| Stronger Ethics
Codes
Your team in "Walking
a Fine Line" has done a good job in maintaining the focus
of our industry on the challenges of legal and ethical decisions
(ENR 11/7 p. 26). One must be reminded that the line drawn
by the laws of our country only sets minimum standards of
professional behavior and are not the line against which ethical
behavior and decisions should be measured.
Though the construction industry
has an image problem when it comes to a desirable career path,
it has a reality problem when it comes to ethics. In a recent
FMI/CMAA study, it was shown that, of those surveyed (A/E/Cs):
81% had either an informal ethics program (41%) or no program
(40%);
93% strongly agreed or agreed there should be more
ethics training available;
85% agreed or strongly agreed there should be an industry
standard code of ethics;
95% strongly agreed or agreed that industry associations
should take a leadership role to help ensure ethical codes
are available.
Ethics is taught in construction
science and management programs around the country, yet companies
do not take the lead in including it in their company training
or decision-making. Ethics is a simple concept: Treat others
as you would want to be treated.
Associations must take the lead
in developing a code of conduct, and construction must take
the lead in making ethics part of its culture. Industry should
address topics such as fair contracts, payment and equitable
risk-sharing.
I hope ENR will continue to address
the need for ethics and that the construction industry will
develop a code of ethics so that the companies which want
to do the right thing will have a guide in ethical business
practices. Rest assured, the owners will take note.
Call for Action
I just read the
Viewpoint article on ethics, "Turning ‘What If?’
into ‘Let’s Do It!’" (ENR 11/7 p. 63).
This is the best article about improving the state of society
that can be done by engineers that I have read in a very long
time. Mr. Fox is correct. However, the umbrella for this effort
needs to be much broader. ACEC, NSPE, AIA and other organizations
need to join the American Society of Civil Engineers in this
effort.
The public is very tired about
some professions that spend a great deal of time and effort
in supporting legislation through lobbyists and PAC funds
to protect themselves. This idea could go a long way in restoring
the idea in the public eye that engineers are truly professional.
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