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Builders Code award honours companies working to end discrimination and harassment on jobsites in BC

The Builders Code is honouring six employers with Builders Code Champion Awards for leading the way in advancing the culture of BC's industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector.

The Builders Code Champion Awards were launched last year to recognize companies that are taking proactive measures to eliminate discrimination, hazing, bullying and harassment on worksites in BC, and to create a safety standard that prioritizes the importance of psychological as well as physical safety for all workers.  

The nomination process was open from June 4 to October 28th, 2020, with the judging conducted by Minerva BC, the BC Construction Association (BCCA), and the Builders Code Governance Committee. 

The 2020 Builders Code Champion Award categories and winners are: 

  • Recruiting & Hiring Champion: Chinook Scaffold Systems  
  • Loyalty Champion: Westcana Electric  
  • Workplace Culture Champion: RAM Consulting Ltd. (medium sized employer) and Lafarge Canada (large employer)  
  • Community Champion: Houle Electric
  • Contractor of the Year: Mazzei Electric   

The BCCA's Fall 2020 Stat Pack was also released and shows that more tradeswomen are working in the sector.  The province appears to be significantly advancing toward the goal of 10 percent women in BC's construction workforce by 2028, helping to address the skilled worker shortage. The BCCA Stat Pack also shows that while continuing to adapt to the supply chain, worksite and other challenges caused by COVID-19, the construction industry's contribution to B.C.'s GDP has risen from $21.2 billion to $22.7B over the past year.

"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 their leadership across the province during this challenging year," said Chris Atchison, President, BCCA. "These award recipients, the other nominees and the companies throughout B.C. who have adopted Builders Code are helping to shape a new workplace culture for construction and encouraging others to get involved. They recognize that the Builders Code has helped them set clear behaviour expectations among employees and supported them in the development of company policies all of which are contributing to attracting and retaining employees in a tight labour market. Thank you and congratulations."       

2020 Builders Code Exemplary Employer Award recipients

Recruiting & hiring champion: Chinook Scaffold Systems (Nanaimo)

This award category 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.

Chinook Scaffolding has shown its focus on culture and values by signing the Builders Code pledge, and they were awarded a Champion Award in 2019 for their efforts. They have shown their continued efforts toward equity by working with other community tradeswomen initiatives, such as Women Building Futures (WBF). While they are aware their trade is one that requires a degree of physical strength, they've implemented processes that are designed to ensure all workers can have a fulfilling career with their company. They have a strong female component in management positions, with a continued commitment to promoting female tradespeople - it is driven from the top down. They clearly have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to inclusivity.

Loyalty champion: Westcana Electric (Prince George)

This award category recognizes companies that value their employees and hire with retention top of mind. Their managers and supervisors work hard to create a safe, positive, and productive worksite and are invested in the development and success of all employees. The employer offers progressive benefits such as flexible schedule, family leave, access to childcare, and other competitive advantages that keep your workers loyal.

Westcana keeps family values top of mind and treats all employees like family. This is a key reason they have won their third Builders Code Champion Award (two last year and one this year). To aid in retention Westcana has lots to offer, from employee benefits (including mental health and bereavement leave) to flexible schedules for employees with children and families. Westcana has proven their commitment to equity with a workforce comprise of 30% women. Westcana has also shown their commitment to local, inclusive hiring through their work on the committee for PGNAETA (Prince George Nechako Aboriginal and Education Training Associations) Women in Trades Program. Their local leadership proves their proud commitment to building a construction industry that works for everyone.  

Workplace culture champion - Small/medium-sized company: RAM Consulting Ltd. (Vancouver)

This award category 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.

As a proud Builders Code signatory RAM's commitment to culture comes through loud and clear when they refer to their team as the "RAMfam". RAM has established a thorough onboarding procedure that promotes a culture right from the start. During the interview process potential employees are introduced to the Builders Code and made aware of the qualities of an Acceptable Worksite. Every year an Engagement Survey helps management to assess RAMfam attitudes towards different aspects of the job including physical workspace, team building activities, and communication across all levels. RAM has established individual training plans, platforms for networking, and commitments of inclusivity when it comes to training too. 

Women make up 33% of RAM's Leadership Team and their voices are included during project and corporate discussions. In 2019, RAM's Director of Project Services was shorted listed for the Women's Infrastructure Network's Emerging Leader's award. As of October 1, 2020, 69% of RAM's staff is made up of visible minorities (a 4% increase from last year) and 33% of the staff are women (a 5% increase from last year. This is RAM's second year as a Builders Code Champion Award winner. 

Workplace culture champion - Large-sized company: Lafarge Canada (Vancouver)

As an early signatory of the Builders Code, Lafarge puts a strong emphasis on culture and values. They have implemented annual training for both new hires and existing employees on Bullying and Harassment, Bystander training, and Code of Business Conduct (particularly Respect in the Workplace). All training is included in their Contractor orientations. Respectfully, for their employees, if an employee is uncomfortable raising a concern to their direct supervisor, they are encouraged to call an Integrity Line which is operated 24/7.  Lafarge have seen an increase in the number of women in our workforce every year. As a large company with an internal motto of "I care for our Health and Safety. We see something and do something" - they are an organization that can help lead others to better and more acceptable worksites.

Community champion: Houle Electric (Vancouver)  

This award category 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.

Houle Electric signed the Builders Code pledge in March 2019 and has clearly demonstrated their commitment to improving equity. Houle has increased total tradeswomen by 50% in one year. They have implemented several internal diversity, equity and inclusive policies and offered similar training for all staff, including providing unconscious bias and diversity training to managers to enable them to actively foster a culture of equality. They can be considered an innovative employer because of the emphasis on teaching soft skills, such as how to communicate and build rapport in a professional way with the crew on site - skills that were not considered to be relevant several years ago. By educating their supervisors on these types of skills, Houle is working to change the old ways of thinking and create a more encouraging, supportive, and productive work environment for all.

Contractor of the year:  Mazzei Electric (Nanaimo)

This award category 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.

Mazzei Electric is a proud signatory of the Builders Code pledge. They ensure that we provide inclusive workplaces (this includes no tolerance for any sort of hazing, harassment, bullying, etc.), and ensure that all employees have equal opportunities to advance with us. They can boast that 11% of their workforce is women, which is well above the average in BC Construction. As an example, they had their first female sub-foreperson this year as well as were able to promote a female Service Electrician into the Service Manager position, along with various other success stories. They are clearly a leader in hiring tradeswomen and creating safe worksites for all. 

Company info

401 - 655 Tyee Road
Victoria, BC
CA, V9A 6X5

Website:
bccassn.com

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