Canadian HR Reporter - Sample Issue

CANADIAN HR REPORTER APRIL 2019 NEWS 3 Builders Code hopes to combat harassment, bullying in construction B.C. program looks to improve industry culture, attract more tradeswomen BY SARAH DOBSON IF THERE'S one thing the con- struction industry understands, it's building to code. So when it came to issues around harass- ment and bullying in the work- place — and a disappointing par- ticipation rate for women — the industry thought it made sense to introduce another code. e Builders Code is a new pro- gram in British Columbia that de- fines an "acceptable worksite" and provides employers with tools, training and resources to improve and promote safe and productive worksite behaviour. e code widens the definition of safety beyond physical hazards to include stress or distraction caused by discrimination, bul- lying, hazing or harassment. A Builders Code worksite "will seek to be free from behaviour that threatens the stability of work conditions including job perfor- mance, health, well-being, safety, productivity and the efficiency of workers," according to the British Columbia Construction Associa- tion (BCCA), which is leading the initiative in collaboration with the province and industry partners. Builders across the country build to code all the time, said Chris Atchison, president of the BCCA in Victoria. "So what we were trying to do is to make sure that we could build an acceptable workplace strategy that spoke to employers in an effort to bring about the cul- ture change that was necessary to increase not just the attraction, but the retention and success of tradeswomen in construction." It's almost like safety 2.0, he said. "e hazing, bullying and ha- rassment of any worker on your jobsite represents a safety issue and a concern that needs to be addressed. So anytime somebody is harassed or bullied or treated in a way that makes them un- comfortable, you are increasing risk by virtue of the stresses that come to the person who's been di- rectly affected; or indirectly, other people on the crew who might be distracted or aggrieved by what's going on. And that causes greater distraction and propensity for workplace accidents." e new code also addresses the issue of productivity, said Atchison. "The more time that people spend remedying or attending to issues of bullying and harassment and hazing, it's not only a safety issue, but it's a productivity issue. So when we start speaking to em- ployers in terms of safety, in terms of acceptable workplace strate- gies, that will increase productiv- ity. And now we are getting them to do the right thing in a way that they can comprehend." Everyone is trying to figure out how to actually make change hap- pen in a way that is not perceived as superficial or lip service, said Tina Strehlke, CEO of Minerva Foundation of B.C. in Vancouver — one of the industry partners. "e B.C. construction sector is so innovative, and bringing it back to safety (makes sense) be- cause it's something that is so embedded in the industry; it is something that's so critical to a successful organization." The construction industry knows the repercussions of not building to code, so to talk in the context of personal safety and physical safety on a construction site makes everybody acutely aware of building code and the risk to safety and productivity, said Tracey MacKinnon, work- force development manager at LNG Canada in Calgary — an- other industry partner. "We've never had a code related to a respectful workplace, putting a minimal standard associated with that. And so by calling it a Builders Code, it resonates with the construction industry that there's nothing acceptable except this minimum standard of a code, which is defining an acceptable worksite," she said. "It's not just the direct recipi- ents but because all the construc- tion industry members really work in crews, they observe this and they too relate to the stress, and once you have people work- ing in a stressful environment, then you start to compromise or potentially compromise people, safety and productivity. So, it tru- ly is a business driver to adopt the Builders Code." Looking to boost retention e province's construction in- dustry is already facing a skills shortage of 7,900 workers, with Talk to us today about how we can help your employees save money, save time and feel good. .com 1.866.383.6646 beyond WorkPerks ® is an exclusive discount program designed to enhance employee experience beyond the workplace. A benefi t program for the good times. FIRST-YEAR > pg. 6

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