NJSBDC Professional Code of Conduct

 

• We will serve our clients with integrity, competence and objectivity.
• We will conduct ourselves in a manner which does not discredit our organization or our funding partners.
• We will keep client information and records confidential.
• We will use proprietary client information only with a client’s permission.
• We will not take advantage of confidential client information, nor enable others to do so.
• We will not allow conflicts of interest, which provide a competitive advantage to one client, through our use of confidential information from another client.
• We will accept only engagements for which we are qualified by our experience and competence.
• We will acknowledge any influences on our objectivity to our clients and offer to withdraw from the engagement when our objectivity or integrity may be impaired.
• We will respect the intellectual property rights of our clients, other contractors and sole practitioners.
• We will not advertise our services in a deceptive manner nor will we misrepresent the consulting profession.
• We will not accept remuneration, commission, gifts or things of value from any third parties engaged to provide services to our clients, nor recommend any service or product in which a counselor has a financial interest.
• We will ensure all SBDC staff is apprised of the Code of Conduct and report infractions of this code to our advisory boards.