Construction industry experts Marko Niskanen and Lauri Kinnunen emphasize that shift work can be utilized in construction projects, but only if carefully planned and with safety first. However, both believe that the true efficiency of the industry comes from contract work, its transparent management, and effective cooperation.
According to them, motivation, quality, and staying on schedule are above all about leading people and building a common goal.
Shift work brings rhythm and efficiency to the Joensuu market hall construction site
The construction site of the new Joensuu shopping mall was an exceptional project for Eleve Oy. The tight schedule, challenging frame structures, and working under weather protection required a completely new way of structuring work.
It was decided to erect the frame structures in shifts. The morning shift erected the frame that the evening shift had assembled the previous night. The work continued with the assembly of the next frame, and the morning shift was again tasked with lifting it up. This created a uniform work rhythm spanning 22 shifts.
CEO Tommi Heikkinen says the solution proved successful. Efficiency increased, and work was not interrupted. “Work became the focus. There was even a kind of peace and concentration on the evening shift that is rarely seen on the day shift,” he recalls.
Thanks to shift work, the installation of the market hall frame progressed smoothly, the work flow improved, and a strong team spirit was created on the site. The experience reinforced Heikkinen's idea that shift work carried out in small teams during certain phases of a construction project is efficient and safe.
Shift work increases efficiency, but requires foresight
In Finland, construction work is almost entirely day work. According to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, shift work increases fatigue, the risk of accidents and strain, especially during night shifts, which in turn limits its use in physically demanding sectors. Nevertheless, shift work is done on a case-by-case basis and in special situations and projects.
Head of Rakennusliitto's northern service area Marko Niskanen, who himself remembers working two shifts when he was young and just starting out in the industry, wants to remind you that shift work requires strong management and clear foresight. “Safety must never be compromised. Shifts cannot be run without a clear plan and supervision, and without taking into account the employees’ life situations.”
Laura Kinnunen, regional director of the Finnish Construction Association, agrees with Niskanen: “Shift work cannot be used to fix poor planning, and it is not the right way to do it when the schedule has failed. It causes more risks than benefits.”
In the construction industry, local agreements have long been a natural part of everyday life, and shift work is one viable option. Yet both Niskanen and Kinnunen would prefer contract work as a way to streamline site throughput and engage employees.
Getting the construction site up and running with contract work
Marko Niskanen of the Finnish Construction Federation sees significant, partly untapped potential in contract work. According to him, a well-managed contract commits the work team, energizes the construction site and develops work methods. He emphasizes the role of foremen and similar supervisors, as they are the ones who need to know the basic principles of employment terms and conditions and laws on a practical level.
At best, the project produces profit for all parties: the schedule is kept and the earnings level develops as agreed. The team's desire to think about the best working methods is directly reflected in both the quality and efficiency of the work.
Transparent contract management eliminates uncertainty
The decrease in the amount of contract work in the field is a source of concern for Niska. He believes the reason lies in a skills gap: contract calculation and contract management are perceived as difficult. As a solution, he proposes a common, modern digital tool that would allow parties on the construction site to monitor the progress of the work.
A mobile application for contract work would record hours worked, achievements and deviations in real time. Work outside the contract would also be recorded. Quality documentation could be done with photographs. Uncertainty would be eliminated when the discussion was based on facts.
An experienced supervisor would ensure tacit knowledge transfer
Having seen a lot of construction, Marko Niskanen has a lot to offer the industry, and the contract work application is not his only idea.
Niskanen proposes a model where experienced carpenters would act as supervisors on construction sites. They could guide young workers through practical work phases and support young supervisors in anticipating materials and methods.
Many of the best working methods have emerged in contract work when the team has thought together about more efficient solutions. The supervisor would ensure that tacit knowledge is passed on to the next generations.
Contract work brings motivation and quality
Lauri Kinnunen highlights the benefits of contract work. It can be used to simultaneously influence the quality of work, the schedule and the motivation of the workers. “When employees know what they are doing and on what schedule, they commit to doing the work properly and on time. Quality comes automatically,” he says.
""The revised legislation also helps to raise quality and supports the functionality of contract work when expertise is in place throughout the chain," Kinnunen estimates.
The biggest bottleneck lies in communication. Kinnunen emphasizes that the biggest single problem with quality and schedules is often communication, or rather the lack thereof. “Information doesn’t flow, people don’t ask questions in a timely manner, or people don’t dare to raise problems.”
According to Kinnunen, construction is ultimately about leading people, and leading people is about leading emotions: “When you lead with emotion, people will follow. Motivation comes from being heard and seen.”
""In the end, it's about the shared will to do things well," Lauri Kinnunen summarizes.
Trust and cooperation arise from open dialogue
Efficiency is created by everyday practices: transparent contract management, appropriate work supervision and continuous maintenance of competence. “When a construction site operates systematically and the team is committed to a common goal, both companies and employees benefit.
“When the basics are mastered and cooperation works, the best outcome is achieved, both on the construction site and in the entire industry,” Niskanen summarizes.
Text: Heikki Luukkonen