M03.04
Ethics, public work, and certified payroll
Schools and public jobs add wage packets, badges, and a higher paper bar.
- Flag prevailing wage at bid and at award
- Refuse document fraud without drama
- Handle gifts, referrals, and conflicts like an adult
Ethics in a small contractor that plays in big rooms
We want to be the company that large owners are not afraid to invite back. That means: truthful daily reports, truthful hours, truthful tests, no kickbacks, no 'family' subcontractors that are actually a way around insurance, and no using a client's plant as a photo shoot without permission. If a vendor offers tickets, trips, or cash, say no and tell Eric. If a GC asks us to carry someone else's work on our insurance, that is a hard no until counsel says otherwise.
Public / K-12 extra paper
| Item | Why it stops the job |
|---|---|
| Prevailing wage / certified payroll | Wrong classification or missing weekly certs can halt payment |
| Background checks / IDs | Crew turned away at the school door |
| I-9 / E-Verify file (company HR) | You do not freelance immigration files — the HR Coordinator owns I-9 / E-Verify |
| Bid bonds / bid forms | A late stamp is a lost bid, not a 'close enough' |
Takeaways
- If it would look ugly on a courtroom screen, do not type it.
- Public work is a process. Learn to love checklists.
- No gifts that look like a bribe. No fake hours. No fake certs.
SOPSOP Section 1 — Front Matter & Brand StandardsSOP Section 2.14 / 4.9 — Legal, COI & Paid-if-Paid