EP #167: Is Concrete’s Tough-Guy Culture Putting Workers at Risk?

JOIN THE ACADEMY! VISIT CONCRETESCHOOL.CO TO START LEARNING TODAY. **ON THIS EPISODE OF THE CONCRETE LOGIC PODCAST** Does concrete’s culture of toughness help people handle difficult work, or does it keep them from asking for help when they need it most?  Seth is joined by Mike Schneider, who spent 45 years with Baker and served as senior vice president and chief people officer. They discuss why construction workers may suffer in silence, how supervisors can recognize behavior changes, and why mental health needs the same attention the industry gives physical safety. Mike argues that changing the culture starts with stronger relationships, leaders willing to show vulnerability, and making resources such as mental-health first aid, EAPs, and 988 easier to access. **WHAT YOU’LL LEARN** - Why construction’s traditional tough-guy culture can discourage workers from asking for help - Why Mike prefers framing the issue around “mental strength” - How leaders can make vulnerability and asking for help more acceptable on the job - Why relationships with crew members matter when identifying changes in behavior - What supervisors should notice when a normally dependable coworker begins acting differently - Why mental-health first-aid training can be valuable for frontline supervision - How industry groups are addressing mental health and suicide prevention - Why long hours, travel, layoffs, physical pain, family pressure, and substance use can compound stress - Why simply offering an Employee Assistance Program is not enough if workers do not know how to use it - Why contractors should include suicide response and postvention in crisis planning   **CHAPTERS** (00:00) Construction toughness and the mental-health question  (04:01) Why construction workers suffer in silence  (09:09) Changing safety culture and redefining strength  (11:50) Relationships, behavior changes, and recognizing trouble  (15:46) Mental-health resources for the construction industry  (20:34) Opioids, overdoses, and Narcan on the jobsite  (21:59) Removing stigma and talking openly about mental health  (24:15) Why construction faces a difficult combination of risk factors  (27:51) EAPs, 988, and making help easier to reach  (29:44) Screening tools and starting the conversation  (30:37) Language, crisis planning, and postvention  (33:05) Mike’s closing challenge and contact information **GUEST INFO** Mike Schneider, Consultant  Guest link: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/mike-schneider/ Email: schneider@bakersharedservices.com **RESOURCES MENTIONED** **CIASP -** Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention - preventconstructionsuicide.com  **US -** United Suicide Survivors International - unitedsurvivors.com **CMHA -** Construction Mental Health Alliance - construction wellness.org **ANSW -** Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace - answ.org **AFSP -** American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - afsp.org    **Books:**          “The Anxious Generation - How the Great Rewiring of Children is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haldt          “YES, You can Talk about Mental Health at Work” by Melissa Doman          “Empire of Pain - the Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty” by Patrick Radden Keefe          “Dreamland - The True Story of America’s Opiate Epidemic” by Sam Quinones **CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY** Concrete knowledge matters, but leadership also means understanding the people doing the work. Concrete Logic Academy provides practical concrete education, professional-development courses, and real-world lessons connected to the podcast.  Join for free: https://concreteschool.cohttps://concreteschool.co/ **SUPPORT THE PODCAST** If the Concrete Logic Podcast gives you value, send a little value back.  You can support the show here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support/ Interested in sponsoring the podcast or working with Concrete Logic Media? Email Seth: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com **Special thanks to Andrew Johnson for supporting the podcast.** **CREDITS** Producers: Andrew Johnson, Jodi Tandett and Concrete Logic Media Music by: Mike Dunton  https://www.mdunton.com/ **WHERE TO FIND SETH** Concrete Logic Podcast:  https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ Concrete Logic Academy: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/   Until next time, let’s keep it concrete.