Community Connections Northeast Ohio (CCNEO) is a business that is accountable to both government agencies and members of the public for responsible and proper use of its resources. All CCNEO employees have a duty to act in its best interests and may not use their positions for their own financial or personal benefit.

Conflicts of interest must be taken very seriously since they can damage CCNEO’s reputation and expose both CCNEO and affiliated individuals to legal liability if not handled appropriately. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest should be avoided, as it could undermine public support for CCNEO.

PROCEDURE

A conflict of interest occurs when your personal or private interests interfere – or appear to interfere – with your official responsibilities as a CCNEO employee. 

A conflict of interest can arise in many situations and can impact your ability to make fair and impartial decisions regarding how CCNEO provides services. 

Because conflicts of interest can adversely impact the reputation and integrity of CCNEO, it is important for you to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. 

The preferred course of action is to avoid any situation that may create a conflict of interest in the first place. As such, if you think a situation might possibly give rise to a conflict of interest, you should immediately talk to your supervisor.

When in doubt, you should always disclose and ask for guidance.

If you have a conflict of interest, you may not participate in any recommendation or decision that would benefit you or someone who is related to you or with whom you have a friendship or personal relationship. 

Do not solicit, receive or accept anything of value in the form of money, services, gifts, loans, travel, entertainment, or employment from anyone affiliated with CCNEO that is not explicitly approved by CCNEO’s Executive Director or Director of Workforce Development.

During your employment with CCNEO you are prohibited from directly or indirectly:

Competing with CCNEO including, but not limited to:

providing, owning an interest in, or assisting any other person or entity that is in competition with CCNEO or that provides any product, service or offering of a type that is the same or similar to that provided by CCNEO from time to time.  

During your employment with CCNEO you are prohibited from at any time directly or indirectly working for, assisting or owning an interest in any business or venture that constitutes a conflict of interest.  

CCNEO will determine in its sole discretion whether any work or interest constitutes a violation of this policy. 

Before you begin to directly or indirectly work for, assist or own an interest in any other business or venture other than CCNEO you must notify your supervisor

Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists

After there has been disclosure of a potential conflict and after gathering any relevant information from the employee in question, the Executive Director or Director of Workforce Development will determine whether there is a conflict of interest. 

In determining whether a conflict of interest exists, the Executive Director or Director of Workforce Development will consider whether the potential conflict of interest would raise questions of bias, inappropriate use of the CCNEO’s assets, or any other impropriety.  

If the Executive Director or the Director of Workforce Development determines that there is a conflict of interest, they will allow the employee to address the situation and provide evidence in their favor. They will also share any evidence that is used against the employee in determination of a conflict of interest and the consequences related to the conflict of interest.

If it is determined that a conflict of interest exists, you will be required to dissociate yourself from that particular interest. 

Depending on the severity of the action, you may receive disciplinary action up to and including termination.  You may also be reported to the Office of Civil Rights for HIPPA violations, local law enforcement, or DODD for further action.