People who work for UBC lead complex lives with many roles and responsibilities. Conflicts of Interest occur when aspects of our personal lives intersect or overlap with our UBC roles. Anything from our personal lives that might affect the decisions we make in our university roles can introduce a conflict. Although the term has come to have a negative connotation, the mere existence of a conflict of interest is neutral and does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing. When conflicts emerge, we have a responsibility to ensure they are declared and appropriately managed. Information on three important types of conflicts of interest:
- Related party conflicts
- Financial interest conflicts
- Outside activity conflicts
Related party conflicts
The existence of a related party conflict of interest involves two elements:
- The UBC Person’s obligations to the university and
- The personal interests of the UBC person and related party
How to identify
- Consider everyone you know at UBC that you also have a non-university connection to.
- Think about how each person might connect to your obligations to the university.
- In many situations (for example when you work in materials research and know someone who works with the athletic teams) the opportunity for conflict may be very low.
- In other situations (when relatives work together in the same department or faculty members are asked to teach their relatives) the opportunity for conflicts of interest are high.
- If a reasonable observer might assume that your relationship might affect the decisions you are required to make on behalf of UBC, the conflict of interest must be declared and managed.
Examples of related party conflicts
A UBC person’s relationships could be expected to affect the decisions made on behalf of UBC in examples such as:
- A UBC employee is asked to evaluate a scholarship award nominee of their child.
- A UBC employee is asked to supervise the performance, or promotion of someone who is their spouse.
- A UBC employee is asked to validate or approve the expenditures and reimbursements made to their romantic partner.
- A UBC employee considers hiring a contractor or consultant who is a relative.
- A UBC employee is hiring for a new position and a friend of their family wants to apply.
Financial interest conflicts
The existence of a financial conflict of interest involves two elements:
- The UBC employee’s obligations to the university and
- The UBC employee’s financial interests (or the interests of their related parties)
How to identify
- Consider each of the Financial Interests that you have, in addition to your salary from the university. These include other activities that generate revenue or honorariums, companies that you or your family members are involved in, or services that you provide for a fee.
- If a reasonable third party would expect that your financial interest might intersect with decisions you make on behalf of UBC, the financial interest presents a conflict of interest that must be declared and managed.
Examples of financial interest conflicts
Conflicts of interest exist when employees have financial interests that could conflict with the interests of the university. Examples of financial conflicts include:
- A UBC employee considers buying services from a business they personally co-own.
- A UBC employee is in a position to make a decision affecting a company with whom they have been employed or received payment.
- A UBC employee has access to information that is not in the public domain that would be valuable to a company owned by the UBC person’s spouse.
- A UBC employee creates a purchase requisition for a company that the UBC person’s spouse has established.
- A UBC employee personally receives a commission or gift from a company UBC does business with.
Outside activity conflicts
Outside activity conflicts of interest involve two elements:
- The UBC employee’s obligations to the university and
- The interests of the other organizations the UBC employee is involved with
How to identify
- Think about the organizations and initiatives that you are involved with outside of UBC
- If a reasonable third party would expect that you might have influence over university decisions related to that organization or initiative, the conflict of interest must be declared and managed.
Examples of outside activity conflicts
Outside activity conflicts of interest exist when UBC employees are involved with outside organizations whose objectives and interests might intersect with work the person does for UBC. Examples of outside activity conflicts include:
- A UBC employee is a member of an organization that is negotiating a lease agreement with UBC.
- A UBC employee is involved with an organization that has an interest in the outcome of a UBC decision.
- A UBC employee is personally involved in a non-university activity but appears to be involved on behalf of UBC.