Code of conduct template for your company, event or community
Your team is growing, you are running a meetup, or your online community needs ground rules. This prompt has your todo.is agent write a code of conduct that sounds like your organization, with concrete examples of what is and is not acceptable, a clear way to report problems, and what happens next.
The prompt
- Write a code of conduct for [ORGANIZATION NAME], which is [TYPE AND SIZE]. It applies to [WHO IT COVERS] in [WHERE IT APPLIES]. Our values: [3 TO 5 VALUES]. Include: a short welcome and purpose, expected behavior with concrete examples, unacceptable behavior (harassment, discrimination, bullying, threats, and anything specific to us like [SPECIFIC RISKS]), conflicts of interest and gifts if relevant, confidentiality and use of company or community resources, how to report a concern including an anonymous option and who handles it ([REPORT CONTACT]), protection against retaliation, how reports are investigated, consequences, and a signature or acknowledgment line. Tone: [TONE]. Keep it under 3 pages. Save as Word and PDF, and add a one-page poster version with the key rules and how to report.
What to change
- [ORGANIZATION NAME]: e.g. "Harborline Logistics" or "Berlin Product Meetup".
- [TYPE AND SIZE]: e.g. "a logistics company with 60 employees", "a monthly tech meetup", "a Discord community of 2,000 members".
- [WHO IT COVERS]: e.g. "employees, contractors and temporary staff" or "attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers".
- [WHERE IT APPLIES]: e.g. "at work, at company events and online" or "at the venue and in our Slack".
- [3 TO 5 VALUES]: e.g. "safety first, honesty, respect, ownership".
- [SPECIFIC RISKS]: Issues in your field, e.g. "accepting gifts from suppliers, unsafe driving" or "recruiting at the event".
- [REPORT CONTACT]: Who receives reports, e.g. "HR at people@harborline.example" or "two named organizers".
- [TONE]: e.g. "warm and direct" or "formal".
Example result
- Harborline Logistics Code of Conduct (sample)
- Why this exists. We move goods for hundreds of customers every day. We can only do that well if people feel safe, respected and trusted. This code applies to employees, contractors and temporary staff, at our depots, on the road, at company events and online.
- Our values in practice
- • Safety first: wear protective equipment, follow loading procedures, and stop work if something looks unsafe. Nobody is punished for stopping an unsafe job.
- • Honesty: record hours, mileage and delivery times accurately. Report mistakes early.
- • Respect: speak to colleagues, drivers and customers politely, including over the radio and in group chats.
- • Ownership: look after vehicles and equipment as if they were yours.
- Not acceptable
- • Harassment, including unwanted comments, jokes or contact of a sexual nature
- • Discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or any protected characteristic
- • Bullying, threats or violence
- • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or using a phone while driving
- • Accepting gifts from suppliers worth more than a small token, without telling your manager
- • Sharing customer addresses or shipment details outside work
- Conflicts of interest
- Tell your manager if you or a family member has a business link with a supplier or customer.
- Raising a concern
- • Talk to your manager, or email people@harborline.example
- • Or use the anonymous form linked on the staff noticeboard
- • Reports are looked at within 5 working days and kept as confidential as possible
- No retaliation. Anyone who raises a concern in good faith is protected. Retaliation is a serious breach of this code.
- Consequences
- Depending on the seriousness: a conversation, a written warning, removal from duties or dismissal. Illegal acts may be reported to the authorities.
- Acknowledgment. I have read and understood this code. Name, signature, date.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your organization, who the code covers, your values and the report contact.
- Paste it into todo.is, or send it to your agent on Slack or Discord.
- Your agent writes the full code plus a poster version, as Word and PDF files.
- Share it with your team for feedback, ask for edits, and ask your agent to turn it into a short onboarding quiz.
Tips for a better result
- Use concrete examples from your world. "No phone use while driving" is clearer than "act responsibly".
- Always offer more than one way to report, including someone outside the reporting line and an anonymous option.
- For events, name the organizers people can approach on the day and how to reach them quickly.
- Review it once a year. Set a recurring to-do to remind you and to check for new legal requirements.
- For companies, make sure it matches your employee handbook and local employment law. This draft is not legal advice.
code of conduct template: FAQ
- What is the difference between a code of conduct and a code of ethics? A code of ethics states broad principles and values. A code of conduct turns them into specific behaviors and rules, with what happens when they are broken. Many organizations combine them.
- What should a code of conduct include? Purpose and scope, values, expected behavior, unacceptable behavior with examples, how to report concerns, protection from retaliation, how reports are handled, and consequences.
- Do events and meetups need a code of conduct? Many conferences, meetups and online communities publish one so attendees know the rules and how to get help. Speakers and sponsors increasingly ask for one.
- Can I make my team sign it? Many companies ask employees to sign an acknowledgment that they have read it. Your agent adds an acknowledgment line and can make a short sign-off form.
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