Code of Ethics
Principles
Work for Impact’s primary guiding principles are integrity and equality. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that these values and the mission statement are at the core of everything Work for Impact does.
Work for Impact takes a values-based approach to ethics and compliance. This Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct clearly and concisely states Work for Impact’s expectations and outlines acceptable behaviours.
Work for Impact works with integrity in its engagements with clients, communities, and employees, and Work for Impact expects the same in return. Furthermore, Work for Impact believes that everyone working with and for Work for Impact is to be treated with fairness, including receiving fair pay in alignment with qualifications and decent living standards.
Employee Standards of Conduct
The standards below are general and specific guidelines that are to be followed by all associates working with Work for Impact, no matter the length of the contract can be found.
General guidelines
Be inclusive: Work for Impact welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. Work for Impact does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, colour, ethnicity, culture, national origin, social and economic class, educational level, immigration status, sex, age, size, disability, family status, political belief, or religion.
Respect differences: Work for Impact prioritizes working with a diverse group of individuals, including both Work for Impact’s associates and clients. With varied cultural backgrounds, working styles, and preferences, respecting and accommodating others is crucial to Work for Impact’s success. Individual decisions related to Work for Impact’s work will affect clients and team members, and therefore everyone is expected to act professionally and take potential consequences to other parties into account when making decisions.
Be respectful: People do not agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for disrespectful behaviour. Experiencing frustration from time to time, cannot justify to personally attack anyone. Work for Impact provides an environment where people feel comfortable to be productive and creative.
Prevent harassment: Work for Impact cultivates an environment where people feel comfortable and able to work with maximum productivity and creativity. Associates are expected to treat others with kindness. Disrespectful or exclusionary behaviour, harassment, and personal attacks are not acceptable under any circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Threats of violence.
- Discriminatory jokes or languages.
- Sharing sexually explicit or violent material through any medium.
- Personal insults, especially those using racist or sexist terms.
- Unwelcome sexual attention.
- Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behaviours.
Specific considerations
1. Working environment
Work for Impact’s associates should always act with integrity, comply with laws, maintain a professional work environment and comply with Work for Impact’s policies. They should treat clients, colleagues and partners with respect at all times.
Equal Opportunity Employment: Work for Impact’s associates are hired solely based upon individual merit and qualifications that directly relate to their professional competence.
Harassment, Discrimination and Bullying: In line with the general guidelines, Work for Impact does not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination or bullying in any form—verbal, physical or otherwise. Any complaint of harassment will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. Appropriate action will be taken, including the possibility of immediate dismissal without pay.
Drugs and Alcohol: Work for Impact believes that drug and alcohol intoxication are incompatible with professional work standards. Any person should not be impaired in their performance, act inappropriately, endanger the safety of others or violate the law while on duty for Work for Impact.
Attendance: As Work for Impact promotes remote working, attendance and punctuality are only relevant when on field missions on Work for Impact’s behalf. In this situation, working hours will be discussed and agreed upon in advance of the mission. During regular remote work, Work for Impact allows for individual associates to determine their own schedule so long as they meet deadlines.
Absence: Associates are expected to undertake all assigned duties and adhere to deadlines. Should illness or any other circumstances prevent this, it is required that the associate notify their director or supervisor immediately. This will allow Work for Impact to arrange for coverage of their duties and continue work in the associate’s absence. For associates paid on a project basis, their compensation would then be prorated accordingly.
2. Conflict of interest
Work for Impact’s reputation depends on the actions and integrity of individual associates. It is therefore essential that associates avoid activities that hurt, or appear to hurt, their ability to make objective and fair decisions.
A conflict of interest occurs when a person associated with Work for Impact is in a situation in which their interests, or those of an immediate family member or otherwise intimate relationship, conflict or appear to conflict with their obligations and duties to Work for Impact. Work for Impact must be notified of any potential conflict of interest. Work for Impact’s director will then decide the appropriate action, including but not limited to assigning the associate to unrelated projects or other responsibilities. In case of questions, a discussion with Work for Impact’s director should be sought.
3. Confidentiality
Work for Impact’s works with many forms of internal and external data. It is of utmost importance that all data remain confidential. No internal information shall be shared with any outside party unless approved in writing by the CEO.
Work for Impact respects all its competitors and wants to compete with them fairly. Therefore, Work for Impact does not want to receive any confidential information related to competitor’s activities, and Work for Impact does not allow any of its own confidential information to be shared externally by current or former associates.
Everyone who is associated with Work for Impact is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which will remain valid after the person is no longer actively engaged with Work for Impact.
4. Work for Impact’s assets
Work for Impact’s associates may be entrusted with the use of company assets, including physical, intellectual, and electronic or digital properties. They are required to protect these assets and treat them with care.
Company assets: Should anyone associated with Work for Impact be given or use Work for Impact’s tools and equipment, Work for Impact expects that the individual be responsible and not wasteful with the items. Work for Impact’s funds, equipment and other physical assets are not to be requisitioned for purely personal use.
Intellectual property: Work for Impact produces its internal projects under the creative commons license CC BY-AS (Attribution-Share Alike). Intellectual property created by associates while undertaking activities for Work for Impact is owned by Work for Impact and not the individual creator. For external projects it will depend on a project by project basis.
A CC BY-AS license means that Work for Impact’s materials are available for public use under the requirements that (1) attribution to Work for Impact is given, (2) any changes are indicated and (3) the resulting materials are also shared under a CC BY-AS license.
Data: Work for Impact collects and stores personal information of associates working with Work for Impact in order to maintain payroll and other administrative duties. Access to this data is only provided in line with the most rigorous data guidelines provided by the GDPR of the European Union.
5. Financial integrity and responsibility
Financial integrity and fiscal responsibility are core aspects of professionalism. Alongside accurate financial reporting.
Work for Impact considers itself a social enterprise that reinvests its profits into internal projects. Therefore, business expenses should all be validated under these circumstances.
Contracting: Currently, the only person authorised to sign contracts (of any kind) on Work for Impact’s behalf is the CEO.
6. Anti-bribery and corruption
As part of Work for Impact’s integrity, it is essential that the company maintains trustworthiness and a good reputation. Therefore, anyone associated with Work for Impact should always do their work fairly, honestly, and legally.
No one associated with Work for Impact should engage in any form of bribery (either giving or receiving) on Work for Impact’s behalf.
7. Obey the law
Work for Impact takes its responsibility to comply with laws and regulations very seriously, and Work for Impact’s associates are expected to comply with applicable legal requirements and prohibitions when conducting work for Work for Impact. The law applicable for Work for Impact is Hong Kong law unless stated otherwise in a specific contracts.