Twenty twenty-one is about to hit the history books and although not the year I was hoping for in terms of making giant strides in the world of DEI, we did return to a bit of normalcy in our personal and business lives–or did we?

I always end the year thinking back and wondering if we are going backwards, standing in place or possibly inching forward a bit–again as relates to diversity, equity and inclusion in our beloved industry of design and construction. My spirits were lifted in August with the great effort of the major GC’s that presented “Construction Inclusion Week” to our marketplace and their inspiring words as to the importance of a positive “JOBSITE CULTURE.” I hope everyone has this quote plastered on their computer screen or prominently displayed in their office somewhere but in case you do not, let me refresh your memory with the first paragraph of that quote.

“Establishing and maintaining a positive jobsite culture means that everyone gets to experience a workplace that is inclusive and respectful. We know what a good jobsite culture feels like—it’s the job that everyone wants to be on because it looks and feels welcoming. We also know that a good culture leads to a safer and more productive job, one that provides higher value to our client and allows each and every worker to perform their best work.”

The quote goes on to say…

“We should expect to get a high level of respect and standard of care where we work. We must create workplaces which are equitable and meet the needs of all employees, industry wide. We need to ensure job sites are free of bias and harassment; where all are treated with respect; sites in which our professional opinions are heard and valued, and all have a seat at the table. Additionally, our clients appreciate and have come to expect a diverse and respectful workplace. This is not diversity on paper only, we need to foster collaborative and inclusive teams where everyone can do their best work and deliver for our clients.”

Is this the job site we all know—does this sort of culture exist on the majority of the job sites in our marketplace? On any of the job sites in our marketplace?

Are our job sites “free of bias and harassment where all workers are treated with respect?”

Are the voices of the minority contracting community “heard and valued” and do they all have a “seat at the table?”

Have the clients in our marketplace really come to “appreciate and expect a diverse and respectful workplace?”

These are all good questions we should be asking ourselves as we get ready to enter another year of booming construction. At least “booming” for some. I have been searching for ways to continue and expand discussions on this single concept of “Job site culture” and hope to hold a real live PEOPLE meeting in the near future to get more thoughts on the table. I realize that my sample is a bit small and it seems my interactions with the minority contracting community and prime subs, GC’s and owners is typically problem related, so I would love to hear some positive stories to support this job site culture quotation. I plan to wait until this Omicron thing leaves town, if it ever does, and then maybe we can gather in a nice outdoor setting in early March and express our thoughts.

For now, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I have a good feeling about this twenty twenty-two year and hereby declare it the year we will make giant strides in what we now are calling DEI—diversity, equity and inclusion. Those strides will not come unless we all work together to create this job site culture of equity and respect. As the quote from Construction Inclusion Week so correctly ends:

“Simply said: When it comes to job site culture, it has to be practiced and lived daily. EVERYONE has to be about it and not just talk about it.”

Happy New Year everyone–see you in 2022.

PEOPLE

Ron