I inquired if every company in this industry operated with the same rigid formalities of superiors not interacting with lower employees. He stated that when this division was started, he and his boss decided to go with this approach. They worked at other companies that had more of an open dialogue, but he felt this chain of command would be a better approach. I asked him if he had given any consideration to the office personal as seeming untouchable or unapproachable. He agreed but again stated that this was the intention.

In the other companies where the superintendent comes to the job site and makes small talk with the workers, creates a friendship and takes away from the superiority. He wants to keep a professional relationship with everyone and not get wrapped up in personal issues. This creates a better work environment and will never allow personal feelings to interrupt sound business decisions. The allusion of being superior to anyone else is the price he is willing to pay. We do not go to work to make friends, we go to make money that will provide for our families.

Since professionalism was brought up by Sean, I asked why the office personnel does not wear business attire, even if it were slacks and polo shirts. I stated the dress is exactly the same for office and field workers, work boots, jeans, and t-shirts. The only difference in attire is the office worker has clean clothes and the field worker has stains from sweat, dirt, and grease. His response was that even though those individuals are in the office now, many started off in the field and the dress is just who they are. They don’t feel comfortable in dress clothes and besides, it is a construction company, not a law firm. I agreed that the attire is more comfortable, but would it not be more professional to wear business attire when going to job bids and other public functions. He said no, this is a construction company and winning a bid has nothing to do with dress, bottom line, whomever has the lowest bid wins the job. I was curious if there was any difference in the culture within the office personnel that would be significant such as the details already discussed between field and office. He thought for a moment then exclaimed that each unit in the office tends to keep to themselves and rarely converses with another unless involving the business. There is no central eating place for lunch, and no “water cooler” talks taking place throughout the day. Everyone is there to do a job and truly does not care to gossip and carry on with other individuals.

I Wondered if there was reasoning as to why this office acted entirely different from any other office that I have had contact with in the past. He hypothesized that the main difference is in the fact that everyone in his office is overloaded with work and does not have extra time.

After my discussion with my superintendent, I realized that C.J. Hughes Construction operates in a very unique way that I have never encountered before. However bizarre there trends and operations may be, it works. They are one of the most successful underground utility construction companies in the area. I can understand and respect his strict guidelines for the chain of command. I have worked in places where the boss became my friend and the lines have become blurred. It becomes difficult for the boss to keep a professional attitude toward the employee. Likewise, the employee begins to take advantage of the friendship and work ethic begins to diminish. I have also seen where the friendship gets tested in the workplace. It becomes hard to separate the personal life they share outside work with the professional life they share at the workplace. Feeling and moods can and are easily transferred from life to the next. Most of the time during this class I have considered professional business attire as a suit and tie. However, this has opened my eyes to see that business attire truly depends on the business. Even though those individuals are in an office, just like lawyers and accountants, there truly is no need dress in such a way. The company does not have clients coming into the office, nor do you think of suit and tie when reading the words construction company. Walking into a construction company office and seeing people dressed this way would seem out of place. I was shocked to hear that the office employees do not socialize. I do not doubt that they are extremely busy, but so are the employees in the field. The employees in the field are often socializing while completing the tasks at hand. I believe it has more to do with the environment. The office is filled with private offices and doors that shut. Since very little interaction is needed to complete their jobs, they do not worry about socializing and building relationships with their co-workers. In the field however, we work side by side to complete tasks, resulting in constant communication with one another. Over time, you cannot help but build friendships with each other. You start asking how the family is doing or if there are any big plans coming up. It is hard to work side by side and not begin to know those people on a personal level. Another option may be that the field workers are paid hourly and the office personnel is paid salary. Those in the office probably hide in their spaces to complete as much work in the shortest amount of time possible. Anything over a forty hour week, they do not get compensated. They do not have the luxury of overtime, so they may feel that they are losing money or working for free. This assignment allows me now to not only look at my company and its employees differently, but also will allow to see things at future companies differently. When I begin work in my field of study, I will have a better understanding of the different cultures within the workplace. Interview Questions
1. Does every company in this industry follow the same operations with following the “chain of command”? No, but when C.J. Hughes started this division, Dave and I sat down and discussed certain aspects of companies we worked with in past and took what worked and changed what we felt didn’t. I hire and promote my foremen personally, so expect them to handle situations without my involvement over every little thing.
2. Do you think that this approach makes the office workers seem unapproachable to the field workers? Yes, but again I feel it is for the best.
3. Why does the office not dress in typical business attire? Most of us came from the field and have always dressed this way.
4. How about when going to a bid, do you think more business related attire would be better? No, attire doesn’t win jobs, only having the lowest bid wins jobs.
5. Is there any differences between the office workers? Everyone pretty much keeps to themselves. It is very rare to see people chit chatting.
6. Why do you think this office is so different from many other offices in the workplace? I guess because everyone is overwhelmed with work, there is no time to really stand around and talk.