Finding quality individuals to employ has been a big issue for HVAC contractors for as long as I have been covering this industry — which has been for more than a few years. However, in the past year, it has been particularly tough sledding in this area of a contractor’s business. And it does not look to be improving any time soon.

There are plenty of reasons why this is happening. Enhanced unemployment has incentivized some folks not to work. For others, health concerns about COVID have been the reason for dropping out of the workforce. Specifically, these concerned individuals are not looking for jobs that would take you into multiple homes throughout the work day. And, of course, it has been another great year for HVAC residential contractors so many companies are looking for help, which makes it even tougher to find good talent. That last one goes under the ‘good problem to have’ category.

Add all those items up and what has traditionally been a problem for HVAC contractors just continues to get worse on a consistent basis.

When attacking any problem, it never hurts to look upstream to see if that can help solve, or at least lessen, the issue. And this problem is no different. In this case, part of the solution can be creating a work environment that technicians and others don’t want to leave. It is just simple math — fewer employees leaving for “greener pastures” will lead to a smaller number of qualified applicants HVAC contractors will need to find to successfully run their business.

One might say owners need to create a business culture that makes them one of the Best Contractors to Work For in their area. If you have not done that already, you have a fair amount of work in front of you. We have plenty of articles on achrnews.com to walk you through the process. If you have created that environment, we want to highlight you and your company in the pages of The ACHR NEWS.

It is that time of year again where we are accepting nominations for The ACHR NEWS’ Best Contractor to Work For contest.

We are looking for work environments that encourage growth, opportunity, recognition, education, and a winning attitude for all employees. This can take many shapes and sizes in an HVAC company. It can be as simple as holiday parties and staff lunches, but can also be as elaborate as profit sharing programs and aggressive in-house training schools.

This will be the 23^rd year we are holding this contest, and the past winners are truly some of the best contractors in the country. Last year’s winners included Bart Bosco and Steve Simmons of Air Comfort Heating and Cooling, Abe Zarou of AllTech Services Inc., Gus Simonds of MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, and Joe Mascetti of Swift Services Heating, Cooling and Electrical.

Past winners have been able to this award as a marketing tool. We all know the interview process involves the applicant interviewing the company as much as or more than the company interviewing the applicant. This is especially true in the HVAC industry, where jobs outnumber applicants. Imagine sitting across from an applicant and letting them know the top HVAC industry publication (there… I said it) has recognized your company as a top place to work. Do you think that will help you close the deal?

The winners will be showcased in the AHR Expo show issue (here is hoping we have an AHR Expo this year) which is scheduled for Jan. 31. This involves a profile and feature story of your company. That translates to the recognition being touted to potential business partners, clients, employees, and, of course, job applicants.

The ACHR NEWS is now taking nominations for this year’s class, but time is running out. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31 and contractors can be nominated here: www.achrnews.com/enter-best-contractor-to-work-for. The nomination form is simply a few questions about how the company is run. It is well worth your time and effort.

Good luck to all.

Finding quality individuals to employ has been a big issue for HVAC contractors for as long as I have been covering this industry — which has been for more than a few years. However, in the past year, it has been particularly tough sledding in this area of a contractor’s business. And it does not look to be improving any time soon.

There are plenty of reasons why this is happening. Enhanced unemployment has incentivized some folks not to work. For others, health concerns about COVID have been the reason for dropping out of the workforce. Specifically, these concerned individuals are not looking for jobs that would take you into multiple homes throughout the work day. And, of course, it has been another great year for HVAC residential contractors so many companies are looking for help, which makes it even tougher to find good talent. That last one goes under the ‘good problem to have’ category.

Add all those items up and what has traditionally been a problem for HVAC contractors just continues to get worse on a consistent basis.

When attacking any problem, it never hurts to look upstream to see if that can help solve, or at least lessen, the issue. And this problem is no different. In this case, part of the solution can be creating a work environment that technicians and others don’t want to leave. It is just simple math — fewer employees leaving for “greener pastures” will lead to a smaller number of qualified applicants HVAC contractors will need to find to successfully run their business.

One might say owners need to create a business culture that makes them one of the Best Contractors to Work For in their area. If you have not done that already, you have a fair amount of work in front of you. We have plenty of articles on achrnews.com to walk you through the process. If you have created that environment, we want to highlight you and your company in the pages of The ACHR NEWS.

It is that time of year again where we are accepting nominations for The ACHR NEWS’ Best Contractor to Work For contest.

We are looking for work environments that encourage growth, opportunity, recognition, education, and a winning attitude for all employees. This can take many shapes and sizes in an HVAC company. It can be as simple as holiday parties and staff lunches, but can also be as elaborate as profit sharing programs and aggressive in-house training schools.

This will be the 23^rd year we are holding this contest, and the past winners are truly some of the best contractors in the country. Last year’s winners included Bart Bosco and Steve Simmons of Air Comfort Heating and Cooling, Abe Zarou of AllTech Services Inc., Gus Simonds of MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, and Joe Mascetti of Swift Services Heating, Cooling and Electrical.

Past winners have been able to this award as a marketing tool. We all know the interview process involves the applicant interviewing the company as much as or more than the company interviewing the applicant. This is especially true in the HVAC industry, where jobs outnumber applicants. Imagine sitting across from an applicant and letting them know the top HVAC industry publication (there… I said it) has recognized your company as a top place to work. Do you think that will help you close the deal?

The winners will be showcased in the AHR Expo show issue (here is hoping we have an AHR Expo this year) which is scheduled for Jan. 31. This involves a profile and feature story of your company. That translates to the recognition being touted to potential business partners, clients, employees, and, of course, job applicants.

The ACHR NEWS is now taking nominations for this year’s class, but time is running out. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31 and contractors can be nominated here: www.achrnews.com/enter-best-contractor-to-work-for. The nomination form is simply a few questions about how the company is run. It is well worth your time and effort.

Good luck to all.