Doc owner: CEO
Code of Conduct
Allied//Ethos//Code of Conduct
Overview
Set out below is our team code of conduct, a core pillar of our team ethos. Some aspects represent 'big things' others 'small things'. However, if we get the small things right, consistently and over time then the big things will take care of themselves.
Time is our most precious resource in life and in building this business. We don't want to waste a second of it creating unnecessary oversight mechanisms or enforcement machinery. This is a high trust environment. That trust is hard-earned through our discretion, transparency and accuracy of communication but will be easily lost if we fall short.
When we do fall short, and we will, we must have the courage to hold each other to account. Don't be afraid to say 'I don't know' when you don't have the answer and challenge each other robustly to leave no stone unturned. If you see a 'say/do gap' emerging you must call it out and keep calling until someone hears you and takes action. The long term success of what we're all building together will depend upon it.
Our work is complex, dynamic and sometimes just really really hard. We ask a lot of ourselves and each other. If you're ever in any doubt about the right thing to do simply trust your judgement and do what you believe to be right. If you do this, you will have our full and unwavering support, always. No questions asked.
Respect
Our diversity of talent, experiences and personalities is central to our creativity, cohesion and ability to bring the widest range of insights to any challenge we face, however wicked.
We hope you'll find joy in the things that make us all different as much as the things that make us the same. We respect individual choice, customs and beliefs.
Being 'exclusive' might be a good look for a Mayfair Private Members Club but being inclusive in all you do is much cooler. Remember, we are an egalitarian elite. If you meet our standards, you get a free membership for life to a pretty decent band of mischief makers and miscreants. Don't do anything to risk being asked to leave the party early.
Security
As Blackadder famously said, security is not a 'dirty word' (Gen Z'ers just ask ChatGPT). Instead it's a word that must be at the forefront of our minds in all we do. We will be trusted with 'secrets' and we must keep them. Discretion is our currency and our lifeblood. Careless talk costs lives. Loose lips (and Ukrainian USVs) sink ships.
However, 'being secure' is not a fixed concept. It is a 'means' and must never be our 'ends'. It must never fix us in achieving the mission. Beware the 'security paradox': sometimes in seeking to make ourselves more secure, we can actually make ourselves more vulnerable. We must take risk, and at times it will feel uncomfortable. Remember, agility, speed and creativity are all just as important as 'locked doors' and 'hushed tones' in ensuring we remain resilient and robust when we act.
Conflict
At times when our mission demands, we run fast and hard. Sparks may fly and we won't all always see eye to eye. If it's all plain sailing we're not pushing our boat to its limits. Disagree agreeably. Challenge fiercely but with humility and good grace. Healthy challenge should be welcomed and seen as an opportunity to improve the end product as a collective. If conflict can't be avoided, fix it quickly or ask others to help. The only fight we should have is with those who want to unreasonably challenge the values we turn up to work to protect.
Relationships
We know you'll love your time here. We hope you'll grow to love your team mates too. If you fall in love we'll be delighted and might even buy a hat for the big day. We just ask you let us know and don't let it compromise the mission or the team's performance in delivering it.
Away from work
We're proud to be an unusual place to work. The trade off is that we demand unusually high standards, including when you're away from the 'office'. Representing A2i is a 24/7/365 day responsibility. Be the best ambassador you can.
Despite all our efforts there will be some who may wish to damage our reputation or undermine our efforts. Don't make it easy for them. We expect the same standards of each other away from work as we do at work. Maintaining our hard earned reputation at all times and in all places is a no fail mission.
Expenses
You will be trusted to expense what you need to do your work effectively, perform at your best and sustain yourself and your colleagues. Buy the resources you need - materials, food, accommodation - to perform at your best and take good care of our partners and customers.
We are all shareholders in A2i. Company money is therefore our money, we must treat it as such. If you waste it on unnecessary and/or excessive things, we may have to raise more cash and dilute our ownership. Worse still, we may have to charge our customers more. For a business that's optimising for maximum impact at the lowest cost, this is unacceptable. We won't waste time or money auditing expenses but if you take the p**s, we'll waste no time in asking you to leave.
Time Keeping
Being on time and ready for what lies ahead is good practice and good manners. First impressions count. Don't compromise ours. Meetings run over and trains run late but be punctual whenever you can. When you are late, be respectful and courteous enough to acknowledge those who've been gracious enough to wait for you.
Occasionally, being late might be the difference between success and failure or even life and death. Be sure to recognise this and plan ahead. Fashionably late is fine for parties, dead late is inexcusable.
Dress
Uniformed bodies can risk uniform minds. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable wearing but remain mindful that our partners are often most comfortable in uniform or more formal attire than us. Be respectful of their customs and adapt ours as you judge necessary and appropriate.
Holiday
Knowing how much you'll love what you do at A2i, we worry more about you not taking enough time off than taking too much. We suggest you aim to take 25-30 days holiday each year. High performance demands proper rest and recovery. If you need or want to take more time off, you should take it provided it doesn't put your team in a tight spot or compromise the mission. We know you're best placed to judge this but we do ask that you record your leave and provide reasonable notice to your team of time away from the business.
Allied Always!
JW
Related
- POL-PPL-002 Acceptable Use Policy
- ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.6.2, A.6.4