At a glance: When one of the largest general building companies in the US needed a staffing partner for a multi-year hospital construction project in the Augusta GA market, the company evaluated multiple temporary labor providers before choosing HireQuest Direct.
Over a span of 2 years, HireQuest Direct’s construction labor team worked on site through every phase of the build with little turnover. We can look to the future for proof of the partnership’s success: The client is carrying HireQuest Direct and these specific workers over to their next local jobsite, a major infrastructure project.
The History: How Did a Hospital Construction Bid Become a 2-Year Partnership?
Before construction began, the client considered several construction staffing firms. What set HireQuest Direct apart from competitors came down ethos and expertise.
Raymond Johnson, branch manager of HireQuest Direct Augusta GA, brought two decades of industry experience to those early conversations along with an experienced team that pointed to internal stability. Additionally, the client noted a difference in tone, one built on genuine regard for the people being placed rather than a transactional view of labor.
These were key differentiators for the client, who dismissed competitors in the region because of high turnover and a less personal approach to placement. The multinational builder moved forward with HireQuest Direct Augusta GA for the full duration of the hospital build.
The Challenge: What Does It Take to Staff a 2-Year Hospital Build From Groundbreaking to Final Walkthrough?
The hospital project – a 100-bed facility with a 17-bed emergency department in the Augusta GA market – called for a labor partner who could stay engaged across every phase of construction, from sitework and foundation through framing, drying in, MEP, finishing, and closeout. The office started the assignment with a crew of 4 W-2 employees. As the job progressed, headcount grew to a peak of 24 workers on site.
Once underway, demand did not always follow a predictable curve. At one point headcount needs jumped substantially overnight, and the office filled the full request.
The Approach: How Does HireQuest Direct Support a Crew Through Every Phase of a Major Construction Project?
Workers received a safety orientation from the office before ever setting foot on site. Once there, the client layered on its own multi-hour safety orientation, reflecting a construction culture where safety is the top priority on every job site.
The office stayed close to the work throughout the 2.5-year build. Staff attended the client’s stretch-and-flex safety meetings on a regular basis and brought coffee and doughnuts out to the job site.
Roles filled on site included general labor, site cleanup, restroom and facility assistance, carpenter, and admin/clerical.
The Results: What Outcomes Has This 2-Year Staffing Partnership Delivered?
Retention held steady for 2 years. The office kept close to its original crew on site for the full length of the assignment, a rarity in construction staffing, where turnover is often the norm.
The office stayed on through every phase of the build. From groundbreaking through final cleaning, HireQuest Direct’s W-2 employees were on site. As the hospital neared completion, headcount scaled down from a peak of 24 down to a final 4 who saw the job through to the very end.
The partnership is continuing. Based on its performance on the hospital jobsite, the client is carrying its HireQuest Direct crew forward into its next project, with much of the same team expected to make the move.
A Partnership Built on Proof
A hospital build does not run on a fixed script. Headcount needs shift overnight, and the crew that shows up on day one is not always the crew that finishes the job. This one was.
That is what happens when a staffing office treats every placement like it matters and stays committed to the client from the first day onsite to the last.
Frequently Asked Questions
What roles does HireQuest Direct staff on large-scale construction projects?
HireQuest Direct places W-2 employees in general labor, site cleanup, restroom and facility assistance, carpenter, and admin/clerical. Local staffing teams scale headcount up or down as a project’s phase requires.
Can HireQuest Direct support a construction project across its full lifecycle?
Yes. On a 2-year hospital build, HireQuest Direct staffed the job from sitework through closeout, scaling from an initial crew of 4 to a peak of 24, then back down to a final closeout crew.
How does HireQuest Direct handle safety training for construction placements?
Workers complete a safety orientation with the office before ever setting foot on site. Often, the general contractor or subcontractors layer on their own orientation once workers arrive, keeping expectations aligned across every phase of the job.
Does HireQuest Direct retain the same workers across long-term projects?
On this hospital jobsite, the office kept close to its original crew on site for the full 2-year engagement, and much of that same team is expected to continue with the client on its next project.
Callout Data Points
- 2 years of continuous staffing on a single hospital construction site
- Crew scaled from 4 workers to 24
- Total sales of $2.093 million
- Pay rates ranging from $20/hour to $25/hour
- On site from groundbreaking through final cleaning, the last crew to leave the job site
- Roles staffed: general labor, site cleanup, restroom and facility assistance, carpenter, and admin/reception
- Same crew expected to continue with the client on its next project
- Branch manager has led the office for 20+ years
