2022 Review Highlights Strong Progress on Pay Equity, Employee & Industry-wide Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Economic Inclusion Goals
PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Gilbane Building Company today released its second annual "Gilbane Cares Report – Our Blueprint for Impact," which outlines the company's efforts across its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives to drive results for both clients and communities.
The company's strategy integrates six key focus areas – environmental approaches, inclusion and diversity, community impact, safety and wellbeing, governance and ethics, and operational excellence – and explores strategic priorities and benchmarks against which the company holds itself accountable.
"The progress we're sharing in this year's ESG report is thanks to our teams being committed to building more than buildings," said Thomas M. Laird, Jr., president and CEO of Gilbane Building Company. "It's incredibly gratifying to reflect on our accomplishments since launching our ESG strategy in 2022. We've set ambitious commitments because we know that our impact has the potential to reach far beyond our construction sites. That opportunity is what drives us to innovate, look for new solutions and approaches, and seek to do better for our families, our clients, and our communities."
"We are tremendously proud of what we have achieved to date," said Katherine Johnson, chief human resources officer and ESG leader. "Over the past year, we continued to make strides in building a more inclusive workplace, driving economic inclusion, and advancing our sustainability goals. We look forward to leveraging our ESG strategy in support of our clients' environmental and social impact objectives through the projects that we build."
As Gilbane continues to build momentum across all areas of focus, improving the health and wellbeing of employees and their families remains a top priority. The company continues to expand its comprehensive approach, including providing health advocacy services to help employees and family members more easily find doctors, make appointments, and access free virtual counseling sessions.
In 2022, Gilbane also launched the Lifesavers Group, a collaboration of employees who provide education, awareness, support, and intervention for colleagues struggling with mental health. This group was created in recognition of and response to the alarmingly high suicide rate within the construction industry. The suicide rate for construction workers is the second highest of all industries, claiming the lives of 53.3 workers out of every 100,000.
Along with promoting awareness of and access to suicide risk support resources, this trained group of co-workers is available to provide support to any colleague in need. Additional training has been provided to senior leadership and human resources and safety leaders supporting divisions across the company.
As part of its DEI goals, Gilbane reported achieving pay equity with respect to race, ethnicity, and gender. Using a third-party consultant, Gilbane conducted analyses on compensation and will continue to expand its review, analyses, and evaluation of programs on an ongoing basis as part of a comprehensive plan to build a more equitable, inclusive and diverse workplace.
Key highlights and progress in the report include:
Environmental:
Gilbane is dedicated to eliminating waste, reducing pollution, promoting recycling, utilizing re-purposed materials, and increasing energy efficiency in its offices and on its projects to reduce its carbon footprint. Results from the past year include:
- Establishing a roadmap to reach carbon neutrality, eliminate waste to landfills, and reduce potable water use by 2024
- Improving project waste diversion resulted in 222,489 tons of avoided CO2 emissions
- Every project is now required to have a Sustainability Action Plan
- Supplier relationship management program launched to focus on carbon reduction opportunities in the supply chain
Social Impact
Gilbane is committed to inclusionary practices that support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, promoting the safety and wellbeing of those both inside and outside the organization, and leveraging resources to drive community impact. Results from the past year include:
- Pay equity achieved in the United States
- Companywide rollout of mental health awareness training, beginning with leaders and safety teams across the enterprise
- Over 42% employee participation in employee resource groups
- 24% progress towards awarding $4 billion in commitments to minority and women-, disadvantaged-, LGBTBE- and veteran-owned businesses by end of 2026
- Over 20% diverse and small business participation across all projects
- Employee matching gift program doubled to 100% match
- Volunteer Time Off program launched
- 90 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index
Governance and operational excellence
Gilbane's strong commitment to good governance helps ensure the highest business standards possible. Results from the past year include:
- ESG governance established with board oversight
- New baseline operations playbook requiring action plans for sustainability and economic inclusion on projects
- 100% participation in compliance training
- Ethics Week program launched
- Technology and transformation strategic pillars developed
To read the full ESG report, click here or https://info.gilbaneco.com/gilbane-esg-report.
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com.
Media Contact
Lynn Rasic, Gilbane Building Company, 212-822-0319, [email protected]
SOURCE Gilbane Building Company
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