Resourceful Futures
Code of Conduct
Preamble:
This document offers
guidance to ensure all employees / subcontractors can cooperate effectively in a
positive and inspiring atmosphere, and to explain how together we can
strengthen and support Resourceful Futures MISSION : to be a leader in
Community Disability Services; resourceful and innovative.
All employees /
subcontractors are contributors and are to uphold this Code of Conduct.
Overview:
This Code of Conduct
presents a summary of the shared values and “common sense” thinking at
Resourceful Futures. The basic social
ingredients that hold the Agency together include:
Employees / subcontractors
are contributors who add value to the Agency by providing feedback that
promotes:
This
Code of Conduct reflects the agreed standards of behaviour for all employees /
subcontractors, in any forum, public meeting or private correspondence. All employees / subcontractors will act
according to the standards in this Code of Conduct and will defend these
standards for the benefit of Resourceful Futures’ success. Management will exercise the right to suspend
and/or terminate any employees / subcontractors who persistently breaks our
Code of Conduct.
BE CONSIDERATE
Our
actions and work will affect and be used by other people and in turn will
depend on the work and actions of others.
Any decision we make will affect other community services, and we need
to consider those consequences when making decisions.
As
a contributor, ensure that we give full credit for the work of others and bear
in mind how our changes affect others. It is also expected that we try to
follow the development schedule and guidelines of initiatives/projects that
promote the professionalism and value of the Community Disability Services
Sector.
As an employee / subcontractor of Resourceful
Futures remember that contributors work hard on their part and take great pride
in it. If you are frustrated or have concerns, your
problems are more likely to be resolved if you can give accurate and well-m
BE RESPECTFUL
In
order for employees / subcontractors to stay healthy, we must feel comfortable
and accepted. Treating one another with respect is absolutely necessary for
this. In a disagreement, in the first
instance assume that people mean well.
We
do not tolerate personal attacks, racism, sexism or any other form of
discrimination. Disagreements are inevitable from time to time, but respecting
the views of others will go a long way to winning respect for your own
view. Respecting other people, their
work, their contributions and assuming well-meaning motivation will make other
members feel comfortable and safe and will result in motivation and
productivity.
We
expect all employees / subcontractors to be respectful when dealing with other
contributors, users and community services. Remember that Community Disability
Services is a very dynamic sector and we may be unaware of important aspects of
other cultures and/or similar services.
BE COLLABORATIVE
Resourceful
Futures depends on collaboration. It helps limit duplication of effort while
improving quality employees / subcontractors and individual satisfaction. In order to avoid misunderstanding, try to be
clear and concise when requesting help or giving it. Remember it is easy to misunderstand
emails. Ask for clarifications if unsure
how something was meant; remember the first rule-assume in the first instance
that people mean well.
As
a contributor, you should aim to collaborate with fellow employees /
subcontractors and community members, as well as with other communities that
are interested in or depend on the work we do.
Our work should be transparent and be fed back into the larger community
when appropriate. If you wish to work on
something new in existing initiatives/projects, keep your fellow members
informed of your ideas and progress.
It
may not always be possible to reach consensus on the implementation of an idea,
so do not feel devalued or give up. Always ensure that you keep your fellow
members abreast of your work, and publish it in a way that allows us to test,
discuss and contribute to your efforts now and in the future.
Contributors
on every initiative/project come and go.
When you leave or disengage from Resourceful Futures in whole or part,
you should do so with pride about what you have achieved and by acting
responsibly towards others who come after you to continue the valued work you
have done.
As
an employee / subcontractor of Resourceful Futures, your feedback is important,
as is its form. Poorly thought out
comments can cause pain and the de-motivation of other members, but considerate
discussion of problems can bring positive results. An encouraging word works wonders.
BE PRAGMATIC
We
value tangible results over having the last word in a discussion. We defend our core values like freedom and
respectful collaboration, but we don’t let arguments about minor issues get in
the way of achieving more important results.
We are open to suggestions and welcome solutions regardless of their
origin. When in doubt support a
solution, which helps, getting things done over one, which has theoretical,
merits, but is not being worked on. Use
the tools and methods that help getting the job done. Let decisions be taken by those who do the
work.
SUPPORT OTHERS IN THE
COMMUNITY
Resourceful
Futures is made strong by mutual respect, collaboration and pragmatic,
responsible behaviour. Sometimes there
are situations where this has to be defended and employees / subcontractors
need help.
If
you witness others being attacked, think first, about how you can offer them
personal support. If you feel that, the situation is beyond your ability to
help individually, go privately to that member and ask if some form of official
intervention is needed. Similarly you
should support anyone who appears to be in danger of burning out, either
through work-related stress or personal problems.
When
problems do arise, consider respectfully reminding those involved of our Code
of Conduct as a first action. Leaders
are defined by their actions, and can help set good examples by working to
resolve issues in the spirit of this Code of Conduct before they escalate.
GET SUPPORT FROM
OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY
Disagreements,
both political and technical, happen all the time. Resourceful Futures is no exception to this
rule. The goal is not to avoid disagreements or differing views, but to resolve
them constructively. You should turn to
fellow employees / subcontractors to seek advice and to resolve disagreements
and where possible consult the team most directly involved.
Think
deeply before turning a disagreement into a public dispute. If necessary request mediation, trying to resolve
differences in a less highly-emotional medium.
If you do feel that you or your work is being attacked, take your time
to breathe through before writing heated replies. Consider a 24 hour moratorium if emotional
language is being used- a cooling off period is sometimes all that is
needed. If you really want to go a
different way, then we encourage you to
publish your ideas and your work, so that it can be tried and tested.