Editor’s Note: The following remarks were made on The NEWS’ group, The NEWS Network, on LinkedIn, regarding working with other companies on projects.

Correct the Issue and Move On

So with this information, what does it say about the integrity of the people working in our industry? Sure, I agree with documentation, but the vast majority of people are doing this specifically to add profit to the job. More disturbing is the fact that GCs [general contractors], architects, and engineers are lumped in with the trades.

I guess I’m just getting too old; my generation worked hard, was honest, and had integrity. Not to say that the current workforce does not work hard, but if you have time to snap 50 photos and write notes on each, you probably had time to correct the issue and move on.

Terry Roden
President at TECO Metal Products
Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Playing by the Given Rules

The days of taking someone’s word have gone away. It seems like people forget what they agreed upon or don’t remember the conversation in general. Today’s work environment requires documentation and a lot of it. You need to get things in writing and/or keep copies of all emails. In our industry of HVAC in new construction, I have instructed all of my supervisors to take pictures of any problems and document all conversations with our builders. We only want what is fair and right, and today you’d better cover your butt. It is a shame that it has come to this, but you’d gotta play the game with the rules you are given. Never expect the other person to admit to an error; document it.

David Richardson
Manager at Weather Master HVAC
Raleigh-Durham, N.C. Area

Thirty Years Ago People Were Documenting Their Work

I’ve been hearing variations of that my entire career. Thirty years ago, that same sort of advice was given in terms of following up with a fax or letter to document discussions, maybe even recording conversations with those little dictation tape recorders, and taking pictures with Polaroid cameras. Comments were made that it wasn’t a matter of if you were going to be sued, but when.

I’ve seen various efforts over the years to make the construction business less adversarial, but I’m not sure they have been successful. Technology has changed, but the attitudes have not.

Gretchen Miller
System Specialist at Climatec
Phoenix

Publication date: 12/9/2013
 

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