Free tool and program announced to help Oregon construction companies build respectful jobsites

Portland, OR – The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), along with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and the Oregon Department of Transportation today announced Respect Works, a program designed to help construction companies improve their culture and create an environment that welcomes all workers. Creating workplaces where every person is treated with dignity is essential to building a stronger, more equitable Oregon—because when all workers have access to high-quality jobs where they are respected, our communities and economy grows stronger. Decades of workplace research shows that treating employees with respect improves recruitment, retention, employee engagement and performance. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), harassment and discrimination remain significantly more common in construction than in most other industries (EEOC, 2023). Now, through Respect Works, respectful workplace training and best practices will be widely available to Oregon-based construction companies at little or no cost.

Respect Works (respectfulworkplaces.org), was developed by the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at OHSU, in partnership with the BOLI and ODOT. It is an evidence-based training program that helps construction companies improve jobsite culture and create work environments where all workers feel welcome, are safe, and thrive. The program is free for Oregon-based construction employers that employ registered apprentices.

For more than a decade, ODOT and BOLI have worked together in efforts to bolster the recruitment and retention of historically underrepresented individuals into careers in the trades. The reasoning was simple: the construction industry needed more workers to meet demand for projects, and all workers should have access to quality construction jobs. But program evaluations conducted by the agencies revealed a persistent problem: workers were leaving the industry at uneven rates, indicating that many were experiencing workplace conditions that discouraged long‑term retention. The cause was clear: widespread experiences of disrespect, harassment, and exclusion at the jobsite. The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) estimates that exclusionary workplace conduct costs the construction companies an average of $137,000 annually in lost productivity (AGC, 2026). Additionally, research finds that nearly half of employees who experience incivility at work decreased their effort and time spent at work (Porath & Pearson, 2013). With this in mind, ODOT and BOLI concluded that diversifying the workforce to meet labor needs would not succeed without changing jobsite culture.

Beginning in 2022, BOLI and ODOT commissioned the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at OHSU to design a survey instrument capable of measuring respectful workplace climate and culture in construction. In 2023, the research project expanded to include the development of training and jobsite resources. This investment reflects a growing recognition across industries: when workers feel included and believe their employer is committed to equity, organizations benefit. AGC reports an 83% increase in employees’ ability to innovate when they feel included at work (AGC, 2026). Today, Respect Works is a comprehensive jobsite improvement program designed for Oregon construction contractors.

Respect Works includes: 

• Implementation Guidebook, a step-by-step guide for implementing respectful workplace practices at the company and jobsite levels.

• Respectful Workplace Jobsite Survey, the first scientifically validated tool for measuring respect at the organizational, supervisor and coworker levels.

• Jobsite Leader Training, built on the four elements of a respectful workplace: psychological safety, civility and professionalism, welcoming workplaces, and fairness for all.

• Workplace Resources, including policy templates, checklists, toolbox talks and worksheets.

As competition for skilled workers intensifies, respectful workplace practices are becoming a business imperative. Nationally, 73% of job seekers say they only apply to companies whose culture aligns with their personal values (AGC, 2026).

“Recruitment brings workers into the trades, but respect is what keeps them there,” said BOLI Commissioner Christina Stephenson. “As Oregon invests in major infrastructure projects, the construction industry cannot afford to lose talent to hostile or exclusionary environments. Respect Works gives jobsite leaders the skills to shape positive culture, reduce turnover, and help a diverse generation of workers build strong, enduring careers.” 

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Respect Works was developed by occupational health, safety and training experts at the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at OHSU. It is grounded in large-scale occupational research and rigorous, peer-reviewed data. It was also shaped directly by the construction Oregon industry, with input from jobsite leaders, crew members, unions, and contractors.

Oregon construction companies can get started with a free, confidential consultation by visiting the Respect Works website or by emailing rwi@ohsu.edu.