Despite Labor Shortages, One Builder is Donating Labor to Schools

Labor shortages plague the construction industry. Even so, Hutton Construction, a Wichita-based company, stepped up to help schools facing the same staffing crisis.

With so many teachers and staff members out on sick leave, Wichita schools feel the pain of caring for their student populations with limited educators.

"Over the last few years, we have been trying to think about different ways to help the community through these really crazy times," said Ben Hutton, CEO of Hutton.

So, Hutton Construction decided to provide workers as substitutes and paras (teacher's aides).

"The need we saw was our schools were having a really hard time keeping teachers in the classrooms, and we thought maybe that's something I could help with," Hutton told reporters.

Hutton gives five extra days of PTO to all 275 workers to substitute classes at local schools. Hutton's employees love the offer; they can receive regular PTO wages along with substitute pay.

Hutton values doing this one thing to give back to the community.

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