Candidates for the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics will be evaluated by a panel of judges independent of BBB staff or board members against the following criteria:
Please provide documentation in the following categories. Below are suggestions of areas to address. Not all areas are required in order for a company to compete. Contact the BBB staff for assistance.
1. Management Practices. (if you are the owner of a company with no employees, explain how ethics are used in everyday business practices.)
o Pertinent sections from an employee handbook, company manual or training program (formal or informal) showing how ethics policies are communicated to and implemented by employees.
o Formal training and/or procedures used to address concerns an employee may have in dealing with an ethical dilemma.
o The existence of an Ethics Officer, Compliance Officer or Ombudsman should be noted, along with information concerning the responsibilities and authority of this position.
o Formal or informal management practices and policies that foster positive employee relations.
o Employee benefits and/or work place practices which contribute to the quality of family life.
o Actions by the business to assess risks and take appropriate actions to prevent workplace injury.
o Examples of sound environmental practices.
2. Customer/ Vendor/ Supplier/ Shareholder Relations.
o Examples of how your business has prospered because of your belief in honesty, integrity and doing the right thing.
o Complimentary feedback from customers, vendors and/or suppliers.
o Company policies and practices that assure excellence in quality products and/or services, and demonstrate accountability to customers, vendors and suppliers.
o Actions taken by your company showing that it went "beyond the call of duty."
o Examples of cases where your company had to make tough decisions that had negative short-term consequences and led to long-term benefits.
o If your company is publicly traded, discuss how the corporation demonstrates accountability to shareholders and adheres to good governance practices.
3. Marketing/ Advertising/ Communications/ Sales Practices.
o Descriptions of the methods your company uses to assure all sales, promotional materials and advertisements are truthful and accurate.
o Examples of efforts by your company to improve communications, advertising, marketing and sales practices which benefit your industry as a whole.
o Sales training policies and/or codes of ethics used by sales personnel that ensure all transactions are made in an upfront and ethical manner.
4. Reputation within Industry and Community.
o Articles in trade, industry publications and news media that reflect your reputation in your industry and community as an ethical business.
o Awards, recognition and/or complimentary letters from others within your industry or trade group.
o Recognition for charitable and/or community service projects.