Victoria, B.C. (May 14, 2020) – With COVID-19 physical distancing orders in effect across British Columbia, the BC Construction Association (BCCA) is making its anti-harassment, hazing and bullying training available online to help fight transmission of the virus while supporting worksite safety and productivity. 

The COVID-19 pandemic can lead to increased stress and anxiety at work. Since its launch in 2019, the Builders Code has recognized that safety in the construction industry isn’t just about physical hazards and personal protective equipment, it’s also about psychological hazards. The impact of hazing, bullying, and harassment on productivity and safety cannot be underestimated.  

For construction crews, the Builders Code “Cool or Tool?”  app (available at the Apple Store or Google Play) is an engaging and effective reminder of acceptable behaviour. Its 20 real-life workplace scenarios depict model behavior or actions that compromise safety and productivity, workers simply identify if the behavior is “Cool” or “Tool” and get a message that reinforces the appropriate action and its benefits. The app includes a scenario about coming to work sick, which is particularly relevant as industry continues to face challenges related to COVID-19 and fights transmission of the virus. 

“The “Cool or Tool?” application reinforces the right behaviours while pointing out the questionable ones. Its animated and humourous approach also makes the medicine more likely to be swallowed,” said Randy Delisle, Talent and Development Manager, Kinetic Construction. “The design is simple, and the job site scenarios are realistic. This is a timely and accessible reminder to everyone on how to create a productive work environment!” 

In addition to the “Cool or Tool?” app, the Builders Code team has created an online culture training course on how to build an Acceptable Worksite culture, including definitions and appropriate policies and procedures. It discusses redefining safety and demonstrates how culture can create a safe and productive environment. There is content on COVID-19 and how it can bring new biases and discrimination to the worksite. The training will be provided at no cost to employers during the pandemic.  

“The Builders Code training has been very beneficial and has provided our site leaders with the tools, knowledge and information they need in order to share, teach and promote the benefits of the code internally, as well as to sub-trades.” said Allison Greaves, Human Resources Manager, Durwest Construction Management. “It has resulted in more cohesive, respectful worksites and increased productivity. We look forward to the day that all contractors take the pledge!” 

The Builders Code team has also made the Acceptable Worksite Pledge completely contactless. Employers can now visit the Builders Code website and electronically sign the pledge from their laptop, IPAD or mobile phone. 

“Stress and distraction can have devastating consequences on a worksite,” said Chris Atchison, President, BCCA. “The number of employers taking the ‘Acceptable Worksite’ pledge make it clear that the construction sector is ready for a culture shift that will make it easier for us to retain the diverse skilled tradespeople we need to meet our labour needs. It was imperative that we bring our Builders Code training online and include COVID-19 coaching elements.” 

ABOUT THE BUILDERS CODE 

The Builders Code is an initiative of the Construction Workforce Equity Project. Co-funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, with financial contributions from the BC Construction Association, WorkSafe BC, the Industry Training Authority, LNG Canada, the BCCA Employee Benefits Trust, and the BC Construction Safety Alliance, the Builders Code is also supported by the BC’s four Regional Construction Associations and the Minerva Foundation of BC. For more information about the Builders Code, please visit: http://builderscode.ca 

ABOUT BRITISH COLUMBIA CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION 

The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) works with four Regional Construction Associations (NRCA, SICA, VICA, and VRCA) to serve more than 10,000 employers in the provinces industrial, commercial, institutional (ICI) construction industry. For more information, visit us at www.bccassn.com (website), @ThisisBCCA (Facebook) and @thisisBCCA (Twitter). 

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CONTACTS:   

BC Construction Association 
Greg Descantes 
604-646-3564 
gdescantes@pacegroup.com 

Victoria, B.C. (November 29, 2019) – Nine months after unveiling the resources to help the industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector set a standard code of conduct on worksites in B.C., the Builders Code has honoured six companies for their leadership at the inaugural Builders Code Champion Awards. Hosted by the BCCA and Minerva BC at the Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria yesterday, the awards recognized companies with advanced policies and practices that seek to ensure all employees can reach their full potential in the skilled trades.

“Thank you to the BC Construction Association, Minerva BC and all of your partners for the work you are doing to recruit and advance more women in trades,” said Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. “Your commitment to safe and inclusive workplaces contributes to a more accessible sector for everyone. Initiatives like the Builders Code are a rallying point to get more people involved in the trades, helping our province continue to grow while embracing diversity.”

The award categories and winners included:

• Recruiting & Hiring Champion: RAM Consulting Ltd. (Vancouver);
• Workplace Culture Champion: Scott Construction Group (Vancouver) and Kinetic Construction (Victoria);
• Community Champion: Westcana Electric (Prince George);
• Initiate of the Year: Durwest Construction Management (Victoria); and
• Contractor of the Year: Westcana Electric (Prince George) and Chinook Scaffold Systems (Nanaimo)

“On behalf of everyone at BCCA, Minerva BC and all our Builders Code partners, I want to thank our winners for their support of the Builders Code and congratulate them for creating and maintaining outstanding workplaces that support the safety and protection of all employees,” said Chris Atchison, President, BCCA. “As an industry facing a serious labour shortage, the retention of tradespeople, and especially tradeswomen, in our sector is critical. By demonstrating their commitment to their workforce, our winners have distinguished themselves as outstanding role models in the construction industry.”

To be recognized as a Builders Code Champion, individuals and organizations must have demonstrated their commitment, leadership, and action towards advancing and retaining women in their company and achieving the provincial goal of 10% tradeswomen by 2028. Nomination applications were accepted from May to November 1, 2019, with winners selected by a Judging Panel comprised of Minerva BC, the BCCA and the Builders Code Governance Committee. The winners included:

“As partners of the Builders Code, we’re pleased to apply our experience measuring and reporting on women’s representation in B.C.’s workplaces to the construction sector,” said Tina Strehlke, CEO, Minerva BC. “Benchmarking where the construction sector is now will help us identify where progress is happening in the sector and where there is room for improvement. By sharing their information with us, our inaugural participants have demonstrated an important commitment to advancing and retaining tradeswomen.”

Builders Code Champion Award Recipients

Recruiting & Hiring Champion – This award recognizes companies that: hire the best talent based on skills, experience, and attitude; work to attract diverse candidates; look for ways to remove barriers that hold them back; and compensate all employees at fair market value regardless of gender, race, religion, or ethnicity.

Winner: RAM Consulting Ltd. (Vancouver) – Among RAM’s initiatives in this category were: performing an audit of staff make-up; committing to increasing its percentage of women and minority workers, especially in management and technical positions; creating a RAM Women in Engineering (RWE) group; revising the wording of job postings to make them gender neutral and unbiased; ensuring women or minorities being interviewed have a representative on the selection panel; and creating a family-friendly environment in the workplace, with flexible working hours, and all-ages family events throughout the year. Today, over 65% of RAM’s staff is made up of visible minority workers and 33% of the staff is women, including 28% in positions of management. RAM was also named one of the top ten fastest-growing professional service companies on Canada’s Growth 500 list.

Workplace Culture Champion – This award recognizes companies that: commit to a respectful, safe and inclusive workplace culture; encourage employees to recognize their role in that culture; and hold employees and sub-contractors accountable, ensuring a work environment free from harassment, hazing, and bullying.

Winner: Scott Construction Group (Vancouver) – Among Scott Construction Group’s initiatives in this category were: supporting a company-wide, volunteer-run Mental Health Committee to reduce the stigma of mental illness and support the mental health of staff and groups/individuals on their jobsites; advancing and retaining tradeswomen through partnerships with Canadian Construction Women, BC Center for Women in the Trades, and ITA; and participating in training that promotes the retention of tradeswomen (Be More Than A Bystander and Mental Health First Aid Attendant training)

Winner: Kinetic Construction (Victoria) – Among Kinetic Construction’s initiatives in this category were: being an active promoter of diversity, including female apprentices and all tradespeople;; providing education in Camosun’s Women in Trades (WIT) program, volunteering their time to educate WIT students, speaking at Camosun College events and attending and instructing at team building forums; over the last three years has been a dedicated industry partner of the Royal Roads University Master of Global Management program, hosting international students in paid internships; regular participants in RRU’s industry panels and networking events; adding the Builders Code to on-boarding packages for all new employees; and posting Builders Code signage at worksites.

Community Champion – This award recognizes companies that: promote career opportunities for women in the skilled trades; support their tradespeople to mentor others; and promote education, awareness and training that positively impacts their community, company and employees.

Winner: Westcana Electric (Prince George) – Among Westcana Electric’s initiatives in this category were: signing MOUs with Indigenous communities to facilitate work experience and training for young women; creating their “Apprentice-Shop Program” to provide youth with hands-on experience in an electrical warehouse (60% have gone on to trades training); providing more than $300,000 in sponsorship for activities, teams and organizations; providing gender appropriate washroom facilities and ensuring PPE and clothing is appropriately sized for women; providing on-going training for managers, supervisors, and staff to ensure they are knowledgeable about what constitutes an Acceptable Worksite; and integrating Builders Code best practices into their HR hiring practices.

Initiate of the Year – This award recognizes companies that: introduced diversity policies this year; are committed to building an Acceptable Worksite; and are working to create a construction sector that works for everyone.

Winner: Durwest Construction Management (Victoria) – Among Durwest Construction Management’s initiatives in this category were: providing Builders Code training on all its jobsites; updating bullying, harassment & “zero tolerance” policies; incorporating an ‘Equal Opportunity’ pledge into employment contracts; promoting its anti-hazing, bullying and harassment policy; sponsoring and mentoring female apprentices; working with the Women in Trades program at Camosun College to attract women to work at Durwest; training all site staff on acceptable treatment of all workers; and incorporating Builders Code Acceptable Worksite expectations to recruiting and hiring practices, as well as orientation packages for all employees.

Contractor of the Year – This award recognizes companies that: are fully committed to achieving an Acceptable Worksite and building a diverse workforce where all employees are able to perform at their best and reach their full potential.

Winner: Westcana Electric (Prince George) – Among Westcana Electric’s initiatives in this category were: employing approximately 30 women in trades that are either apprentices or journeyperson electricians; partnering with the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Education and Training Association’s Women in Trades program; creating their “Apprentice-Shop Program” to provide youth with hands-on experience in an electrical warehouse (60% have gone on to trades training); providing more than $300,000 in sponsorship for activities, teams and organizations; winning a 2018 ITA award for carrying the most apprentices to journeyperson; and winning the NRCA Construction Leadership award in 2018 and 2019.

Winner: Chinook Scaffold Systems (Nanaimo) – Among Chinook Scaffold System’s initiatives in this category were: providing a workplace that is dedicated to equality for all workers; having a senior management team that is 50% female and a safety team that is 62.5% female; participating in entry level exposure programs such as Heavy Metal Rocks, which exposes high school students to potential careers in trades; partnering with the Prince George Aboriginal Employment and Training Association to provide entry level trades training to Indigenous people; and providing dedicated change rooms and appropriately sized clothing and harnesses for tradeswomen or visible minority workers.

For more information about the Builders Code Scorecard and Builders Code Champion Awards visit www.builderscode.ca/recognition/

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CONTACTS:  BC Construction Association
Greg Descantes
604-646-3564
gdescantes@pacegroup.com

Site Supers, Foremen, Union Business Managers newest beneficiaries of Builders Code supports   

PRINCE GEORGE, BC (August 20, 2019) – New Builders Code training for site supervisors, forepersons and union business managers on how best to deal with the perpetrators and targets of worksite bullying and harassment was announced today in Prince George, along with a new local Employer Advisor for the northern region. The training, which supports the construction personnel that work most closely with tradespeople on construction sites, was announced by Northern Regional Construction Association (NRCA) CEO Scott Bone.

The new Employer Advisor is human resources expert Diane Bourret, who has 20 years’ experience as a HR professional, certified professional coach, and training facilitator with organizations such as Canfor and the City of Prince George. In addition to HR consulting, her expertise includes recruitment and employee evaluation, as well as developing and facilitating training programs focused on team effectiveness and transformation leadership. Backed by the Builders Code team across BC, Diane will help northern construction employers and unions retain their tradespeople through a wide range of free advisory services including dispute resolution and mitigation.

The new Builders Code training will explore issues such as: the nature and impact of unacceptable worksite conduct; how to build and maintain an acceptable worksite culture; the role and responsibilities of worksite leaders; and how best to deal with complainants and the people they are reporting. The training will be invaluable for construction employers in the North, where the competition for skilled workers is fierce, the retention of first-year apprentices is challenging, and most employers are small companies lacking the HR expertise they need to define and promote an acceptable workplace culture. Among the many benefits employers will see are improved worker retention, safety, and productivity, and lower costs connected to employee turnover, worksite accidents, injury-related health care costs, legal actions, rehiring, and workforce productivity issues.

“On behalf of the Northern Regional Construction Association, we’re pleased to welcome Diane, whose experience, HR expertise and connections to the northern business and construction community are well known,” said Bone. “Our NRCA members benefitted greatly from the workshops for company owners, executives and HR managers, which is ongoing, so we’re very pleased that Diane will deliver the specialized training for leaders on the worksite as well.”

Among the construction companies in the North that are benefitting from the training and resources provided by the Builders Code is Prince George-based Westcana Electric.

“Westcana would like to thank the BC Construction Association, NRCA, and their partners for their interest in working towards more acceptable worksite behaviours on all job sites,” said Scott Sherba, President, Westcana Electric. “I believe Westcana has always been ahead of the curve when creating diversity, equality and inclusivity but the Builders Code program has shown us we can do more. Members of our team found the first phase of training respectful and informative and we look forward to next sessions. Here at Westcana we are determined to be part of the solution – building a better construction industry that works for everyone”

“A culture shift on construction worksites will help us attract and retain the tradespeople we need, particularly women,” added Bone. “In the North, we’ve already had more than 30 employers sign the Builders Code Acceptable Worksite Pledge.   Employers are recognizing the value of eliminating harassment, hazing or bullying and that these Builders Code tools are indispensable to achieve that.”

The Builders Code provides employers with a wide range of resources, including downloadable policies and posters, online and onsite training for personnel, employer advisors, employer scorecards and awards, and a crew training app (coming soon). Companies who use the Builders Code tools and training benefit from an increased capacity to address behaviour issues that affect safety and productivity and can use their training certification to promote their company and culture to potential employees, as well as clients. 

The training workshops were developed by experienced training providers in partnership with project partners including BCCA, the Industry Training Authority (ITA), WorkSafeBC, and the Minerva Foundation of BC, and are free during the pilot phase of the Builders Code. Registration for the workshops will be available through the NRCA.

“As the construction personnel that work most closely with tradespeople on B.C. worksites, site supervisors, forepersons and union business managers have a vital role to play in creating and maintaining a positive worksite culture and addressing any issues that may arise,” said Chris Atchison, President, BCCA. “Participating in these workshops will ensure they have the tools and training they need to not only resolve any issues in a positive manner but to ensure they don’t occur in the first place. I want to thank our regional partners for supporting the Builders Code and this valuable training, which will help us attract and retain the skilled people we need as our sector continues to thrive during this exciting period of growth.”

Builders Code Training Workshops (Northern Region)

Oct. 7       Prince George – Site supervisors, forepersons, union business managers
Oct. 22     Williams Lake – Corporate leaders, executives and HR personnel
Oct. 23     Williams Lake – Site supervisors, forepersons, union business managers
Oct. 30     Fort St. John – Corporate leaders, executives and HR personnel
Oct. 31     Fort St. John – Site supervisors, forepersons, union business managers

QUOTES

Industry Training Authority
“Each day, thousands of trades professionals across the province are contributing to our economy and growth.  We are proud to support inclusive, safe and healthy work environments by making sure everyone on a jobsite knows what’s expected and can work safely and productively.” – Shelley Gray, CEO, Industry Training Authority

Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia
“The Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia commends the BC Construction Association and its partners on working towards a more inclusive and diverse construction industry. In 1960, RCABC established its first roof Guarantee, offering a peace of mind and quality assurance to British Columbians. The Builders Code policies and guidelines will help our Association and member company employers offer the same assurances to their employees, increasing retention and growing our skilled workforce. We were proud to sign the Acceptable Worksite pledge.” – Bryan Wallner, CEO

Scott Construction
“Scott Construction is committed to being an industry leader for employee health and safety, particularly in the area of mental health. As an early adopter of the BC Builders Code, we can attest to the value of the resources available through this program and their effectiveness in the reduction of workplace bullying, hazing and harassment, as well as in the creation of safer, more inclusive work environments. Credit goes to the BC Construction Association and its industry partners for looking beyond the risk of physical injury and shining a bright light on the importance of mental health protection as well.” – Kellyann Williams, HR Manager.

About THE BUILDERS CODE

The Builders Code is an initiative of the Construction Workforce Equity Project. Co-funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, with financial contributions from the BC Construction Association, WorkSafe BC, the Industry Training Authority, LNG Canada, the BCCA Employee Benefits Trust, and the BC Construction Safety Alliance, the Builders Code is also supported by the BC’s four Regional Construction Associations and the Minerva Foundation of BC. For more information about The Builders Code and our #dontbeatool campaign, visit us at: www.builderscode.ca (website); @bcbuilderscode (Facebook) and @bcbuilderscode (Twitter).

About the Northern Regional Construction Association

The Northern Regional Construction Association vision is to help our members flourish and promote the construction industry in Northern BC. With over $62 billion dollars of 2019 capital construction in our region, NRCA is well positioned in partnership with BCCA to provide high-quality membership services through some key objectives, including: access to an effective bidding platform; connecting and engaging with others in the industry; providing high-quality training; advocating for best practices; speaking as one construction community voice in the region; and giving back to the community. For more information, visit us at www.nrca.ca (website), @nrca.ca (Facebook) and LinkedIn.

About British Columbia Construction Association

The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) works with four Regional Construction Associations (NRCA, SICA, VICA and VRCA) to serve more than 10,000 employers in the provinces industrial, commercial, institutional (ICI) construction industry. BCCA’s programs and services include employee benefits (BCCA Employee Benefits), technology tools for bid and project management (BidCentral), Employer services through the Builders Code, which strives to improve workplace culture, and employment programs (Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP), Integrating Newcomers, LNG Canada Trades Training Fund, LNG Canada Connect). BCCA advocates on behalf of all employers to ensure British Columbia’s construction sector remains productive and resilient. For more information, visit us at www.bccassn.com (website), @ThisisBCCA (Facebook) and @thisisBCCA (Twitter).

CONTACTS: 

BC Construction Association
Greg Descantes
604-646-3564
gdescantes@pacegroup.com

Kelowna, BC (April 29, 2019) – Construction employers in the Southern Interior region were introduced to the province’s newest Builders Code Advisor today at a Contractor Breakfast in Kelowna as part of BC Construction Month. The Builders Code Advisor’s role is to help address diversity and harassment issues on worksites by supporting employers who wish to improve retention rates but lack needed HR skills and resources.

Builders Code Advisor Diane Jolicoeur is a Kelowna-based certified professional coach and consultant in career transition and displacement. Her extensive experience and expertise in human resources includes employee relations, specialized recruitment, HR strategy and development, and workshop development and facilitation. She currently also consults for Okanagan College Women in Trades Training as a mentor and advisor. Today’s breakfast was held at the College.

“As a partner in the Builders Code and a strong supporter of its goals to increase the retention of tradeswomen, and all apprentices, by eliminating hazing, harassment, and bullying on B.C. worksites, the Southern Interior Construction Association is very pleased to introduce Diane to our membership,” said Jason Henderson, CEO, SICA. “Our employers in the Southern Interior recognize that by setting a standard code of conduct for construction worksites, the Builders Code will help them increase safety and productivity at their sites. Attracting and retaining employees, especially tradeswomen, is key issue throughout our region and industry so it’s a definite benefit for our members to have access to a skilled HR professional that can help them develop and implement HR policies and address worksite issues before they escalate.”

Across the province, more than 23,000 construction companies have 20 employees or less. Supported by the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) and BC Construction Association Employee Benefit Trust (BCCAEBT), Builders Code Advisors serve as expert coaches for BC construction employers as they strive to navigate escalating HR situations on the job site that arise from a lack of clearly defined equity or inclusion policies. The goal is to assist employers in resolving situations fairly, quickly, and productively for all parties, and in the process improve the employer’s ability to confidently communicate expectations and manage such situations independently in future.

“Construction employers throughout B.C. want to improve the culture on their sites and effectively manage harassment and bullying situations,” said Chris Atchison, President, BCCA. “Providing experienced HR advisors like Diane to work with them one on one is a powerful opportunity. More than 50 employers have already signed on to the Builders Code in its first weeks.”

“I look forward to supporting construction employers in the southern interior region to modernize the industry culture,” said Joliecoeur. “My philosophy is to empower people to come to their own decisions, and my approach is to provide expertise and advice without judgement.”

The Builders Code Advisors are part of a comprehensive suite of tools for employers available at www.builderscode.ca that includes: downloadable policies and posters, training, employer scorecards and awards, and a worksite “Don’t be a Tool” awareness campaign.

The Builders Code recognizes that every tradesperson on a worksite is affected by stress and distraction caused by bullying, hazing and harassment. It’s expected that by demonstrating to employers the benefits of an improving worksite culture and providing them with the tools they need to affect change, retention rates will improve and help to erase B.C.’s projected skilled labour shortage of 7,900 workers by 2028.

“When you consider the significant role stress plays in worksite accidents, it’s clear that hazing, harassment and bullying are important safety issues,” said Michael McKenna, Executive Director, BCCSA. “As an organization that provides straightforward and practical assistance to help contractors meet their health and safety needs and requirements, the Builders Code Advisors is an essential component of the services and training we offer construction employers.”

“Our mission is to be an innovative provider of employee benefits to our clients, so that they can recruit, protect and retain their talented people,” added Arthur Chung, CEO, BCCAEBT. “We’re incredibly excited that there will be much needed support to empower construction industry employers to build a safe and inclusive work culture. Having a Builders Code Advisors in place marks the culmination of the extensive dedication and hard work put in by the BCCA and all of the partners on the Builders Code project.”

The Builders Code is an initiative of the Construction Workforce Equity Project, funded by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training through the Sector Labour Market Partnership Program. Builders Code partners include: BCCA, BCCSA, BCCA EBT, Industry Training Association (ITA), WorkSafeBC, Minerva Foundation of B.C., LNG Canada, and four Regional Construction Associations (NRCA, SICA, VICA, VRCA). Throughout 2019, additional Builders Code resources and services will be rolled out including additional Builders Code Advisors in every region of the province. 

About British Columbia Construction Association
The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) works with four Regional Construction Associations (NRCA, SICA, VICA and VRCA) to serve more than 10,000 employers in the provinces industrial, commercial, institutional (ICI) construction industry. BCCA’s programs and services include employee benefits (BCCA Employee Benefits), technology tools for bid and project management (BidCentral), employer services through the Builders Code, which strives to improve workplace culture, and employment programs (Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP), Integrating Newcomers, LNG Canada Trades Training Fund, LNG Canada Connect). BCCA advocates on behalf of all employers to ensure British Columbia’s construction sector remains productive and resilient.

For more information about SICA, visit: www.sicabc.ca
For more information about BCCA, visit: www.bccassn.com
For more information about the Builders Code, visit: www.builderscode.ca

CONTACTS: 
BC Construction Association
Greg Descantes
604-646-3564
greg@pacegroup.com