Values

The Core Values of Colas USA

The foundation of Colas USA companies’ ongoing success and development lies in preserving the trust of our customers, employees, shareholders and other third parties. Our flexible, decentralized organization enables each and every one of our employees to exercise the autonomy required by our respective corporate responsibilities in accordance with the distinct characteristics of each location. Given that autonomy, it is essential that we operate in a manner consistent with our values and in compliance with our ethical principles and the law. To achieve that, nine basic core values guide our behavior in all aspects of our business activity throughout the United States:

1. Safety

The safety of our employees and the traveling public is everyone’s responsibility. Plan safety into every aspect of our work and do not deviate from that plan. Strive for zero accidents.

2. Integrity

Our business conduct will include the highest level of honesty, ethics, and moral correctness. We will not compromise employees, customers or our company.

Anonymous Ethics Hotline: 800-827-2037 (Company Code – 1929)

3. Respect

Respect is the basic rule of behavior that guides every employee in all of his or her actions: respect for oneself and respect for other employees, customers, third parties, the trade unions, society at large, the Group’s principles, laws and regulations, the environment, fairness and ethics in the broadest sense.

4. Teamwork

Our culture of teamwork allows us to work together within the Company, and with our customers to deliver better solutions and collectively accomplish our goals.

5. Entrepreneurship

Each employee should show initiative and be motivated by a desire to win, to commit and to succeed.

6. Transparency

Our actions must match our words. Each day we must strive to earn our reputation rather than simply manage it. To that end, we must operate in a manner in which our integrity and values cannot be questioned—that is, we must be authentic.

7. Leadership

Each day, every employee is expected to give the best of themselves, to strive constantly for quality and to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism—and to lead by example.

8. Accountability

Each individual is fully accountable for his or her decisions and actions.

9. Trust

Relations within the Group are based on trust, which is the cornerstone of autonomy, frankness and authenticity. It is for each person to establish and develop his or her trustworthiness and for each person to extend trust to others.

Ethics

Simply put, the public today is holding corporations to a higher standard of ethical conduct and social responsibility than ever before. To that end, Colas USA employees are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and excellence. Each day we strive to make this part of our corporate DNA and to ensure that this approach takes precedence over short-term profits or simple convenience. To achieve this end, we avoid any actions or activities that could call into question our reputation, integrity or impartiality. For example, in every relationship with third parties, clients and suppliers, the men and women of the Colas Group keep their word and fulfill their agreements. Likewise, we are committed to delivering our products and services on time, within budget and according to our customers’ requirements and specifications. Finally, all of our employees not only comply with the letter but also spirit of all laws and regulations affecting our businesses.
Each employee must also ask questions and promptly raise any concerns they may have regarding any proposed course of action. Our Code of Conduct, entitled “The Right Turn”, summarizes how employees should approach any ethical issues when conducting business. If something does not seem right, we expect our employees to speak up! In that regard, Colas USA provides its employees with several avenues to report their concerns. Of course, we always encourage employees to speak to their supervisor, their local ethics officer or to contact the Colas USA Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, but in those situations for which anonymity is desired, employees may use our reporting hotline. All calls are confidential and the caller’s anonymity will be maintained.

Colas USA, through its 3rd party vendor, BeSignal, offers three easy options for you to anonymously report unethical conduct and/or suspected violations of company policies and applicable laws/regulations. The anonymous reporting services are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

  • Independently report issues via the Internet at www.colasusaethics.com. Options are available to display the report form in your preferred language.
  • Call toll free 1-800-827-2037 and provide the Company Code 1929 to report the issue with the help of a BeSignal call center representative.

To further our commitment to ethical behavior in our industry, we are a member of the Construction Industry Ethics & Compliance Initiative (CIECI). This organization brings together, in a non-profit, private association, companies within the U.S. construction industry that are committed to the highest level of ethics and conduct and compliance with the law. This association benefits us by providing numerous training opportunities for our employees.

The observance of ethics and integrity have been an intangible management principle throughout the Group for many years. Fair and open competition offers Colas better conditions in which to highlight our organization, technology and expertise and develop long-term partnerships with our customers. The observance of ethics also plays a key role in aligning the Group’s values with those of our employees.

Within the Group

Within the context of the Code of Ethics of Bouygues Group (Colas’ parent company) and its own Code of Conduct (“The Right Turn”), Colas USA regularly affirms the essential values to which employees must adhere in their working life. The Chairman and Chief Executive systematically remind the Group’s senior executives and managers of the need to observe the principles of ethics and integrity. Under the Group’s decentralized organizational approach, management of subsidiaries are responsible for communicating these principles, reminding staff of the requirements that flow from them and ensuring that they are properly applied. Business heads and staff receive training on a regular basis.  Whenever our values and ethical standards are implicated, employees are provided with multiple avenues to report possible wrongdoing. 

With our Partners

Subject to local laws and any legal restrictions, each of Colas USA’s business partners is expected to promptly report any ethics or integrity concern involving or affecting Colas USA and/or its subsidiaries, whether or not the concern involves the business partner. We also expect our partners to take action as reasonably requested by Colas USA to assist in the investigation of any ethical concern that involves Colas and its partners. Retaliation for raising an ethical concern will not be tolerated.