DIVERSITY & INCLUSION


AGC Members Model Best Practices on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity


Zero tolerance for bias incidents. Building an inclusive culture. Elevating education and outreach. Creating platforms for conversation and change.


When it comes to combating bias and inequality and encouraging inclusion and equity in the California construction industry, those are just some of the ways that AGC of California member companies are lead- ing the way.


We reached out to a handful of those companies to find out what they are doing that makes them stand out. Featured here, Turner, Procore and Flatiron are representative of the many companies large and small that are working hard to effect change. Read about some of their best practices, programs and policies that are having an impact in their own companies as well as within the industry at large.


Turner Leads Industry with Zero Tolerance for Bias Incidents on Jobsites


By Carol Eaton


skilled laborers put boots on the ground to turn design and engineering plans into tangible structures like hospitals, office buildings, courthouses and hotels. For Turner Construction, the


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company’s jobsites also serve as the front line in its efforts to develop a workforce that is diverse and a work environment that is inclusive and equitable. When it comes to bullying or bias-related graffiti or other incidents, these are zero-tolerance zones.


Commitment to Change While Turner has maintained


a policy addressing diversity and inclusion (D&I) for many years, 2020 has ushered in a whole new level of commitment to these principals as a core value. Senior Vice President Lisa Ballantyne said it is not so much a culture change as a pivot, as our collective awareness to harassment and bias has been raised. “Our CEO,


www.AGC-CA.org


he construction jobsite represents the public face of any construction company. It’s the place where


Peter Davoren, truly led from the top with this humility, direction and relentless pursuit of creating the right environment,” she said. “It has cascaded from there. At every level of the company, we clearly see the need to stand up and take action.”


Lisa Ballantyne “We have a


responsibility to create a safe workplace that responds to harassment, bias motivated events or potential hate crimes.” – Lisa Ballantyne


“As a company, Turner is


really taking a very defined look, commitment, and passion around the idea that every individual on our jobsites be in a work environment that is safe, welcoming, diverse and inclusive,” she added. Many see this


approach as long overdue in the construction industry, especially during a time when racial tension, unrest and protests are daily front-page news. Turner itself has been in the news this year for taking action to address bias-related graffiti or other incidents on its jobsites by holding stand-down events, investigations and even tempo- rarily suspending work on a project to address such an issue. Consistently responding with zero


tolerance measures has been a key solution that has effectively reduced graffiti and bias-based incidents now reported on Turner jobsites, according to Ballantyne. But she pointed out that proactive educational and commu-


Continued on page 14 Associated General Contractors of California 13 Elena Anaya


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