Tufts University

Ethical Business Conduct

As an employee of Tufts University you have a responsibility to be cognizant of policies and procedures that encourage good ethical business behavior. In conducting University related business, one should avoid any practice that could suggest impropriety.

Once an organization is tainted with a scandal or even the semblance of business misconduct, it is difficult to shake the negative perception that ensues. As Mark Twain once said: “Always tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember anything.” Focusing on ethical conduct in the workplace sensitizes us to our collective responsibility to maintain Tufts’ positive reputation.

Ethical Breaches at Work

Many of us face ethical dilemmas in our jobs and it is fairly easy to rationalize our conduct:

• “Everyone else does it.”
• “Rankings will suffer.”
• “That’s the way it has always been done.”
• “I was only following orders.”
• “For all I do around here…..”

Sometimes these rationalizations can lead to the following categories of business misconduct:

• Taking assets which do not belong to you
• Providing false impressions or false data
• Hiding or divulging critical information
• Taking unfair advantage
• Violating policies and procedures
• Condoning unethical actions
• Entering into conflicts of interest (divided loyalties)
• Improperly balancing one’s personal life and work

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

Perhaps one of the more compelling ways to help resolve a question concerning ethical business conduct is “The Front Page of the Newspaper Test”. Warren E. Buffet (Berkshire Hathaway) elaborates on this strategy:

“Contemplating any business act, an employee should ask whether he/she would be willing to see it immediately described by an informed and critical reporter on the front page of the local paper, there to be read by his/her spouse, children, and friends.”

Tufts has issued many policies and procedures designed to help employees conduct its business appropriately. Policies that govern conflict-of-interest, vendor relations, proper accounting, gifts and entertainment and the proper use of university assets are included in the Tufts University Business Conduct Policy brochure available from the Office of the Vice President for Finance. Many of these policies are also described within the Finance Division’s Web Page http://finance.tufts.edu/policies/ Policies and standards governing the responsible use of information technology and intellectual property can be found on the Tufts Computing and Communications Services Web Page http://www.tufts.edu/tccs/p-main.html under its Policies and Standards section. Policies addressing affirmative action, sexual harassment, and consensual relationships can be reviewed at the Office of Equal Opportunity Web Page http://www.tufts.edu/oeo/univpolicies.html. These policies should be reviewed to ensure an understanding of the code of conduct required of Tufts University employees.

For answers to frequently asked questions concerning fraud awareness and prevention in your Tufts organization click here.