Department of Labor’s Future of Work Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Robert Cole Johnson, President of Paul Johnson Drywall, Speaking at the Department of Labor’s Future of Work Symposium in Washington, D.C.!

Happy Holidays!

With the holidays upon us and December drawing to a close, it's common to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead. During 2015, many of us were blessed to enjoy our market's recovery, and for this we are thankful! As the recovery continues into 2016, we can anticipate the new, healthy challenges that labor shortages and material cost increases will pose to the construction and drywall industry.

At Paul Johnson Drywall (PJD), we're proactively taking steps to foster an environment where our workforce is well-cared for and productive, which is also attracting more workers. In fact, this topic was the theme of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Future of Work Symposium, which I was invited to participate in earlier this month, in Washington, D.C. The symposium brought together the public and private sectors to discuss the evolving workplace and share best practices.

PJD constantly strives to be a better employer, an effort which we feel ultimately makes us a better drywall contractor. During my time in Washington, I was asked to share what PJD has been doing to advance our labor standards and how those actions have affected the company, and I want to share it with you as well.

The primary actions taken include PJD shifting to a W-2, or a direct employment, model. Because of this shift, PJD is paying industry-best wages to our crews and has allowed us to also provide health care to each of our employees and their families. As a result, PJD now has nearly 1,000 employees who are loyal to our firm, and committed to delivering for our customers.

While we remain aware of the growing labor shortage, I am proud to say that PJD is able to meet our customer’s needs as a result of our industry-best employment practices. Our loyal crews position us very well for the year to come, and we are proud to be able to produce for our customers, irrespective of industry shortages.

As I prepare to celebrate the holidays with my family, I would like to thank Paul Johnson Drywall’s loyal employees and customers for all of their support during the past year. I look forward to prospering through 2016, together.

Happy Holidays!

Regards,
R. Cole Johnson
President, Paul Johnson Drywall