AUA is often privy to confidential information made available by our students, employees or our partners. Unless authorized to disclose/discuss/disseminate any information deemed confidential with another employee, AUA-COM prohibits this type of activity. Further, unless information has been disclosed to the general public, it is unethical for you to disclose it to anyone outside the University.
Unless you have the written permission of Vice President of Administrative Services, no one employed by AUA may work as an employee, freelancer, or manager for a University that competes with AUA. If a member of your immediate family participates in the management of a competing University, this relationship should be disclosed to your Vice President of Administrative Services and/or Director of Administrative Services.
We work with vendors and suppliers on a nondiscriminatory basis. If you have a relationship with a university/company/business that may have business dealings with AUA—or have a friend or family member who works for such a University/company/business—this must also be disclosed. Disclosure will not prevent us from working with the university/company/business but may disqualify you from participating in vendor and supplier selection.
It is customary for some students/vendors/subordinate employees to give gifts to certain people. Some employees get Christmas wine or fruit from students/vendors/subordinate employees. If the gift is modest in value or cost (under EC100), it is permitted. If it is extravagant (“Because we value your services, please accept this camcorder as a token of our appreciation”), bring it to your supervisor’s attention. The supervisor will, in consultation with senior management, determine whether or not to return the gift. Never tell one student/vendor/subordinate employee about a gift from another, as this may be interpreted as a tacit gift request/solicitation/begging.
Giving gifts to co-workers and supervisors is an equally delicate area. Please, be sensitive to the potential impact of gifts on the recipient and on the people around you; use common sense in choosing the moment to give a gift. No gift should be given that could be interpreted as obscene, unwelcome, suggestive, harassing or in poor taste. No one should ever feel pressured to join a round of gift giving or engage in soliciting gifts.
Periodically, we get calls from banks, insurance companies, other employers and even law offices, requesting verification of an employee’s status or his/her salary and benefits. Usually these verification requests are the result of an employee filing for an insurance benefit, a bank loan, a credit card, employment, etc. Other times they may come from totally inappropriate sources.
Benefits such as health insurance and salaries vary from individual to individual. Most people regard these matters as confidential; AUA certainly does. Whatever the motive of the caller, never take it upon yourself to answer any questions, even if you think you know the answer. Explain to the person requesting the information that this is confidential information and transfer the call to Human Resources department.
Verifying employee information to legitimate parties is a management function we are happy to undertake for anyone. Should the need arise, simply ask. But do your co-workers a favor: do not speak for them. Do not give references; refer all calls to Human Resources department.
If there is something you do not like about your job or about AUA please speak up. Management (or your supervisor) may not even be aware of the problem. We cannot correct it if we do not know about it. If you just do not like your job, AUA may be able to offer you a new opportunity.