Best practices book - Flipbook - Page 155
Program Description
Please provide a brief description of the program, i.e., Commercial Plan Review; Residential Inspection; How-To
Guides; etc.
In an already strained labor market, the construction workforce continues to age, and the number of
qualified candidates has decreased over the last few years. The aging workforce has been a growing
issue for Building Officials. The questions are:
•
•
Who will replace the aging workforce when they retire?
Where will the replacement come from and who will train them?
The City of Port St. Lucie Building Department introduced an innovative approach to an old method of
employee retention and productivity, “The Mentorship Program”. The goal was to involve senior staff in
assisting, guiding, motivating, coaching and sharing experiences with staff. Through this mentorship
program, those with less experiences or who are new to the department, can garner valuable information
and training from their mentors. Mentees can shadow a mentor and attend meetings such as City Council
Meetings, development meetings, site plan review and contractors examining board meetings.
Nearly 80% of all learning is informal, meaning that it is NOT done by reading or taking classes, but rather
by learning on the job and from other. Mentoring is one of the best tools use to make sure the workforce is
filled with talented employees that are ready to lead and make a difference.
Surveys showed that mentoring provided participants with the support and guidance they needed to lead
productive lives and contribute to the good of the organization.
Costs / Benefit
Please provide a paragraph or two elaborating on the program, its estimated costs in human or financial resources,
and the program benefits. Benefits may include public safety, cost-recovery, legal protection, etc.
The implementation of this program has saved the department costs associated with filling vacancies,
recruitment process and time, and the time to train a new employee. Some of the benefits are:
Improved efficiency and productivity
Improved workplace knowledge
Low cost for growth opportunities
Increased employee confidence
Increased organizational commitment and reduced employee turnover
Mentorship is seen as a department benefit in our recruitment process. Staff has not experienced any cost in
the implementation of this program.
Attachments
None.
BPN011-B-4
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