The Unturned Stone believes that employees who leave work everyday satisfied with what they accomplished, the wage they earned, the people they worked alongside and what the future holds for them are the heart of a successful business. We strive to provide an environment where people do what they love, want to do it well, see room for growth and learning and want to stick around.

What follows is a list of attributes that we value in our company. It is not an exclusive list and we recognize that everyone working here is a balance of these and many other traits. By sharing these, we are trying to share our vision of an ideal working environment. We welcome your feedback on this manifesto and your thoughts on the ideal workspace for you. This document will be the basis for discussions of individual performance, learning and growth.

Professionalism

• We are a professional company with a national reputation for trail work and a growing presence in the high-end residential market in Asheville and beyond. We favor a casual and comfortable working environment, with high professional standards.
• We arrive to work on time.
• We demonstrate respect for the natural environment, wherever we might be working.
• We demonstrate respect for the client- private or public- their property and their neighbors.
• We are discreet with off-color and offensive language.
• We are proud of the work we do and treat the craft of stonework with respect.
• We take responsibility for our own actions and conduct.

Craftsmanship

• We pride ourselves in the high quality of our work. All of our employees make important contributions to the quality of the finished products.
• We build beautiful things that are structurally sound and stable.
• Stonework- the process and products- has rhythm and flow. We understand these concepts and work with them.

Safety

• Stone and trail work can be dangerous. We strive to maintain safe practices and worksites.
• We regularly review safety protocols and always seek to learn new safety practices.
• We wear goggles, gloves, respirators and earplugs as appropriate.
• We operate all machinery in accordance with its instructions and limitations.
• If we don’t know how to use a piece of equipment, we stop and ask for help.
• We keep the job site as tidy as possible.
• We lift with our legs and work together to move larger stones.
• We arrive to work rested and do not work when injured or sick.
• We do not work under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Interaction

• We operate as a team and everyone is expected to contribute to that approach. Everyone on the job site is an equal, though roles and responsibilities will vary.
• Everybody’s contributions and ideas are sought.
• We listen to each other and respond respectfully.
• We address differences of opinion and disputes immediately and openly. Conflicts arise, but by dealing with them in the moment, we are better able to focus on our work, maintain a strong team and enjoy ourselves at work.
• Everyone has strengths and we always try to work to our strengths. We recognize that people have weaknesses as well and we strive to support our teammates to be successful.
• We are an equal opportunity working environment. Discrimination and harassment of any form are not tolerated.

Stewardship

• We work in concert with the environment and do our best to manifest the leave-no-trace ethic.
• We minimize the impact of our work on the environment.
• We use bio-diesel to run our equipment.
• We pack out our trash, including banana peels!
• Good trail design and construction allow people to enjoy nature while having little impact on the environment. We are always seeking better ways to protect natural resources.

Attitude

• We arrive everyday ready to work, to do what needs doing.
• The needs of each job vary and can change from moment to moment. We are open, flexible and patient.
• Weather, equipment troubles, material shortages and buried wires happen; we deal with them and move on.
• We give feedback and instruction positively. We are generous with praise and constructive with criticism.
• We listen to feedback and instruction positively.
• There is no room for personal drama on our job sites.

Creativity

• Stone and trail work are wonderfully creative in both the artistic and in the problem-solving sense of the word.
• We are not a lick’em and stick’em stone company. We value creativity and aesthetic beauty.
• We balance creativity with the demands of schedules, the requirements of building sturdy and stable structures and the need to be efficient to continue making money.
• We seek creative solutions to every problem.
• Mistakes happen and problems arise; these are just opportunities for us to express our creativity and problem-solving abilities. So far, in the company’s twelve-year history, there hasn’t been a problem that couldn’t be solved.

Sharing

• Stonework is never static. Every stone is different and there is a lifetime of learning to be done, if you are open to it. We have chosen this craft for its limitless potential.
• We are open to new ideas and learn from each other.
• We seek opportunities to try new things and learn new skills.
• Even the least experienced members of the team have valuable ideas and input.

Efficiency

• Profitability in the masonry business comes from efficiency. The faster stone gets set, the more money is made.
• We work efficiently and always challenge ourselves to be more efficient with time and resources.
• We balance the painstaking details with the big picture, to create beautiful, structural works that sustain the company and its employees.
• Thoughtful planning and anticipating problems are essential tools for successfully managing projects. Everyone here has an important role in keeping projects efficient.
• Identifying problems is important. Identifying solutions is more important.