[[Company Name]] CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS
Acting ethically and obeying the law, both in letter and spirit, are among [[Company Name]]'s (the "Company") core values. We expect employees and consultants to understand the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to their area of responsibility, including federal, state, and foreign laws, as well as the relevant regulatory schemes. All employees are also expected to act with integrity and to exercise good judgment and common sense in their efforts to comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and are encouraged to ask [[Guidance Channel]] for advice when they are uncertain about them.
We also believe that every employee is responsible for becoming familiar with the Company's policies so that they may integrate them into every aspect of our business.
The Company considers violation of the law, company/firm policies, and this Code of Conduct to be a serious matter. Any violation may subject an employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Additionally, those who work with us, including founders, contractors, consultants, volunteers, and their representatives (collectively, "third parties"), are expected to maintain professional conduct and follow all applicable laws and regulations.
Certain violations may be referred to legal authorities for investigation and civil or criminal prosecution. If you become aware of the violation of any law by the Company, whether by its officers, employees, or any third party doing business on behalf of the Company, it is your responsibility to promptly report the matter to your [[Reporting Channel]]. While the Company strives to address matters internally, nothing in this Code of Conduct should discourage you from reporting illegal activity, including any violation of the law whether federal, state, local, or foreign law, rule or regulation, to the appropriate regulatory authority. This Code of Conduct should not be construed to prohibit employees from testifying, participating, or otherwise assisting in any state or federal administrative, judicial or legislative proceeding or investigation.
ADDRESSING CONDUCT THAT IS HARMFUL TO OUR CULTURE AND VALUES
The Company respects the rights of all employees to express themselves. We believe that open dialogue and free expression of ideas is critical to our business. However, the Company will take all reasonable and appropriate steps to address situations where an employee’s conduct or speech endangers the safety of others, violates others’ rights to be free from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, or otherwise conflicts with the Company’s culture and values, up to and including termination of employment.
HONEST AND ETHICAL CONDUCT AND FAIR DEALING
The Company's employees should endeavor to act honestly, ethically, and fairly in both internal and external dealings, including interactions with co-workers, limited partners, portfolio companies, service providers, and any other third parties with which the Company may conduct business. Statements regarding the Company’s business must not be untrue, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent. You must not take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair dealing practice. Employees are also prohibited from creating or submitting false, inaccurate, or misleading invoices, receipts, or other financial or business-related documents to the Company or related businesses.
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
The rules set forth below are intended to provide employees with notice of what is expected of them. However, such rules cannot possibly identify every type of unacceptable conduct and performance. Therefore, employees should be aware that conduct not specifically listed below but which adversely affects or is otherwise detrimental to the interests of the Company, other employees, or customers, may also result in disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination.
Employees may be disciplined for misconduct, including but not limited to the following:
• Insubordination;
• Dishonesty;
• Theft;
• Misusing or destroying the Company's property or the property of another on Company premises;
• Violating conflict of interest rules;
• Disclosing or using confidential or proprietary information without authorization;
• Falsifying or altering Company records, including an application for employment or time records;
• Interfering with the work performance of others;
• Altercations;
• Harassment, including sexually harassing employees, customers, and third parties;
• Being under the influence of, manufacturing, dispensing, distributing, using, or possessing alcohol or illegal or controlled substances on Company property or while conducting Company business;
• Sleeping on the job or leaving your work location/work site without authorization;
• Violation of safety or health rules;
• Possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon or materials on Company property or while conducting Company business;
• Being convicted of a crime that indicates unfitness for the job or raises a threat to the safety or well-being of the Company, its employees, customers, or property;
• Gambling on Company premises or while conducting Company business;
• Failure to call in or report for your scheduled shift of work. An absence of three (3) consecutive scheduled workdays without notifying your supervisor or his or her designee is job abandonment and is considered a voluntary resignation.
The Company reserves the right to proceed directly to a written warning, demotion, or termination for misconduct or performance deficiency, without resort to prior disciplinary steps, when the Company deems such action appropriate.
EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN TO [[Guidance Channel]].
I acknowledge that I have received and read a copy of the Company's Code of Conduct Policy. I understand that I am responsible for complying with the policy during my employment with the Company.
I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Date: [[Acknowledgement Date]]
Signature: {{signature of Employee Acknowledgement Email}}