Ethics are a part of our decisions in both everyday life and business — and that includes the construction industry. What we often consider “best practices” or business integrity are likely examples of good ethics in this sector, but how do you actually define ethics in construction? And how can you encourage an ethical construction-company code of conduct?
Workplace Ethics
Workplace ethics are important when it comes to promoting fairness at work, your hiring processes, treatment of staff and the remuneration of workers. While much of this will be practised as a direct result of the government legislation or laws surrounding these topics, a company with good morals would prioritise these as standard, not just out of a sense of legal obligation. Ethics are synonymous with doing the right thing, and workplace ethics are no different.
As a result of this, good workplace ethics are often associated with integrity and trustworthiness. Ethical practices are rewarding in more ways than one, as a reputation for being an ethical business is beneficial for the company. A company that treats its workers well will benefit from higher staff retention rates than companies that do not practise fair treatment in the workplace. Workers will also sing the praises of an ethical company, and word of mouth recruitment will yield an increased volume of applications, whereas companies with questionable ethics will, inevitably, have fewer referrals.
Ethics in the workplace are also an opportunity for businesses to demonstrate their values. Good ethics are an excellent point of reference for PR, and they can also be part of your recruitment strategy. Some companies are using ethical perks as a selling point for both their public image and hiring processes. “Volunteering days” where staff get an extra day’s leave if they want to spend a day volunteering for a charitable cause are an excellent example of this.
The Relevance of Ethics in Construction
Ethics in construction need to come from the top to be effective. Management should be promoting good ethics and practices. Workplace culture has a huge role to play here too, as it is not simply a box-ticking exercise, but rather a holistic approach. Companies need to work at improving ethics in construction, and to do that, managers must acknowledge that there may be weak spots in the way they currently do things.
Construction-Company Code of Conduct
Though not currently mandatory for construction companies, many choose to voluntarily produce a code of conduct. This is a set of principles that a company commits to abiding by, and ties into a company’s values and ethics. Examples of ethics in construction that a company may choose to incorporate into its code of conduct include guidelines for appropriate workplace behaviour and behaviours that would be considered misconduct (and therefore not tolerated in the workplace).
A construction-company code of conduct is an indication that the company is prioritising good practice and values in the workplace. As it isn’t a legal requirement, companies that take these steps should be considered to be going above and beyond what is required of them in order to promote ethical business practices.
A construction-company code of conduct will generally centre around a core set of good ethics or values. These often include honesty, integrity, kindness, fairness and respectfulness. This is what the company prioritises and expects from its workers as well as what it promotes to potential clients. Putting this kind of code of conduct into practise is what will help a company stand out and gain a reputation for being ethical.
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Examples of Unethical Conduct in Construction
Unethical conduct can, in some instances, result in corruption — and construction is one of the most corrupt industries both globally and in the UK. Examples of the most common unethical practices found in construction are:
- Cover Pricing.
- Bribery.
- Bid Cutting.
- Poor Documentation.
- Late and Short Payments.
In an industry with a reputation for unethical conduct, construction companies that commit to promoting good ethics in their practices will stand out against competitors. Education can go a long way in raising awareness of what is considered corrupt or unethical behaviour. Tackling corruption in construction is just a small part of promoting good ethics, but reassessing and re-educating workers about what good ethics in construction look like will take an investment of time and effort.
Ethical business practices also affect the relationships that a construction company will have with buyers and suppliers. A difference in values can see a breakdown in supply-chain relationships, so a company with a reputation for practising good ethics will be more likely to benefit in future relationships.
Ethics of the Built Environment
Whilst construction companies will benefit from the same ground-level ethics that any business would, there are also wider ethics in construction to consider for the industry. Promoting good ethics in the workplace is commendable, but there is a stage before this in the ethics of planning.
Ethics in construction goes hand in hand with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and while this isn’t currently a legal requirement for construction companies, it is good business practice and a great way to demonstrate good ethics. Consider that, just because something can be built, does that mean it should be? CSR has a large role to play in this, and construction companies can only be truly ethical if they critically consider the ethics of some of the early decisions required for a construction project.
As a CHAS client, we can help your company implement good ethical practices and advise what to include in a construction-company code of conduct. Join as a contractor for access to resources that will help you stay compliant with ethics in construction.
