In 2023, the SIMA Foundation commissioned a first-of-its-kind research survey to explore the dynamics of snow companies’ workplaces and cultures.

In light of today’s rapidly changing labor economics, attitudes and behaviors, we believe it is essential to understand the industry’s tactics and challenges in attracting and retaining employees to perform essential snow and ice management services.

The results will serve as a tool for snow service providers to benchmark their companies in terms of organizational structure, wages/benefits, and workplace culture.

Data and insights captured from this study is intended to:

• Educate providers on the composition of the workforce of similar firms so they can calibrate staffing and pay rates appropriately.
• Help providers understand which recruitment methods, employee benefits, and career development resources may be common or differentiating to assist them in improving their hiring and retention efforts.
• Inform providers about workplace culture, best practices, and pitfalls to help them improve their employee satisfaction, retention, and ability to grow.
• Establish an initial baseline from which SIMA can measure changes to workforce metrics in future years.

Data for the 2024 Snow & Ice Workplace Report was collected from 129 SIMA member and non-member companies through a confidential survey conducted from October to December 2023 by WolfWorks Consulting.

This article features an overview of some of the data. The full white paper report is free to all SIMA members and available for purchase by non-members. The Workplace Report as well as the Foundation’s Industry Impact Study and Economic Survey & Market Study is available at www.sima.org/foundation.

Thanks to its generous donors, the SIMA Foundation can focus on its mission of opportunity, research, and awareness. We are already exploring further industry research opportunities to support the mission. To learn more about the SIMA Foundation and how to support its mission, visit www.sima.org/foundation. Special thanks to LMN for their financial support as sponsor of the 2024 Snow & Ice Workplace Report.

Salaries

Small firms pay managers significantly less than medium-sized ones, who pay less than large firms. By contrast, hourly rates for field workers are very consistent regardless of firm size.

Workforce

Approximate number of workers employed based on company size. Includes year-round, part-time snow, and seasonal workers. Employees who do not work at all in snow & ice are excluded.

Tenure

Despite the need for companies to keep up with rising salaries, offer meaningful work and other challenges, employee tenure is reported to be improving.

Career advancement

Roughly 75% offer some type of career advancement resources, including industry certifications, professional learning events and internal career pathway design.

Recruiting

To find new workers, firms rely most on word-of-mouth, social media, job boards, their websites, and promoting from within.

Subcontractors

Slightly more Canadian firms than American providers rely on subcontractors (75% to 67%). As a share of total operations, 22% of Canadian firms’ work is fulfilled by subs, versus 16% of American companies’ services. 69% of respondents use subcontractors in their business, but the majority of services (75%) are self-performed.

Culture

When asked to rate their firm’s culture, most companies indicate that it is quite positive. American firms’ reports are slightly rosier (32% "excellent") than Canadian providers (13%).

Benefits

Retirement - 91% of respondents match employees’ retirement contributions in some way. American firms (62%) are more likely to offer retirement plans than those in Canada (31%).

Health - 55% of US respondents offer health benefits. Basic healthcare services are provided by the Canadian government, but more than 3/4 of Canadian snow and ice management companies offer a prescription drug plan and a dental plan, and more than 50% provide vision care plans and life insurance.

Jeff Heller, CSP, of Innovative Maintenance Solutions in Indiana is board chair of the SIMA Foundation and secretary/treasurer of SIMA’s Board of Directors.