Creating Inclusive Spaces in the Trades

Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-and-a-woman-with-ppe-s-talking-at-a-construction-site-8961065/

Now more than ever, we must work to diversify our industry worksites and organizations and bring more individuals from historically excluded groups into the world of design, installation, construction, and operations & maintenance of solar and clean energy projects. So how can organizations in construction and the skilled trades increase historically excluded populations and work to create more equitable and inclusive environments? Leading with equity means recognizing that different people have different needs and, beyond that, being committed to giving people exactly what they need to succeed. By giving employees what they need to succeed, you are not only improving your employees’ success but also your organization’s success. This module will explore how organizations can create more inclusive workplaces for historically excluded groups in the trades.

In reviewing your submission, the following queries will be used:

• Do you currently use metrics to track the demographic data of recruitment, performance, and retention for skilled trades/construction roles?
• As part of your job posting process, do you modify job announcements to make them more skills/competency based in order to attract broader diverse talent?
• Have you signed onto any workplace inclusion/ jobsite culture pledges? If so, which one(s). (One example is Culture of CARE pledge)
• Do you offer training for employees on workplace safety and creating inclusive cultures?
• Does your organization have a conflict resolution and grievance system in place that is easy for workers to utilize?
• Has your company completed a workplace cultural assessment that includes field workers in the past 3 years?
• Has your company made improvements based on the results a recent cultural assessment?
• Supporting documentation.