MBMentors Annual Code of Ethics and Conduct Guidelines
The MBMentors Code of Ethics & Conduct Guideline is an important part of your Volunteering in MBMentors to help ensure the work we do is of the highest quality and standard. That is why each volunteer is required to reaffirm his or her commitment to uphold these ethics annually.
Overall, what do these ethics mean? In a nutshell, it is expected that MBMentors volunteers have specifically joined MBMentors to “give back” and not to gain personal benefit. Therefore, to prevent any issues concerning conflict of interest or ethics dilemmas, MBMentors volunteers should exercise care to avoid any gain, profit or the appearance of impropriety that results from their affiliation with MBMentors.
Below are some rules of thumb to confirm that a volunteer is respecting the Code of Ethics.
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MBMentors volunteers may not solicit or otherwise engage in business with MBMentors clients. This extends to any business where a MBMentors volunteer (or any person living in the same house as the MBMentors volunteer) has an active role in the day-to-day functions of the business or where the household has a controlling interest in the business. Furthermore, MBMentors volunteers should not provide their clients with either references or recommendations to utilize the business services in which other MBMentors volunteers or their households are financially involved.
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An MBMentors volunteer who speaks at a workshop or presentation (regardless of the topic) may leave business cards or materials promoting a business venture in which he or she may be financially involved. However, the MBMentors volunteer’s discussion at the workshop should be directed to the topic area at hand and should not discuss the MBMentors volunteer’s personal business outside of MBMentors.
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Where speakers from private business are involved (non-MBMentors volunteers), the MBMentors volunteer arranging for the speaker should ask the speaker in advance not to “sell” his or her service or product at the workshop (he or she can certainly talk about the business, products, and experiences in the context of providing the workshop/presentation subject matter, as well as leave business cards). MBMentors introduction at the workshop should strive to clarify that.
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MBMentors is not allowed to endorse any business represented at a workshop or presentation. Workshop/presentation speakers should be regularly reviewed by MBMentors to monitor that good ethical standards are followed. This may include previewing presentation materials.
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MBMentors volunteers may not accept any gift valued at more than $25 from a client, vendor, or other third parties.
Violation of the MBM Code of Ethics will cause the immediate dismissal of the volunteer and possible legal action.
If you have questions about an ethical dilemma, first read the following Q&A section. If you still have questions, contact the Executive Director.
I understand and agree to the above terms and conditions.
Annual Member Confidentiality Agreement
All volunteer members agree to abide by the following confidentiality standards:
Non-Disclosure
Confidential issues and information shared by MBMentors clients are not to be discussed with or revealed to any other person or organization without the prior permission of all parties involved. This includes but is not limited to issues and information shared: in group meetings and one-to-one discussions.
Contacting Others
Issues raised by MBMentors clients are often confidential and are not common knowledge. When contacting a client about such an issue, please use the utmost circumspection. Use care when talking with, texting, or e-mailing other volunteer members that may be viewed by other parties. Use discretion when leaving voicemail messages in general voicemail boxes.
Usernames and Passwords
Access to MBMentors sites and the information contained there-in is always to be protected and volunteers must take all necessary safeguards to secure their personal username and password information. Do not share your password with anyone else, if you believe your password may have been lost or stolen, please contact the Executive Director to change it for you.
Solicitation
All volunteers agree not to:
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Recommend goods or services from sources in which he/she has an interest.
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Accept fees or commissions developing from this mentoring relationship.
All MBMentors volunteers agree the directories and e-mail addresses contained within MBMentors sites and databases will not and cannot be used for solicitation of business by any volunteer. This information may not be used to compile marketing or contact lists of any kind. Doing so will cause the immediate dismissal of the volunteer and possible legal action.
Competition and Hiring
All volunteers of MBMentors agree not to use any non-public information posted on our sites or shared within MBMentors to directly or indirectly, either individually or with others, compete with; solicit clients, employees, or business away from; or otherwise cause economic loss to, any client.
Reminder
Despite best efforts to ensure confidentiality and security, no site can be guaranteed to be 100% secure 100% of the time. Use caution with all your Internet transmissions and transactions.
Although volunteers agree to hold in full confidentiality anything discussed in their group meetings and during one-to-one conversations, this agreement is not binding on third parties or in a court of law. Volunteers could be compelled to testify on matters discussed in meetings or MBMentors may be required to disclose information or materials pursuant to applicable laws, regulations, orders, subpoenas, or other processes of law.
Therefore, volunteers should generally exercise caution when discussing anything in a MBMentors setting that a client would not want disclosed in any legal proceeding.
I understand and agree to the above terms and conditions.
MBMENTORS GUIDELINE FAQS
Question:
Can I use contacts made at MBMENTORS activities as a source of new clients for my own business or a business in my household?
Answer:
No. This is soliciting business.
Question:
My spouse owns an office supply store. Can I ask my clients to get their office supplies there?
Answer:
No. This is soliciting business.
Question:
I am a CPA. My client is having trouble finding an accountant. Can I offer my services?
Answer:
Not for hire. You may, however, help them pro-bono as a MBMENTORS mentor.
Question:
I see the Code of Ethics has a referral process to allow MBMENTORS Volunteers to accept private clients?
Answer:
The instance this refers to is when a client requests that MBMENTORS refer the client to an outside adviser. The reference list given to the client must contain at least three names, and the client must not know that one (and no more than one) of them is a MBMENTORS mentor. If this is to be used, be very careful to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Question:
I came upon a situation that I am unsure about. What should I do?
Answer:
Contact the Executive Director to discuss the situation. If applicable in unusual circumstances, requesting a variance in writing is an option, but realize that the variance process is by design a detailed review.
Question:
I witnessed another mentor engaging in or talking about what appeared to be an ethical conflict. What should I do?
Answer:
The best approach is to gently remind them of the Code of Ethics. If you are uncomfortable, or did not receive a satisfactory outcome, inform the Executive Director, and let him or her handle the situation.
Question:
I was having dinner with my significant other and he/she mentioned getting a new client today. I recognized the name as an MBMentors client that another Volunteer is mentoring. What should I do?
Answer:
Alert the Executive Director and he or she will walk you through the situation.
Question:
The same question as previous, but the client is someone I am mentoring. What should I do?
Answer:
Inform the Executive Director and he or she will walk you through the situation.
Question:
My client is in a desperate situation that I am confident my business can solve, and I know of no one else that can. What do I do?
Answer:
If the Code of Ethics works towards the substantial detriment of the client, a variance can be requested.