Fundamental 4: Honesty is the only policy.

4) Honesty is the only policy. If you or your family will benefit financially from engaging other consumers in activities, disclose that information. Never use your relationships with others for economic or personal gain. If you have financial or personal interests that could affect decision-making, disclose that information or excuse yourself from participation in voting or discussion of any issues that could pose a conflict of interest.

Above all else, be honest. When people shade the truth or tell half-truths they jeopardize their reputations for integrity, and jeopardize the work they are committed to doing. If, in the course of our work, we are asked to do something that is dishonest, or that puts us in a compromising position, we should always express concern. If we behave in a straightforward and truthful manner we cannot go wrong.

For Example...
James is a young adult with hemophilia. He has just taken a job with ABC Health Care, a private home care company that sells health care products and clotting factor concentrates to patients. Before becoming an employee of ABC's, James was a customer for two years. He purchased his clotting factor through ABC. He was always very pleased with the quality of their service.

James' supervisor knows that he has many friends and contacts among the network of patients in the area that are affected by hemophilia. She has asked him to promote ABC's services to them. In addition to his base salary, James could earn a commission on each new client he enlists. James writes a letter to his network of contacts describing his new job and makes a “sales pitch” for ABC Health Care. James also includes information about his salary arrangements. He believes it is important to disclose this information before anyone agrees to meet with him so they will understand how he will benefit financially from the sale.

James has been a volunteer at the Hemophilia Camp for children 6-12 during the past five summers. Before James joined the ABC sales staff he negotiated a two-week leave without pay so that he could attend Hemophilia Camp. Two days before camp begins, James receives a call from his supervisor offering to pay his salary during his time at camp. She says that camp provides a great opportunity for James to broaden his potential client contacts. She also asks him to make sure he brings the camp mailing list back to work with him when he returns.

Even though James could benefit from the additional salary, he tells his supervisor he is unable to accept her offer. His job at camp is to be a big brother to the children, and it would be taking advantage of the campers and their families if he were to use his big-brother relationship to financially benefit either the company or himself. James also tells his supervisor that the camp mailing list is confidential — and is not intended for the use of anyone outside the camp. James knows it would be dishonest, and it would be breaking the confidence of the campers and their families, if he shared the mailing list with his colleagues at work.

In this example James confronted what could have been a morally compromising situation. He wanted to be successful in his new job, but he also wanted to maintain his own standards of behavior. By being completely honest – with his potential clients and with his supervisor, he was able to meet both goals. And in this case, his supervisor respected his decisions. At times, we may encounter less scrupulous individuals and the price we pay for our honesty may be a high one. In the long run, however, our credibility and our integrity depend on us being honest people – honest in our intentions, honest in our words, and honest in our actions.