Material MattersMember NewsIndustry News/InformationRikka BrandonHire PowerBuilding Gurus
Monthly News from BLD Connection
Issue 12 | September 2024
Northwestern Lumber Association and Mid-America Lumbermens Association are now BLD Connection. Read About Our Transformation!
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BLD Connection News
Dealer Registration is Open for the 2024 Nebraska Connection Conference!
The Nebraska Connection Conference is just around the corner! Join us on December 11 for a day packed with tailored educational sessions, exclusive networking opportunities, and engaging activities that will empower you with the latest industry insights and connections.
Whether you're seeking to enhance your sales strategies, streamline operations, or simply connect with peers and suppliers, this conference offers something valuable for every dealer.
Federal Court Strikes Down FTC’s Non-Compete Ban Nationwide NLBMDA
A federal judge in Texas has struck down the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) national ban on noncompete agreements that was set to take effect on September 4, invalidating requirements for employers to notify current and previous workers that any signed noncompete agreements would no longer be enforced.
Member Success Story: How BLD Connection Saved wRight Lumber Thousands
At BLD Connection, we pride ourselves on being more than just a network of support. We believe in building a community that looks out for each other, providing valuable resources and support to ensure the success and safety of our members. One such story that highlights the power of our community comes from wRight Lumber in Buffalo, MN.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities: How to Reframe Firing Employees for Mutual Benefit
Rikka Brandon, Hire Power
Firing people is never easy. But when you manage a lot of people over the course of your career, it’s inevitable that you’re going to make a bad hire, have under-performing employees, and even wind up with a few difficult people. If you don’t have the courage to do the hard, but necessary things to remove these people, you’ll not only hurt your team’s performance and profitability, but also their morale.
Optimizing yard and delivery processes is vital for any lumber and building materials business. Efficient handling and delivery of materials boost productivity, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Strengthening the partnership between sales and operations teams can also improve overall service quality and project management.
We had an employee complain that a supervisor was harassing her. We investigated the complaint, and it turned out that the supervisor was indeed harassing her. He was disciplined appropriately. However, now the original complainant is misbehaving; she acts like she can get away with anything because of the previous complaint she submitted. Are we allowed to discipline her for her misconduct? Can she claim that we’re retaliating against her because she filed a previous complaint? It feels like everyone is “walking on eggshells” around her because they’re afraid she’ll claim retaliation.
