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Workforce Glossary Term

Geofencing

A virtual boundary set around a job site that triggers automatic alerts when workers or equipment enter or leave. Subcontractors use it to verify on-site attendance, automate timekeeping, and support accurate billing. It also helps clients confirm crew deployment without manual check-ins.

Related Terms

Floater

Workforce

A skilled tradesperson or technician not assigned to a fixed crew or project, deployed where needed on short notice. Subcontractors often bill floaters at a premium rate due to their flexibility and quick availability.

Crew Utilization

Workforce

The percentage of available crew hours that are billable or actively deployed on a job. Low utilisation means workers are on standby or idle, cutting into margins. Subcontractors track this metric to assess workforce efficiency and bid future projects accurately.

Utilisation Rate

Workforce

The percentage of available hours that crews or equipment are actively billable to a client. A low utilisation rate signals idle resources eating into margins. Subcontractors track this metric to assess workforce efficiency and bid competitiveness.

Wage Theft

Workforce

When a client or prime contractor withholds earned pay from field workers or subcontractors through unpaid overtime, illegal deductions, or misclassified labour. It exposes subcontractors to legal liability if it occurs within their own crew management. Provincial labour standards apply regardless of contract wording.

Fissured Workplace

Workforce

A jobsite where work is performed by multiple layers of subcontractors rather than direct employees of the site owner. For field service companies, this means accountability, liability, and payment flow through several parties. Subcontractors must track their position in the contracting chain carefully.

Spare Capacity

Workforce

The portion of a subcontractor's available workforce, equipment, or service hours that is not currently committed to active contracts, representing untapped revenue potential that can be offered to clients on short notice or used to absorb surge demand without turning down work.

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