Construction Worker Survey 021722 clean

OMB #: 0970-0XXX

Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Measuring Human Trafficking Prevalence in Construction:

A Field Test of Multiple Estimation Methods

February 17, 2022

Survey of Construction Workers

Introduction: The survey includes questions about your work experience in construction. It includes questions about you and the types of work you do in the construction industry, how you have found or been recruited for construction jobs, the working conditions at those jobs, how you were treated by your employers, and the work experiences of other people you know who work in construction.

Q #	Question and Responses	Follow-up Prompts/ Skip Logic
Section 1: Professional Background
1	Have you worked in the construction industry in the past 24 months? Yes No	If no, end of survey, thank you for your time.
2	Which best describes the type of work you do? Check all that apply. Construction laborer/helper Demolition/clean up worker Boilermaker Carpenter Construction/building inspector Construction equipment operator Drywall installer/ceiling tile installer/taper Electrician Elevator and escalator installer and repairer Flooring installers/tile and stone setter Glazier Hazardous materials removal worker Insulation worker Ironworker Masonry worker Owner/manager Painter/construction and maintenance Plumber/pipefitter/steamfitter Procurement Roofer Sheet metal worker Solar photovoltaic installer
3	How long have you worked in construction? 0-5 months 6-11 months 1-2 years 3-5 years 6-10 years 11-20 years 21 years or more
4	Are you currently working in construction? Yes No
5	Is construction currently your primary work? Yes No	If yes, skip to Q7.
6	What industry do you work in for most of the year? Agriculture Auto mechanic services Education Health services Financial activities Information and technology Janitorial/cleaning services Hotels or other hospitality Manufacturing Natural resources, mining, and energy Restaurants or catering Retail Professional and business services Transportation and/or delivery services Utilities Other (please specify) ____________________
7	Is your primary residence in the Houston area, or are you here temporarily for a work opportunity? I consider the Houston area my home I am only here temporarily to work
8	In the past 24 months, how many of these strategies have you used to find work in construction? Check all that apply. Website job advertisement Social media job advertisement Newspaper job advertisement Other advertisement (e.g., flyers, billboards, etc.) Arrange through guestworker program Recruiter/intermediary/broker outside of country Recruiter/intermediary/broker in United States Directly by employer Private agency, including temporary job agency Friends/relatives Through day labor work Other (specify) ______________
9	Are you currently employed directly by a construction agency? Yes, full-time Yes, part-time No	If yes, skip to Q12.
10	Are you currently employed through a temporary job agency? Yes, full-time Yes, part-time No	If yes, skip to Q12.
11	Are you currently working as a day laborer (you are employed on a temporary basis with no promise of additional or future work)? Yes No
12	How are you primarily paid for your work in construction? Check all that apply. Cash Mobile payment service (e.g., Venmo, Paypal, Cash App, Zelle) Paycheck or direct deposit Personal check In exchange for food, housing, or anything else of value I’m not currently being paid for my work in construction My pay is going directly to pay off a debt Other (please specify): ___________________
13	Are you involved in a construction worker union or other workers advocacy organization? Yes No	If no, skip to Q15.
14	Which organization or union are you involved in? ______________
15	Have you ever worked in construction during the recovery and reconstruction efforts shortly after a hurricane or other natural disaster? Yes No
Section 2: Work Experiences
16	Sometimes people feel obligated or pressured to take a job against their will. Have you ever felt obligated or pressured to take a job while you were being recruited? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
17	Sometimes lies are used to trick people into accepting a job. Have you ever felt cheated or lied to about the nature of your job or specific responsibilities of the work you were supposed to do? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If no, skip to Q19.
18	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, what lies or misrepresentations were used to trick you into accepting the job? Select all that apply. Pay or other compensation was different Work responsibilities were different Work environment was different Nature of work was different Hours of work were different Vacation or other time off was different Other
19	Sometimes, lies are used to trick or entice people into accepting a job. Have you ever taken a job where any of the following conditions were different than what you were told or promised? Your work conditions (Yes/No) Your job contract terms (including the hours or time commitment for the project) (Yes/No) Housing/living arrangements (Yes/No) Your legal status (Yes/No) The location of your job (Yes/No) The identity of your real employer (Yes/No) Pay or other work benefits (Yes/No) The transportation provided (Yes/No)	For each yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) For each yes if also yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
20	Sometimes, people pay money to help get a job. Have you or has anyone ever paid a recruitment fee or a broker fee to help you get a job? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If no, skip to Q24.
21	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, how much was the recruitment fee? Amount: ________________ (drop down list of currencies)
22	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, who paid the recruitment fee? Select all that apply. Self Family member/friend Someone else (specify):________________________
23	Thinking about the last time this happened, who received the recruitment fee? My employer An employment broker A public/government official A family member/friend Someone else (specify): ________________________
24	Sometimes, taking on a new job requires people to make expensive travel or transportation arrangements. And sometimes, people must repay the person who provided them with transportation or paid for transportation. This could include either paying for transportation to a new location for a job or paying for daily transportation back and forth to your job location. Have you ever had to repay a person who provided you with or paid for transportation to your job? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane recovery? If no, skip to Q27.
25	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, did the person who provided you with transportation or gave you money for transportation require you to do things you did not want to do to repay the money? Yes No	If no, skip to Q27.
26	If you had to do things you did not want to do in order to repay the money, did this include any of the following? Select all that apply. Providing free labor Performing a sexual act Repaying the person with interest Taking out a high-interest loan (for example, a payday loan, cash advance loan, or others) Providing something of value Deductions from paycheck that you did not agree to Being held against your will Recruiting other laborers/workers Other (specify):______________________
27	Sometimes, people work for employers who do not let them leave their jobs. Has your employer or people who work for your employer: Withheld your pay and/or benefits to prevent you from leaving? (Yes/No) Told you that you would lose your pay already earned if you decided to quit? (Yes/No)	For each yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) For each yes if also yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
28	Sometimes, people accumulate a debt to their employers. This could be for things like the cost of their housing/living arrangements, or the costs of getting their job including transportation, documentation, and work permits or other reasons. Have you ever felt that an employer/broker or people who work for your employer: Charged you fees or overcharged you for goods/services you purchased from your employer (i.e., it would have been cheaper to purchase the good/services somewhere else)? (Yes/No) Said that the work you did is worth less than it is actually worth, which means you have to work more hours than you should in order to pay off a debt? (Yes/No) Charged you excessive interest on a loan to repay your employer for pay advances or goods/services they previously purchased for you? (Yes/No) Tried to reduce your pay by charging you excessive fees or overcharging you for things such as rent, food, broken items, or other items? (Yes/No) Tried to reduce your pay by cutting down the hours you could work? (Yes/No)	For each yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) For each yes if also yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
29	Have you ever been made to perform additional or specialized services (beyond what was agreed beforehand) without being paid appropriately? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
30	Have you ever had pay, benefits, or other compensation deducted or withheld for no reason (this may include being paid with bad checks)? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
31	Sometimes, people owe money to a broker or someone who helped them get jobs. Have you ever borrowed money or taken a loan or advance pay from someone as a condition of getting a construction job? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If no, skip to Q33.
32	Thinking about the last time this happened, how much did you borrow? (drop down list of currencies) Amount: ________________
33	Have you ever accepted a job without a formal written contract (e.g., day labor)? [A contract is a binding agreement which details the job expectations between you and the employer that is bound by local laws and can protect you.] Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
34	Sometimes, employers want to have control over people’s lives outside their job. Has your employer or people who work for your employer ever attempted to control your personal life outside of work in any of these ways? This could include, for example, threatening to reveal something personal or embarrassing about you, preventing you from participating in your religious beliefs or practices, threatening to exclude you from future employment opportunities, or threatening to isolate you from your family or friends. Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
35	Sometimes, employers may not want workers to use mobile phones or other personal devices outside of working hours. Have you ever had your mobile phone or other device taken by your employer or people who work for your employer outside of working hours? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
36	Has your employer ever required that you work longer than normal hours, unusually long days, or outside of normal working hours without being properly compensated for overtime? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If no, skip to Q39.
37	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, on average, how many days of the week were you required to be available? ______________
38	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, on average, how many hours of the day were you required to work extra hours? ______________
39	Sometimes employers expect employees to work without proper health and safety equipment. Has your employer or people who work for your employer asked you to do dangerous work without proper protective gear? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
40	Have you been injured on the job? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If yes, did your employer allow you to seek medical treatment for the injury? (Yes/No)
41	Some people have found themselves performing illegal activities for their employer or for people who work for their employer either knowingly or without their knowledge. Have you been made to engage in activities that you believe were illegal? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If no, skip to Q43.
42	What types of activities were you made to do? ______________________________
43	Thinking about your work in construction, have you ever lived in housing provided by your employer? Yes No	If no, skip to Q46.
44	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, why did you live in housing provided by your employer? Select all that apply. Required by employer Could pay directly through employer Too expensive to live somewhere else It was a temporary job in another town/location No other housing options available It was convenient Other (specify): _____________________________
45	Thinking about the most recent time this happened, would you consider this living arrangement to be: (select all that apply) Unclean or unsanitary? Overcrowded or have no privacy? Structurally unsound? In a dangerous area and unsecured? Harmful to your health? None of the above	If yes to any, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
46	Sometimes people are not allowed to keep their own identification or travel documents. Has your employer/people who work for your employer ever taken/confiscated your identity papers (such as passport, work permit) or made it so that you were you unable to access your identity papers? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If no, skip to Q48.
47	Which documents? (select all that apply) Passport Identity card Immigration visa Work permit or work visa Birth certificate Electoral papers Social security card Other__________________
48	Sometimes an employer, re­cruiter, or other individuals will watch or keep an eye on workers in their personal space, either in person or with the use of recording equipment, such as video cameras. Were you ever watched at your living quarters or personal spaces by your employer, recruiter, or other individuals? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery? If no, skip to Q50.
49	Thinking of the most recent time this happened, how often were you watched? Constantly Most of the time Some of the time Rarely
50	Sometimes, employers try to control the extent to which employees can freely move about or communicate with other people. While working in construction, have you ever felt like you were not free to visit or communicate with family members, friends, coworkers, or anyone else? (Select all that apply) Yes, I felt like I was not able to visit with someone Yes, I felt like I was not able to communicate with someone No, I have not felt this way	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
51	Sometimes, workers are still able to visit with or communicate with family members or friends but employers keep an eye on and try to limit those activities. Have you ever experienced any limitations on your movement and communication, such as having employers supervise or listen in on your communication, or restricted or monitor your movement during hours when you were not working? (Check all that apply) Yes, my communication with friends or family was supervised by my employer Yes, my communication with friends or family was limited by my employer Yes, I was monitored and/or limited in my movement Yes, I was monitored by my employer even when I was not working No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
52	Sometimes, employers constantly monitor their employees at work. Have you had a work experience where someone was watching or monitoring you at work at all times? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
53	Have you ever had a debt imposed on you without your consent? For instance, has your employer decided that you owed them money for reasons you didn’t agree with (For example, to take on someone else’s debt, including a family member, or to pay for things like housing, utilities, personal protective equipment or other things that were not part of your work agreement, or other reasons)? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
54	Has your employer or people who work for your employer ever used physical violence on other individuals in front of you? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
55	Has your employer or people who work for your employer ever: Threatened sexual violence against you? Used sexual violence against you? Threated sexual violence against someone you care about? Used sexual violence against someone you care about?	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
56	Has your employer or people who work for your employer ever: (select all that apply) threatened physical violence against you? (V8M) used physical violence against you? (V3S) threatened physical violence against someone you care about? (V8M) used physical violence against someone you care about? (V3S)	For each yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) For each yes if also yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
57	Sometimes, people stay at a job because they were threatened with being reported to law enforcement or immigration authorities. Has your employer or people who work for your employer ever: (check all that apply) threatened to report you to the authorities or deport you? threatened to report to the authorities or deport someone you care about? None of the above	For each yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) For each yes if also yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
58	Sometimes people experience violence that may not be physical. Has your employer or people who work for your employer ever hurt you emotionally or psychologically, such as belittling, humiliating, or putting you down? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
59	Has your employer or people who work for your employer threatened to harm your reputation, either personal or professional? Yes No	If yes, Did this happen at your current job? (Yes/No) Did this happen within the last 2 years? (Yes/No) If yes and yes to Q15, Did this happen when you were working in hurricane/natural disaster recovery?
Section 3: Work Experiences of Friends
60	How many construction workers in the Houston area do you know by name and face and with which you have come into contact with in the last two weeks?
61	How many of those friends felt obligated to take a construction job against their will or felt tricked, cheated, or lied to so that they would accept a job? # Don’t know
62	How many of those friends have not received the pay, benefits, or other compensation they were due? # Don’t know
63	How many of those friends have had employers who control their lives outside of their job, such as controlling where they go or restricting their ability to communicate with friends or family outside of work hours? # Don’t know
64	How many of those friends have had employers who take their identity papers or other important documents? # Don’t know
65	How many of those friends have had employer who have used or threatened physical or sexual violence against them or someone they care about? # Don’t know
66	How many of those friends were required to work without proper protective gear? # Don’t know
67	How many of those friends have stayed at a job because they were threatened with being reported to law enforcement or immigration authorities? # Don’t know
68	What is your gender? Male Female Transgender Non-binary My gender is not listed here. I am__________________
69	What is your age? (Fill in years) Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
70	Were you born in the United States? The United States include the 50 states and the District of Columbia, but not U.S. territories. Yes No Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer	If yes, skip to Q70.
70a	In what country were you born? Mexico Guatemala Cuba Dominican Republic India China Philippines Japan Korea Vietnam Guam Samoa Other (specify) Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
70b	How many years altogether have you been living in the United States? Years Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
71	How long have you been working in Houston? __________[Years/months selection with label] Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
74	What is your race? (Select one or more) American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander White Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
75	Are you of Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish origin? No, not of Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish origin Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano/a Yes, Puerto Rican Yes, Cuban Yes, Another Hispanic, Latino/a or Spanish origin Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
76	What is the primary language spoken at your home? [radio button with list of languages]
77	Are you currently married or in a legally recognized domestic partnership? Yes, married Yes, in a domestic partnership No Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer	If yes, skip to Q80.
78	Have you ever been married? Yes No Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer	If not, skip to Q80
79	Are you…? Separated Divorced Widowed Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
80	How many children currently live with you all or most of the time, where you are a parent or like a parent? (Fill in number) Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
81	Did you receive a high school diploma or a GED for finishing high school? Yes, high school diploma Yes, GED No Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer	If no, skip to Q81b.
81a	Have you attended college, community college, or junior college? Yes No Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer
81a1	Was this college, community college, or junior college in the U.S.? Yes No Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer	If 81a=yes
81b	What is the highest level of school you have completed? Less than 8th grade 9th grade 10th grade 11th grade Other (Specify) Don’t know/Not sure Choose not to answer	If 81=no
82	Have you ever been diagnosed with a physical or cognitive disability? Yes No	If yes, What were you diagnosed with? What year did you receive the diagnosis?
83	What is your English proficiency? No English Only a few words Can make simple sentences Proficient (I can discuss work/pay with an employer) Fluent
84	What is your first name or nickname that other people call you? Please do not give your full name.
85	What are the last four digits of your phone number? Please do not give your full phone number.

Section 5: Sampling Method
If using TLS sampling method AND individual is not a seed for the VLTS, skip to question 88. If using the VLTS sampling method OR an individual from the TLS sample will be a seed for the VLTS, also include questions 86-87
86	Would you be willing to give referral coupons to other construction workers you know in the Houston area? You can earn $10 for each person you refer that participates in the survey. Yes No	If no, skip to end of survey.
87	We would like to ask you for some demographic information of the five other construction workers that you know best. You will be able to recruit up to three of them. (For each person) Name or nickname (Please do not give full names) Last 4 digits of phone number (limit to 4 characters) Gender Age range (dropdown of categories) Country of birth
If using TLS sampling method, also include these questions:
88	Have you worked at any other construction sites in the past 2 weeks, other than the one where you were approached to take this survey? Yes No	If no, skip to end of survey.
89	Where were the other sites that you worked? Please list address or nearest cross streets.
90	For each site listed, what days/times have you typically worked there? (select all that apply) Matrix with days of week, morning/afternoon/evening
91	Were you recently invited to participate in this survey at a different construction site? Yes No	If no, skip to end of survey.
92	If yes, do you remember which site and on which day? Please list the day and address or nearest cross streets
93	If yes, did you complete the survey then? Yes No