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Code of Conduct

SRE Partners holds itself to a high standard of human respect; we were founded to address a lack of empathy in the job market, in fact. We hold ourselves accountable to that standard with a Code of Conduct, which we present below.

To maintain the empathetic integrity of our work, we additionally ask that candidates we represent, and hiring managers we are supporting, adhere to the following ground rules for working with us. Many circumstances addressed in a traditional software Code of Conduct are also legally problematic in a hiring context, so this was an easy fit for us.

Our pledge

We pledge to make our recruiting practice welcoming, safe, and equitable for all.

SRE Partners is committed to fostering an environment that respects and promotes the dignity, rights, and contributions of all individuals, regardless of characteristics including race, ethnicity, caste, color, age, physical characteristics, neurodiversity, disability, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, language, philosophy or religion, national or social origin, socio-economic position, level of education, or other status.

Encouraged behaviors

While acknowledging differences in social norms, we all strive to meet our practice's expectations for positive behavior.

We also understand that our words and actions may be interpreted differently than we intend based on culture, background, or native language. With these considerations in mind, we agree to behave mindfully toward each other:

  1. Engaging kindly, honestly, and empathetically with others.
  2. Respecting different viewpoints and experiences.
  3. Taking responsibility for our actions and communication.
  4. Gracefully giving and accepting constructive feedback, especially when that feedback is around not moving forward.
  5. Committing to repairing harm when it occurs.
  6. Behaving in other ways that promote and sustain the well-being of people.

Restricted behaviors

We agree to restrict the following behaviors in our work. Instances, threats to engage in, and promotion of these behaviors are all violations of this Code of Conduct equally.

  1. Falsehoods. Misrepresenting the truth in any way. Lying or being asked to lie about any topic, including jobs.
  2. Character attacks. Making insulting, demeaning, or pejorative comments directed at a person or group of people.
  3. Stereotyping or discrimination. Characterizing anyone’s personality or behavior on the basis of immutable identity.
  4. Sexualization. Any sexualization of a person or object whatsoever. Full stop.
  5. Harassment. Violating explicitly expressed boundaries or engaging in personal attention after any clear request to stop.
  6. Violating confidentiality. Sharing or acting on someone's personal or private information without their permission.
  7. Endangerment. Causing, encouraging, or threatening violence or other harm toward any person or group.
  8. Behaving in other ways that threaten the well-being of people.

Other restrictions

  1. Misleading or false identity. Impersonating someone else for any reason, or embellishing or creating a false identity.
  2. Failing to attribute sources. Not crediting the sources of information, particularly when misrepresented as your own.

Addressing harm

We take violations of this Code of Conduct very seriously in our work. If we are made aware of behaviors that run afoul of these expectations, we will investigate and arrive at one or more of these outcomes:

  • Corrective warning in private, with a link to this document.
  • Concluding ongoing recruiting work with a hiring manager or their firm.
  • Withdrawing a candidate from consideration for employment.
  • Permanently removing a candidate from further representation.

If you believe this Code of Conduct has been violated, please bring the matter to the attention of your partner. We are a small firm, and we hear violations of this Code (quickly) at the executive level.

Scope

This Code of Conduct applies within all communication spaces, and also applies when an individual is officially representing the company in public or other spaces. Examples of representing our practice include using an official email address, posting via an official social media account, or acting as an appointed representative at an online or offline event.

Note that this Code of Conduct is not intended to supplant agreements as legally authoritative for any business relationship. Violations of the Code of Conduct certainly disappoint us and can motivate our behavior, but ultimately, this Code simply reflects our expectations and framework for respect.

Attribution

This Code of Conduct is adapted from Contributor Covenant, version 3.0, permanently available at this link. Contributor Covenant is stewarded by the Organization for Ethical Source and is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.