Integrity, trustworthiness, and fair business practices are vital pillars of a business. The construction industry is no exception. Considering the complex nature of the construction process, having strong workplace ethics becomes more significant.
In this pursuit, every company has outlined its goals according to its needs and budgets. Still, developing and promoting strong work ethics in construction projects remains a big challenge. Further, pressure to deliver the best results in a short duration adds more to the complexity.
The success of any construction project heavily depends on the quality decisions taken by the company’s top brasses. Hence, the leaders should be the first ones to set an example for others. In the absence of strong work ethics, realizing an organization’s goal becomes next to impossible.
To make things simple, we have listed some essential pointers that help foster strong work ethics in a construction project. Meanwhile, if you are looking for project management software, head on to GoBridgit they can be of assistance.
What Is Workplace Ethics?
Workplace ethics is defined as a set of rules and codes that promote fairness in procedures, hiring, transactions, and interpersonal relationships. Strong work ethics do not necessarily imply safeguarding an organization’s interest. Rather it should complement the best interest of those impacted.
Overall, upholding work ethics go hand in hand – Both organization and employee should participate equally. Doing so boosts integrity and trustworthiness at the workplace.
The Relevance Of Work Ethics In Construction
Work ethics plays a vital role in the multi-dimensional construction industry. Some of the areas where ethics make a significant impact on the productivity and profitability of the construction industry are:
- Bidding process.
- Planning and designing
- Hiring workforce
- Outsourcing contractors, equipment, and trained workforce
- Purchasing building material
- Quality work performance
- Human resource and financial accountability
- Construction processes (To avoid shortcuts)
- Safety
Failure to practice fair work ethics can derail a project or even a company. Therefore keep the following points in mind to develop a strong work ethic during construction projects.
Tips To Develop Strong Work Ethics During Construction Projects
There are no hard and fast rules for developing and implementing work ethics policies. Instead, it is a continuous process cultivated by fair practices at the workplace. Still, some efforts should be made to develop strong work ethics, such as:
Create A Code Of Conduct For The Construction Company
Although optional, draft a code of ethics that a company accepts to follow and make the employee abide by. It should reflect the company goals and objectives. Additionally include:
- Jobsite behavior advisory with a list of acts considered as misconduct
- Regulatory rules
- List of actions considered unfair
- Legal implications of unfair practices
A construction company code of conduct should convey that the company promotes a healthy work culture.
Examples Of Unethical Conduct In Construction
Due to the vast scope, the construction industry is prone to various loopholes. In the absence of good supervision, chances of misconduct increases, such as:
- Cover Pricing.
- Bribery.
- Bid Cutting.
- Poor Documentation.
- Financial irregularities
- Conflict of interest
- Wastage of resources
- Unsafe workplace
- Compromising company and employees sensitive information
Effective Supervision (Construction Project Manager)
A Construction Project Manager or a construction general superintendent is responsible for coordination, supervision, and monitoring every on-field and off-field construction activity. The scope of construction project manager includes but is not limited to:
- Act as a connecting link between different sites.
- Enforce regulation and standards.
- Planning, implementing, and monitoring construction activities in consultation with other stakeholders.
- Track the construction progress, perform budget forecasting and time tracking.
- Ensure a productive and safe environment for workers at the job site.
As the role of a construction supervisor is dynamic, the responsibility should be entrusted to a trained and experienced person. Beyond professional excellence, he should have excellent communication and decision-making skills.
Provide Ethical Training To Employees
Schedule training sessions to convey the expectations and goals of the company to employees. It ensures every employee from top to bottom remains on the same page. Ethical training becomes more critical for the construction industry due to the amount of pressure the workers go through.
Use Collaborative Software And Tools
Project management software and collaborative tools can help share inputs and dialogue in real-time. Furthermore, managing a project on a shared platform boosts strong work ethics, team spirit and saves time. Various software effectively tracks time, productivity, and project progress. By analyzing the data, team leaders can utilize the resources better.
Similarly, the software can also serve the purpose of a virtual supervisor by monitoring, auditing, and analyzing the data. Boarding the main stakeholders on a shared platform is critical for promoting team spirit.
Enforce The Code Of Conduct
A single mistake in the construction industry costs heavily. Therefore, if any member fails to abide by the codes, the appropriate response is imperative to set the example. Make efforts to avoid repetition of the same mistakes.
In addition to the above, other aspects to consider are:
- Make every individual accountable for their jobs.
- Provide realistic deadlines
- Improve team spirit to avoid misconduct at the workplace
- Avoid pay disparity
Benefits Of Developing Strong Work Ethics In Construction Projects
Although we have touched every aspect of promoting strong work ethics in the preceding paragraphs, we have listed some top benefits to summarize:
- Cultivate strong teamwork, ultimately increasing productivity.
- Better planning, management, and monitoring results in proper accountability.
- Safe and healthy job sites boost the morale of workers.
- Enhances the image and reputation of the construction company
- Competitive advantage
Endnote
Work ethics in the construction industry should not be limited to accountability and profitability only. Instead, it should revolve around promoting a healthy work culture. A friendly, healthy, and safe workplace shows an organization’s commitment to its employees and partners. Ultimately the good image helps in bagging multi-dollar construction contracts from reputed developers.
Developing a strong work ethic in construction projects ensures good supervision. Apart from human supervision, make full use of technology to plan, monitor, and assess the construction projects. Overall, work ethics in construction projects should be aimed to release continuous pressure, enhance workplace safety, and increase productivity. Developing and implementing strong work ethics is a valuable investment that reaps benefits in the long run.
