Summary of Principles of Business Conduct

IEEE has established the Principles of Business Conduct to:

• make it clear that IEEE requires fair dealings with all involved parties;
• avoid conflicts of interest;
• maintain confidentiality of information entrusted to IEEE;
• assure that IEEE’s assets are only used for IEEE purposes;
• protect ownership of assets developed under IEEE’s initiatives;
• provide full disclosure of IEEE’s financial transactions in its reports to volunteers and management;
• comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• notify IEEE Corporate Integrity Officer if presently debarred, suspended, proposed debarment, or excluded by any U.S. Federal government department or agency; or if within the last three years have been convicted or had a civil judgment rendered against you for criminal offense in connection with a public transaction, violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes commission of fraud, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statement, tax evasion, violating federal criminal tax laws, obstruction of justice, or receiving stolen property;or if presently indicted for any of these offenses; or within last three years had one or more public transactions terminated for cause or default; or if any of the foregoing actions occur subsequent to the submission of a compliance certificate (This is necessary for IEEE's annual certification process with the U.S. federal government; which is required so that U.S. federal agencies can make payments to IEEE for products like IEL and for grants). 

Volunteers and staff members with decision-making authority are expected to read and become familiar with the ethical standards described in this document. Those individuals who are required to complete the IEEE Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form are also required to affirm their agreement with the standards in this document by signing the accompanying Compliance Certificate (annually).

Violations of the law, IEEE’s corporate policies, or the IEEE Principles of Business Conduct may lead to disciplinary action. Such action will depend upon the nature of the violation and the circumstances surrounding it In the case of volunteers, the disciplinary action may include removal from office or other proceedings (see Bylaw I-110). In cases where such violations include employees, the disciplinary action may include termination.

The IEEE Board of Directors established the area of IEEE Corporate Integrity to ensure oversight and adherence to the IEEE Principles of Business Conduct.

Questions related to or reports of violations of these Principles should be directed to IEEE Corporate Integrity.

For further information, see the details of the Principles of Business Conduct.