Essel Environmental

For facility managers, maintenance BACKLOG can be a nightmare. But there's a solution... Team is stretched thin, residents are frustrated, and work orders just keep piling up. Darcy Wallace, the Head of Facilities at Enso Village, was facing a similar crisis at their senior living community. He needed a solution fast. BUT he also needed to protect his residents' trust and comfort. That's when he called Essel. We stepped in and hand-picked skilled maintenance professionals who: 💨 Hit the ground running with the right skills and experience. 🛠 Handled a wide range of tasks, from painting to plumbing, with speed and efficiency. 🤝 Connected with the residents with compassion and professionalism. The IMPACT was immediate. But it went beyond just completing tasks. Essel's workers built relationships with the residents, adding a personal touch that truly made a difference. The results? Backlog tackled. ✅ Glowing feedback from residents. ✅ Darcy said, "Residents loved them. I loved them. They got the work done." As Darcy saw the positive impact, he entrusted our team to provide more workers and handle more complex tasks. This is the power of finding the right people for the job – people who not only possess the skills but also the heart to build meaningful connections within your community. Nik #facilitymanagement #staffing #propertymanagement #maintenance #skilledtrades

After the Lahaina fires, a local chef lost his livelihood. We hired him in the skilled trades. He quickly became one of our top performers. Handling complex tasks and meticulous paperwork with ease. So, what's the secret behind his success? Disasters like the Lahaina fires don't just destroy buildings, they shatter lives. BUT they also reveal hidden potential. We've seen cooks, servers, gas station attendants – all LOCAL people – excel in the skilled trades after disaster struck. They're hungry for opportunity, eager to contribute, and deeply invested in their community. They: - Showed up everyday - Earned the necessary certifications - Even outperformed some of the veterans This Lahaina chef is not an exception. He’s proof that our approach works. They’re invested in their community, and that dedication translates to superior performance. Hiring local not only builds stronger, more resilient communities... It's also a smart business decision. The next time disaster strikes, remember: the strongest communities are built from within, by the people who call it home. Nik #localhiring #talentdevelopment #disasterrecovery #skilledtrades #communityimpact

If your staffing agency doesn’t have 24/7 backups, are they even serious about their job? Ask your staffing agency this: "What happens if my worker doesn't show up?" If their answer isn't "We've got you covered," maybe it's time to rethink your partnership. In the staffing world, backups aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re non-negotiable. An agency without them is gambling with your success . We deal with sudden no-shows all the time. People get into car crashes, or even claim a comet hit their house (yes, really). These things are beyond our control. What we can control is our response. That’s what sets a truly client-focused agency apart from the rest. An agency without 24/7 backups is not ready for the real world’s unpredictability. An invested agency anticipates potential problems and prepares for them That means having a solid contingency plan, so no matter what, you get the talent you need, when you need it. So, ask yourself: Is your staffing agency truly prepared to handle the unexpected? If they're not equipped with round-the-clock backups, they're not equipped to meet your needs. Your projects, your deadlines, and your bottom line depend on it. Nik #staffing #recruiting #skilledtrades #construction

We almost lost a 10-year employee. It wasn't about a raise or a promotion... It was something much deeper (and easily fixable). A client that we've been working with had a 10-year veteran superintendent who was almost on the market. We talked to him a little bit and learned that his family environment was changing. He needed: - Less time on the road - More time at home But he thought his company couldn’t accommodate these needs. The owner of the company realized that something was not right, so he made an effort to connect with the superintendent and have a very honest conversation. Once he understood what the problem was, he shared this with him: “Hey, we're actually bidding on a couple of projects that we have a very high probability of winning very close to where you live. If you can just stick it out for another X number of weeks, I promise you, you will be the first one on that job, and that job is going to last for four years.” And that's exactly what happened. That conversation was the difference between losing a top performer and retaining a loyal team member. This is the power of truly listening and taking action. When employees feel heard and valued, they're more likely to stay put, even when other opportunities arise. If you want to retain employees, remember these 3 things 1️⃣ Open your door (and your ears): Create a safe space for honest conversations. 2️⃣ Ask the right and hard questions: Go beyond "how's work?" and dig deeper into their lives. 3️⃣ Take action: Find ways to accommodate their needs, within reason. Employees that aren’t afraid to have those honest conversations with their higher ups are more likely to stick around. Don’t you agree? Nik #employeeretention #leadership #construction

Staffing or recruiting - Which one truly gets the job done? Staffing gives you the skilled hands you need for a set period. Need three skilled laborers for three months? Done. Need a carpenter to wrap up the punch list in two months? Easy. Staffing fills immediate gaps with immediate talent. Recruiting is a whole different ball game. It’s about the long-term game changers—superintendents, project managers, senior PMs. These roles aren’t filled overnight, but their impact? Monumental. They shape the future of your organization, driving projects to success over the long haul. You need a partner that nails the immediate needs with staffing and secures your future with strategic recruiting. Anything less, and you’re just patching holes instead of building a powerhouse team. What are your thoughts on staffing vs. recruiting? Nik #staffing #recruiting #skilledtrades #construction

The "alpha" leadership style is outdated and ineffective. Think a successful superintendent needs to be a drill sergeant? Think again. The image of a successful superintendent is often that of a tough-as-nails, no-nonsense leader who rules the job site with an iron fist. It's time for a new approach. Successful superintendents aren't just bosses, they're: ✅ Coaches: They mentor and empower their teams, not just bark orders. ✅ Problem-Solvers: They work alongside their crews to find solutions, not just point fingers. ✅ Communicators: They build trust through transparency and respect, not intimidation. ✅ Relationship Builders: They foster a positive work environment where everyone feels valued and heard. So, what does this mean for you? 🤔 If you're a superintendent, consider a more collaborative leadership style. 🤔 If you're hiring a superintendent, look beyond the "tough guy" image. 🤔 If you're part of a construction crew, speak up and share your ideas. The most successful construction projects are built on collaboration, trust, and mutual respect. Let's ditch the outdated leadership models and embrace a new way of working together. P.S. What qualities do YOU think make a great superintendent? Share your thoughts below! 👇 Nik #construction #superintendent #effectiveleadership

"They just did wonderful." - Another satisfied Essel client 💙 There's no better feeling than receiving glowing testimonials from our valued clients. We're in the People Business, and helping people achieve their project goals by providing them with qualified skilled trades workers is what it's all about. 🙌 #skilledtrades #construction #workforce #constructionstaffing

Too many companies treat skilled trades workers like they're disposable. It's a dangerous mindset. And it's one we refuse to tolerate at Essel. Safety isn't just a box to check; it's a fundamental right. That's why we take a stand for our people BEFORE they even step foot on a job site. Here's how: 1️⃣ Safety Checklist Every Essel worker— or “Esselers”—receives a detailed "General Industry Safety Order" on the things to watch out for on the site. 2️⃣ Setting Expectations We have the conversation with the superintendent before we send anyone out to make sure of a few things: ✅ Is there a safety debrief? ✅ Is there a training they need to do? ✅ Are there heights that we need to be aware of? Safety expectations are discussed from day zero. 3️⃣ Empowerment Workers are encouraged to ask questions to the superintendent if they have questions or feel unsafe. Or they can let us know and contact us. 4️⃣ Regular Inspection Certified health and safety technicians (CHSTs) regularly inspect our job sites to make sure they're compliant with the safety aspects that we create for ourselves. When we find safety breaches, we call them out. A lot of times, our clients will say, “You know what? Our safety guy didn't catch that. Thank you for letting us know.” Together, we make sure that it's a safer environment. Because at the end of the day, safety is truly everyone's job. Let’s demand better for the people who build our world. This isn't just good practice; it's a moral imperative. Nik #SafetyFirst #SkilledTrades #ConstructionSafety #WorkerRights

Here’s one of the biggest things that I’ve seen help with employee retention 👇 Having in-depth conversations with your employees while they change and evolve in different stages of life. Really understanding what might change and what they need from their employer helps employees feel heard. It helps them keep you top of mind anytime they're being recruited out of your organization too. When an employer says, “Do you feel like you're being heard?,” they can genuinely say yes, because they have an open door to connect about their concerns. Having that open door policy, having that open area of dialog, and being able to be that listening ear is one of the best things to help with retention. One recent example that comes to mind is for a client that we've been working with. They've had a superintendent with them for almost 10 years. But recently, we heard that he was almost on the market. In talking to him a little bit about what was going on, he shared that his family environment was changing. His significant other was sick of him being on the road two or three hours a day, getting home every day at seven or eight o’clock at night, and he thought that his existing company would never be able to support a different schedule. Now, he was already looking around, but lo and behold, the owner of the company realized that something was not right, connected with the superintendent, and had a very clear conversation. Once he understood that this was the problem that they were having, what he was able to share was, “Hey, we're actually bidding on a couple of projects that we have a very high probability of winning very close to where you live. If you can just stick it out for another X number of weeks, I promise you, you will be the first one on that job, and that job is going to last for four years.” And that's exactly what happened. That was the single difference between that employee looking for somewhere else to go because they thought that the option wouldn't even be available. Kudos to the owner investigating and being able to have a plan of action in terms of listening and making things happen for the greater good. What else helps with employee retention? Nik #skilledtrades #construction #employeeretention

If you're bilingual and you're in the trades, you have a huge advantage in 2024. Equally, if you are a construction company and you're just turning a blind eye to the fact that the majority of your workforce probably doesn't speak full English, you're also probably turning a blind eye to the fact that that's a big safety risk. Want to know what really sets some construction companies apart? We’ve seen some of our clients helping their current workforce on their job sites by dedicating one to two hours a week to learning Spanish or to learning English. With the majority of Spanish speakers that don't know a lot of English, giving them some tools on a weekly basis to be able to communicate better around the job site has been a great asset. It shows that some of these companies are thinking about it in a different capacity. In the same way for English speakers, in being able to communicate with various trade teams and sub contractors that are primarily Spanish-speaking is just as vital. Give them some tools to show that the investment and the ability to be bilingual is better for the projects from a safety standpoint, as well helping them to work as a cohesive unit together to push the trade forward. Being bilingual is a huge advantage for sure, but at the same time, sometimes it's the company that leads the effort in starting that trend. What initiatives have you see on job sites that are leading the charge? Nik #skilledtrades #construction #bilingual