What we want to encourage

JAO will encourage, by means of training activities, feedback or any other positive measures of individual or collective reinforcement, the following conducts which, in accordance with the values of the Observatory, foster a healthy and hostile-free working environment:

13 behaviors we want to encourage

Act at all times with integrity, impartiality and discretion, advocating to protecting and encouraging the JAO’s multicultural and international nature.

Work with honesty and transparency, avoiding – among other bad practices – conflicts of interest, abuse of power and the inefficient use of resources.

Maintain a harmonious workplace together with the other collaborators of ALMA, including third parties such as contractors, subcontractors and visitors, always acting without intimidation, hostility or offence (such as accusations, negative adjectives referring to performance or the attitudes of other people). The managers or supervisors should be models of conduct in this sense, practicing the highest possible standards of conduct.

Provide a workplace that encourages freedom of expression and the respectful exchange of scientific or professional ideas.

Exercise authority fairly and responsibly.

Respectfully acknowledge any professional or scientific contributions and ideas from colleagues and collaborators.

Listening to each other with respect, regardless of the way in which you communicate (in person, teleconferences, e-mails, remote help tickets within the problems resolution system, such as Jira or others, etc.).

Transmit any concern regarding decisions taken by colleagues or collaborators through the proper channels, especially to one’s direct supervisor.

Resolve conflicts constructively, either directly with the persons involved or by using the processes defined in this Code.

Raise conflicts to the supervisors or managers of the Observatory about differences of opinion on work approaches, promptly and respectfully, whenever they cannot be resolved directly.

Handle information properly and carefully, keeping all information confidential when necessary, especially in dealing with commercially or intellectually protected information or sensitive personal data; yet allowing a flow of communications that ease the work of others.

Declare proactively and in due time any conflict of interest that affects or could affect, directly or indirectly, the objectivity or independence necessary for taking a decision within the framework of one’s duties, such as recruiting personnel, promotions or upgrades, purchasing processes or tenders, etc. This includes any close relationships between subordinates and direct supervisors.

Act at all times with due financial and operational diligence, protecting the overall interests of the ALMA Project, with integrity and efficiency whilst responsibly handling resources.

7 examples of expected behaviors

Concept	Definition	Examples (green = expected behavior / red = inappropriate behavior)
Ethics	A series of standards of conduct based on core values that drive decisions, choices and the actions of people and institutions.	A worker witnesses the forgery of a document and reports it to the corresponding persons. Drafting a Scope of Work in such a manner as to ensure that a direct family member gets the contract.
Integrity	Conducts or actions coherent with the moral and ethical rules and principles adopted by people as well as institutions, and which operate as a barrier against bad practices.	A worker takes advantage of his position whilst ordering a certain task to his subordinates, under threat of losing their jobs in the organization.
Probity	Acting honestly, decently, and ethically.	Clocking in/out on behalf of an absent colleague. Using the company’s vehicle only for work-related activities.
Objectivity	Acting free from prejudice, bias or arbitrary preferences.	Reporting an incident over a mistake caused involuntarily, accusing another person we do not like for the serious negligence.
Diligence in the use of resources	Doing more and better with less. Rational and optimal use of the Observatory’s material resources.	A worker purchases more spare parts than necessary by not checking the inventory. A worker never forgets his tools in the AOS to avoid returning in the Observatory’s truck.
Respect and non-discrimination	Treating everybody correctly, without distinction, exclusion or differentiating someone for arbitrary reasons such as race, nationality, ethnic or cultural origin, sex, sexual orientation, etc.	Handing out lunch vouchers to male colleagues only. Speaking in Spanish during a meeting where a small group has no knowledge of that language.
Confidentiality and discretion	Handling information securely, ensuring that only those people authorized by the Observatory gain access to it. Caution and care whilst handling information and data. Especially important is guaranteeing that personal information is not disclosed without the consent of the person involved.	A worker learns how much a certain colleague earns and comments on it in an e-mail to his work colleagues.