Conflicts of Interest

A Conflicts of Interest policy sets clear expectations for avoiding, disclosing, and resolving situations where an employee's personal, financial, or outside interests could influence (or appear to influence) workplace decisions, helping your organization protect ethical decision-making, fairness, and trust.

How to Write a Conflicts of Interest Policy

• Start with "why" and introduce the concept.
• Define what a conflict of interest is, including actual and perceived conflicts involving personal or family interests.
• State the core rule that employees must avoid conflicts that could compromise objective business decisions.
• List common examples of conflicts to make the rule practical and easy to recognize.
• Clarify that examples are not exhaustive and employees should raise concerns when something feels like a conflict.
• Require employees to disclose actual or potential conflicts in writing.
• Explain that your organization will review disclosures and decide whether a conflict exists.
• Describe the possible outcomes after review, including approval with conditions or requiring steps to resolve the conflict.

For advice on writing a Conflicts of Interest policy in a specific jurisdiction, see below.