FEATURE | New National Ethics Course
can instil the importance of ethical behaviour to not only the companies, but to the individual employees, and to the industry as a whole.” Referring to the course as Ethics 101, Cusveller says once it is completed and rolled out in March 2016, it will be a mandatory requirement for Gold Seal certification. Cusveller states passing the idea of developing an industry ethics course was one of the easiest and quickest board decisions ever made. He says due to the range of their members, some issues tend to get polarized. “We considered what a small drywaller in Nova Scotia has in common with a general contractor in Calgary, or a mid-sized plumbing supplier out of Quebec City,” he says. “This was one of those things where we agreed to spend the money and to do it right.” Ted Weallens, past chair of the Calgary Construction Association (CCA), had the same experience when he led a committee of construction industry leaders who developed the Code of Ethics/Code of Practice for the CCA in the
late 1980s. “The code was then presented to the CCA board of directors who unanimously approved it,” he says. The Code of Ethics was developed at that time because he could see the industry was shifting. “A contract was sealed on handshake,” he says, laughing. Weallens believes the way business is done has changed, but the need to conduct business ethically has not. The course, developed for supervisors, superintendents, and managers, will be designed as a blended format, combining online delivery with classroom learning. Cusveller believes inclass conversation and open discussion between students will be beneficial for a course of this nature. The content will include ethics theory, social responsibility, business and legal ethics, and it will focus on using actual day-to-day situations. “It uses practical construction scenarios to support the learning,” says Sparks. “Situations that a manager or supervisor might actually come across in a construction environment.” Sparks adds they are using industry
HELLY HANSEN WORKWEAR
Scandinavian design is the cornerstone in all Helly Hansen gear. The optimal combination of purposeful design, protection and style. This is why professional fishermen, trade workers and discerning outdoor enthusiasts choose Helly Hansen. HH W ORK W E A R . C OM
234
Calgary Construction Association Magazine
people to ensure the content focuses on circumstances seen in this business. “It’s very uniquely construction,” she says. “While this course is not trade specific, because ethics are ethics, it is industry specific.” Cusveller says the task force is made up of a diverse group of people from across the country, covering a crosssection of all trades in the construction industry. Each member of the task force is able to share his or her own experiences taken from their own day-to-day dealings. He says it has been challenging coming up with scenarios and solutions, but he says it has also been fun. “Our committee is a very interactive, focused group, and most things are decided by consensus. We have discovered how complicated it is. It’s a big conversation.” The CdnCA plans to release a preview of Ethics 101 at the Canadian Construction Association Annual Conference which will be held in New Orleans in March 2016. n