What Do Laborers Supervisors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Laborers Supervisors directly supervise and coordinate the activities of helpers, laborers, or material movers. They also maintain a safe working environment by monitoring safety procedures and equipment.

Other tasks include:

• Review work throughout the work process and at completion to ensure that it has been performed properly.
• Inform designated employees or departments of items loaded or problems encountered.
• Examine freight to determine loading sequences.
• Collaborate with workers and managers to solve work-related problems.
• Check specifications of materials loaded or unloaded against information contained in work orders.
• Plan work schedules and assign duties to maintain adequate staff for effective performance of activities and response to fluctuating workloads.

We asked Laborers Supervisors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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54% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Laborers Supervisors check specifications of materials loaded or unloaded against information contained in work orders. They prepare and maintain work records and reports of information such as employee time and wages, daily receipts, or inspection results.

A typical day for a Supervisor of Helper, Laborers and Material Mover will also include:

• Inform designated employees or departments of items loaded or problems encountered.
• Inspect equipment for wear and for conformance to specifications.
• Collaborate with workers and managers to solve work-related problems.
• Transmit and explain work orders to laborers.
• Estimate material, time, and staffing requirements for a given project, based on work orders, job specifications, and experience.

We asked some Laborers Supervisors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	95% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	94% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	97% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	45% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	32% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	85% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Laborers Supervisors also conduct staff meetings to relay general information or to address specific topics, such as safety. They may also participate in the hiring process by reviewing credentials, conducting interviews, or making hiring decisions or recommendations.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Laborers Supervisors Provide assistance in balancing books, tracking, monitoring, or projecting a unit’s budget needs and in developing unit policies and procedures. They might also Recommend or initiate personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, or disciplinary measures.

In addition, they Inventory supplies and requisition or purchase additional items, as necessary.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Perform the same work duties as those supervised or perform more difficult or skilled tasks or assist in their performance.

To some Laborers Supervisors, it is also their responsibility to Quote prices to customers.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Supervisor of Helper, Laborers and Material Mover, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/hand-laborers-and-material-movers.htm

http://www.indtrk.org/