Code of Conduct -- A Template

[Publisher Name] supports and adheres to the Association of Catholic Publishers’ Code of Ethics. This Code of Conduct illustrates in further detail expected behaviors and related potential consequences of those behaviors.

To provide a professional, welcoming, and productive experience for all, [Publisher Name] has adopted a Code of Conduct for leadership, staff, and those we publish and sponsor for events.

Please be aware that unfamiliarity with this Code of Conduct will not excuse non-compliance. It is our responsibility as a publisher to hold ourself and those we work with to the highest possible standards.

What [Publisher Name] Expects

[Publisher Name] expects that our leadership team, our staff, and those we publish shall treat others with courtesy, dignity, and respect, and conduct business with the highest level of professionalism.

What [Publisher Name] Promises

In our publishing relationship with you, [Publisher Name] promises the following:

1. [Publisher Name] will offer you contracts that are fair and based on industry standards.
2. [Publisher Name]’s agreements with you will be clear, comprehensive, and expressed in non-ambiguous terms.
3. [Publisher Name] will promptly report and pay you all royalties and other payments that become due to you.
4. [Publisher Name] will give you appropriate attribution in publications.
5. [Publisher Name] will give due respect to the copyright and intellectual property rights of others.
6. [Publisher Name] will seek to resolve any disagreements or disputes with you promptly and fairly, based on all the circumstances, including the terms of your contract(s)/agreement(s).

What [Publisher Name] Will Not Tolerate

Bullying, harassment, and discrimination of any sort will not be tolerated from leadership, staff, and those we publish and sponsor for events. This includes unwanted, hostile, or offensive behavior (including online communication), either as a single act or repeated over time, with the intent to degrade, humiliate, or oppress another person or group of people. Such behaviors include but are not limited to:

1. Verbal or written comments or communications that are insulting, taunting, degrading, intimidating, threatening, or incendiary
2. Persistent unwanted texts, email, or phone calls
3. Posting private and personal information to social media or spreading rumors
4. Verbal or written comments or communications that are sexually graphic or sexually suggestive
5. Unwelcome attention, including repeated flirtations or advances
6. Inappropriate physical contact of a violent or sexual nature, such as rape, battery, or abuse, or any attempt to commit such acts
7. Sexual abuse, including any sexual activity, involvement, or attempt of sexual contact by an adult with a person who is under the applicable legal age of consent or who is legally incompetent or otherwise unable to give consent.
8. Promoting, encouraging, or intentionally concealing any harassing behavior
9. Any behavior that is punishable by existing or future law, e.g., falsifying content, plagiarism, theft of intellectual property.

Intent to offend is not an element of harassment, so harassment as defined above may include actions that are intended to be jokes, teasing, or kidding.

[Add additional specified prohibited actions as necessary, such as falsifying information, theft, bribery]

 [Publisher Name] leadership will respond appropriately to any act of bullying or harassment, even if reported by a third party. Victims of harassment related to their work with [Publisher Name], or those who observe any such acts, are expected to report the incident to [Name of Organization or Individual to whom such incidents should be reported] or to a member of [Publisher Name]’s leadership team so proper action can be taken.

Reports of ethical misconduct, complaints, and investigations of complaints will be treated as strictly confidential. [Publisher Name] will not tolerate threats of retaliation against any [Publisher Name] employee or [Publisher Name] contractor who reports alleged wrongful behavior, and [Publisher Name] will take prompt and decisive action if such threats are brought to our attention.

[Publisher Name]’s response to reports of harassment will be based on the circumstances of the situation and may include an investigation into the incident and/or sanctions against the individual or individuals responsible for the harassment. Such sanctions may include suspension of future publishing projects for a time or permanently, suspension of future [Publisher Name] sponsorship for a time or permanently, employee disciplinary action per [Publisher Name]’s employee manual, and other such consequences, up to and including involvement of law enforcement if deemed necessary.

Ultimately, being published by, sponsored by, or employed by [Publisher Name] comes with many benefits and a few obligations. We truly believe that one of the key obligations we have to one another is mutual respect, which is at the heart of all the ways we work together. We are confident that you agree and will represent the best of what publishing with [Publisher Name] means.

If you have questions about [Publisher Name]’s Code of Conduct, please contact [Name of Individual to whom questions should be directed] at [Contact e-mail address].