Did you know... Construction Inclusion Week (CIW) is the first industry wide effort to harness the collective power of general contractors, specialty contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to build awareness of the need to improve diversity and inclusion in the construction industry?
At UMC, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is not about numbers, statistics, or quotas – it's about every one of our people and the collective strength we take from their unique perspectives, ambitions, and backgrounds. When we incorporate DEI into our business, we inspire better outcomes.
This year, we have hosted employee forums and guest speakers, identified initiatives to drive our DEI efforts, and evaluated and implemented process improvements with the goal of developing a committed and empathetic culture set to maximize the diversity of our employees and partners. Led by our DEI committee, we’re thrilled to carry the important message of this week throughout the year.
Day 1 - Commitment & Accountability
Today’s Construction Inclusion Week theme is “Commitment & Accountability”. Accountability is owning and accepting responsibility for one’s actions. To that end, UMC has joined a coalition of Washington employers that are committed to driving racial equity, being accountable and transparent, and advocating for public policies that advance racial equity, Washington Employers for Racial Equity. Together, we hold one another accountable for our companies’ DEI work and progress.
Day 2 - Belonging
Today’s Construction Inclusion Week theme is “Belonging”. Each person is forced to make judgments every day using past experiences, culture, and other outside influencers as a guide. The brain has natural and developed tendencies (e.g. unconscious biases) that can help us achieve goals, but also lead to unintended consequences, like the exclusion of others who are different than us. UMC’s employee awareness speakers have delved into the fascinating fields of cognitive neuroscience, social-psychology, and communication to help us understand and question our unconscious tendencies to judge unfairly through open-mindedness and mindful engagement.
Day 3 - Supplier Diversity
Today’s Construction Inclusion Week theme is “Supplier Diversity”. At UMC, our goal is to build lasting relationships with small, diverse, and disadvantaged subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors. Through providing meaningful economic opportunity, we build our industry and our communities. We encourage these diverse/disadvantaged businesses to prequalify to work with us. Let’s start the conversation.
Day 4 - Workplace Culture
Today’s Construction Inclusion Week theme is “Workplace Culture”. UMC’s continued commitment to advancing DEI in our company includes the understanding that we are responsible for creating a workplace that is respectful, safe, welcoming, and inclusive. We're proud to be on this journey to foster an environment where everyone is able to thrive because of their differences, not in spite of them.
Questions or Comments?
For media inquiries or related questions, please contact info@umci.com
