states. 19,000 associates.

61 years in business.

In the waterworks business, time means money. At Ferguson and Groeniger, we understand our customers’ needs.

As one of the leading suppliers of waterworks products in North America, our inventory is huge with

thousands of waterworks products in stock. And we fill your orders accurately and right away.

WATER | SEWER

DRAINAGE | HYDRANTS

VALVES/FITTINGS

GEOTEXTILES

RosevilleHaywardModesto

FresnoSacramento

Bakersfield (2)SalinasPlant

ChicoSan Jose

ClovisRedding

Sparks, NV

Ferguson/Groeniger Waterworks Locations

*Offer ends May 31, 2016 on new Cat 320-335 excavators financed by Cat Financial and cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer subject to machine availability and subject to credit approval through Cat Financial. Terms options from 12-60 months with flexible payment plans and fixed financing. Tax benefited retained by customer.

P114_0316 © 2016 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge”trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

Call (844) 349-4353 for offer details today!

LEASE A NEW EXCAVATORCat Financial Flex Lease

BENEFITS

• You can lease equipment for an extended term, typically at a lower monthly payment amount than the short-term rental rate.

• 100% financing is available to qualified customers.

• Bargain purchase options or mandatory purchase amounts (balloons) are available.

• Depending on option or balloon amount, monthly pay-ments can be lower than traditional financing.

• For U.S. GAAP and U.S. tax purposes, you are generally entitled to claim the benefits of ownership.

END-OF-TERM OPTION

• The final bargain purchase option or mandatory balloon at lease-end may be as low as $1 or at a predetermined amount based on the finance term, equipment use and application, and machine specification.

• You have the option to return or purchase the equipment at predetermined out(s).

Example: A piece of equipment is purchased using a 60-month finance lease with an “out” at 36 months. After 36 payments, you have the option to return the machine to Cat Financial, purchase the machine, or continue with the lease.