Tradie HR director Leigh Olsen explains what it actually means to be a good workmate on a New Zealand building site.
Here is a call you don’t get every day — “Hey Leigh, I don’t know what to do about one of our workers. He’s a good guy, but he really smells. He gets picked up in the van and we drive to our job sites, but the guys are hanging out the windows — and its winter. Honestly, they’d rather freeze then have the windows up. It’s enough to make you gag.”
These kinds of conversations about personal hygiene are often the hardest — and the ones that most of my clients like to pass on to me, the HR lady. I’m more than happy to be the one to have the chat with that person, and it’s a conversation I’ll always handle with respect and compassion.
At the same time, I know it’s a priority to have this conversation as, to me, it’s just one of the many unspoken rules of being a decent workmate.
There are numerous situations I’ve come across where an employee is not showing up as a decent workmate. From the one who’s always late to the one who leaves apple cores and used energy drink cans in the ute — these kinds of bad habits impact teams and workplaces.
Underneath it all, we all have an underlying obligation to each other to be a decent workmate every day at work.
So, what does it actually mean to be a good workmate on site in New Zealand today?
1
Look after yourself — and everyone else
Let’s start with the basics: under New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work Act, all workers have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and make sure their actions (or inaction) don’t put others at risk.
This covers a lot, such as being clear-headed, using safety gear, and not bringing bad hygiene into shared spaces.
An example of this duty we have to each other can include being mindful of what you’re eating or cooking in a shared space. Let’s be honest — some sandwiches are better enjoyed solo.
If you’re reheating fish in a small smoko room or busting out a boiled egg on a hot day in the van, your workmates will notice (and not in a good way). A little consideration goes a long way when you’re working in close quarters.
When it comes to personal hygiene, cleanliness matters. I once had to have a chat with a senior site manager about their chronic bad breath, as the team didn’t want to tackle this conversation.
Often knowing how to start these conversations can be hard. Here is one respectful way to raise it:
“Hey (name), could we just have a quiet word? I’ve noticed a bit of body odour lately, and thought you’d want to know in case you weren’t aware. It happens to all of us sometimes — especially with long days on site. I thought I’d say something privately rather than let it become awkward for you. All good?”
If you’re needing to have one of these tougher conversations about being a decent workmate, make sure you:
• use a friendly, non-judgmental tone,
• speak privately, never in front of others,
• keep it short, calm and respectful, and
• focus on care and professionalism (eg, “I’d want someone to tell me…”).
2
Don’t put others at risk
Being a good workmate means thinking beyond yourself. That means not cutting corners, not ignoring hazards, and not engaging in risky behaviour that could endanger others.
This includes showing up sober, something that is obvious to most of us — but every Christmas I still get a call or two.
One stands out: a project manager turned up to site in the work van — not driving, thankfully — and when the door opened, they literally fell out, still drunk from the night before. They forgot their boots, embarrassed the team on a client site, and made everyone uncomfortable.
A good workmate knows their limits. They celebrate after the job’s done and hold themselves, and each other, accountable.
3
Your personal brand matters
Here’s something I often remind teams — you are your own brand. The way you show up, the way you treat others, the way you carry yourself — it all leaves an impression.
In New Zealand, where everyone’s connected by two degrees (or less), reputations spread fast. How you behave can open doors, or quietly close them.
Being a safe, respectful, reliable workmate, isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s how you build a career. Employers talk. So do subcontractors. So do clients. Make sure what they’re saying about you is something you’d be proud of.
4
Look out for each other
Finally, a decent workmate watches out for their team. This is everything from helping someone lift a heavy item instead of standing back, or noticing if someone’s off, and quietly checking in.
You don’t have to be best mates with everyone, but having each other’s backs is what makes teams strong. Being a good workmate is part of the job
At the end of the day, being a good workmate isn’t just about being “nice” — it’s part of being a professional. Whether you’re an apprentice, a tradie, a site manager, or a business owner, how you carry yourself affects the whole team.
So be the one others trust, respect and actually want to work with again. Be a decent workmate.
Note: This article is not intended to be a replacement for legal advice.
