Code of Conduct
To provide the best possible service to our clients and the public, and to foster a positive work environment, Vaxa expects all employees to follow these rules of conduct. These guidelines are designed to protect the interests and safety of our clients, the public, your colleagues, and the company.
This is a Controlled Document
In line with Vaxa's governance framework, changes to controlled documents must be approved or merged by a code owner. All contributions are welcome and encouraged.| Version | Effective | Reviewed | Next review due |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | 2022-02-05 | 2024-02-12 | 2025-02-01 |
General Expectations
Always treat fellow employees, clients, and suppliers with the utmost respect and courtesy. Interactions should be friendly, professional, and focused on excellent service.
Unacceptable Behaviors
Engaging in any of the following actions may result in disciplinary measures, including reprimand, warning, suspension, or dismissal.
1. Disobeying the Law and Instructions
Examples of things you should consider to remain compliant with the law and Vaxa’s policies include:
- Compliance with Professional Codes: Follow all Professional Codes of Conduct or Ethics relevant to your work.
- Legal compliance: Adhere to all laws related to Vaxa’s operations.
- Company policies: Comply with all Vaxa policies and procedures in this handbook.
- Instructions from management: Carry out any reasonable and lawful instructions from your manager.
- Health and safety: Follow health and safety regulations and do not encourage others to violate them.
- Prohibited items: Do not possess firearms, weapons, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia on company property.
2. Respect for Others
- Professional conduct: Treat clients and colleagues with respect. Avoid using threatening, obscene, profane, or abusive language, gestures, or behaviour.
- Violence: Do not engage in physical or verbal violence.
- Disorderly conduct: Refrain from horseplay or disruptive behaviour.
- Discrimination: Do not unlawfully discriminate against anyone.
- Harassment and bullying: Avoid harassing or bullying clients or employees.
- Victimisation: Do not victimise anyone who reports a breach of this code or any other policy.
- Dress code: Wear uniforms if provided, or dress according to Vaxa’s standards if uniforms are not supplied.
3. Integrity
- Conflict of interest: Declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest promptly; see below section on Conflict of Interest.
- Bribery: Report any attempted bribery immediately.
- Confidentiality: Do not disclose any confidential or official information without authorisation.
Reporting of any breaches or concerns in any shape are encouraged. Refer to our Responsible Disclosure Policy for more information.
4. Diligence
- Smoking policy: Do not smoke in areas where it is prohibited.
- Punctuality: Be at your workplace and ready to work at your scheduled start time.
- Timekeeping: Personally clock in and out at the beginning and end of your shift.
- Work ethic: Focus on your duties and avoid wasting time during working hours.
- Substance use: Do not come to work under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. Do not bring alcohol or illegal substances onto Vaxa property.
- Internet and technology use: Do not access or share pornography, hate speech, or illegal content using company equipment or personal devices used for work. See the Acceptable Use of Technology Policy for more information.
- Online conduct: Avoid posting offensive, defamatory, threatening, discriminatory, bullying, inappropriate, false, sexist, derogatory, or malicious comments or materials online or on social media.
- Communication: Inform your manager promptly upon completing tasks or if there are any delays.
- Attitude: Maintain a cooperative and positive attitude.
- Personal devices: Do not use personal electronic devices like smartphones, music headsets, wearables, or handheld games during work hours unless authorised.
5. Economy and Efficiency
- Care for company property: Take proper care of Vaxa equipment and tools. Do not neglect or abuse them.
- Theft and damage: Do not wilfully damage, destroy, or steal property belonging to colleagues or Vaxa.
- Honesty: Provide truthful information when requesting leave or other accommodations.
- Attendance: Avoid unexcused absences from work.
- Use of resources: Do not use Vaxa equipment, property, or supplies for personal purposes without prior authorisation.
Conflict of Interest
Avoid any interests, influences, or relationships that might conflict—or appear to conflict—with the best interests of Vaxa or our clients. If your loyalty could be divided, disclose the situation promptly to your manager and remove yourself from any related decision-making processes.
Refer to the Conflict of Interest Policy for more information.