Code of Conduct for Teachers & Staff
1.Preamble

• 1.1 PTVA’s Institute of Management believes that for an institute to succeed, grow and excel, it needs to be anchored to its values and beliefs and motivate all its employees to consistently display these values in the course of their interactions with all stakeholders.
• 1.2 The Code of Conduct and Ethics, articulated below, embodies the Institute’s values and beliefs, and endeavours to lay down guidelines for employees to follow in their day to day work life.
• 1.3 All employees are requested to read and imbibe the Code of Conduct and Ethics and follow it in letter and spirit, so as to maintain the highest standards of values in their conduct to achieve Institute’s objectives.
• 1.4 The Institute’s values and beliefs shall act as the guiding principle in the enumeration, interpretation and periodic review of the Code of Conduct and Ethics.

2.Objective

• 2.1 The Institute prides itself on the high standards embodied in its working principles. The Institute expects its employees to adhere to these standards in their day to day activities.
• 2.2 The following Code of Conduct and Ethics is intended to provide guidelines for the professional, ethical, legal and socially responsible behaviour that the Institute expects from its employees.

3.Applicability

• 3.1 All employees on the rolls of the Institute are governed by this Policy.
• 3.2 Employees are the representatives of the Institute and hence are expected to demonstrate high degree of discretion and astute judgment in their dealings.
• 3.3 Although due care has been taken to address most conceivable situations, it is not possible for this Code to cover every situation that may arise. In circumstances where employees are unable to consult an appropriate person in the Institute, they are expected to use sound reasoning and good judgment in handling the situation in the interest of the Institute and its values.

4. Policy Guidelines of Conduct

• 4.1 National Interest: PTVA’s Institute of Management is committed in all its actions, to promote quality education and shall neither engage in any activity that would adversely affect such objective, nor shall undertake any activity or project which is to the detriment of the national interests.
• 4.2 Use of the PTVA’s Institute of Management Brand: The use of PTVA’s Institute of Management name, logo, Intellectual Property Rights and MoUs, if any, shall be governed by manuals, codes and agreements as issued by the Institute. No employee, third party or joint venture shall use the PTVA’s Institute of Management Brand for any purpose without specific authorization.
• 4.3 Social Responsibility: PTVA’s Institute of Management’s Social Responsibility is aimed at anticipating and meeting relevant, emerging needs of the society in the areas of education, community service, health & hygiene and livelihood. The Institute encourages its employees to actively participate in CSR activities.
• 4.4 Competition: PTVA’s Institute of Management shall market its services on its own merit and shall not make unfair and misleading statements about competitors’ services. Any collection of competitive information shall be made only in the normal course of conducting Institute related activities.
• 4.5 Quality of Services: PTVA’s Institute of Management is committed to deliver services of world class quality based on the requirement of its stakeholders which is built to national and international standards.
• 4.6 Equal Opportunities: PTVA’s Institute of Management shall provide equal opportunities to all employees and treat them with dignity. All decisions pertaining to eligibility, qualification and selection of applicants in all matters will be based on merit. No discrimination shall be made based on the basis of community, race, religion or gender.
• 4.7 Accurate and Complete Accounting: Employees shall use Institute’s funds and other property solely for the benefit of the Institute. All disbursements must be lawful and consistent with Institute’s polices.

  No unrecorded fund, reserve, asset or special account shall be set up or maintained for any purpose. No false or fictitious entries shall be made in books, records, accounts, or in Institute communications for any reason. No payment or transfer of funds or assets (such as tangible and intangible) shall be made for any purpose other than what is specifically authorized or is clearly within the discretion granted by the Institute.

  Employees are responsible for accurate and timely record keeping for all Institute’s assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in compliance with accepted accounting rules and controls. All books, records and documents must accurately and completely describe the transactions.
  

• 4.8 Settlement of Expenses: Employees shall settle all the expenses incurred on account of travel, food, etc., on Official Duty as per the guidelines stipulated in the Policy/Policies.
• 4.9 Protection of Intellectual Property: Copyright of all designs, drawings, formulas, charts, methodologies, inventions, etc., shall be treated as “Work made for hire” and the intellectual property rights over the same shall vest with the Institute.
• 4.10 Collaboration within PTVA run Institutes: PTVA’s Institute of Management shall cooperate with all other institutes run by the Parent Trust by sharing knowledge, infrastructure, human and management resources and making efforts to resolve disputes amicably, albeit without adversely affecting its interests and shareholder value.
• 4.11 Confidentiality and Non-disclosure: Employees shall ensure that all information available to them in the course of employment in the Institute are kept strictly confidential and she/he shall not disclose to any party except to the extent necessary for the purpose of due performance of her/his service/discharge of her/his duty to the Institute. An employee of PTVA’s Institute of Management and her/ his immediate families shall not derive any benefit or assist others to derive any benefit from the access to the insider information about the Trust & the Institute, including information which is not available publicly.
• 4.12 Policy and Process Integrity:

  Falsification or Destruction of information – No employee shall make any statement or do any act that encourages or results in unlawful, untimely, false or intentional misrepresentation, concealment or destruction of information in order to deceive or mislead.

  Using equipment and consumable resources : Employees shall ensure that all equipment, resources, and consumable items are used for the work and business of the Institute.
  
  This excludes certain:
  a) Limited, occasional and brief private telephone calls and faxes
  b) Limited and occasional use of a photocopier
  c) Limited and occasional use of the email and Internet system subject to the government policy on use of the Internet and electronic mail

  Using the Internet, Intranet, and Electronic mail : Employees shall avoid using of computers for sending, receiving, and/or copying inappropriate material. Employees will ensure that the transmission of information via communication and information networks and devices are made only if authorized to do so and in accordance with the relevant protocols. Employees will avoid sharing of password with another person, share another person’s password/s, or record password/s which can be misused. The Institute may monitor the use of these networks and devices, and an employee may be called upon to explain her/his use of them.

• 4.13 Protecting Institute’s assets:
  Misuse of Resources – Employees shall avoid any improper, unauthorized or unlicensed use of property or resources for non-Institute related reasons or purposes including improper use of systems and timekeeping.

  Theft – Employees shall avoid any unauthorized removal or taking of supplies, equipment, furniture, fixtures, products, cash, merchandise or other tangible property of the Institute.
  

• 4.14 Unethical Transaction:
  No employee shall assist in the misuse of Institute’s funds, irrespective of the amount involved, including the misappropriation of such funds for her/his personal benefit, or stakeholders. All payment and transfers of premium and other items of value shall be made openly and must be disclosed and duly authorized by the concerned authority.
• 4.15 Gifts and Entertainment:
  Except in connection with and specifically pursuant to programs officially authorized by the Institute, no employee shall accept, directly or indirectly take any money, objects of value, or favours/discounts from any person or other company/institute/organization that has or is doing or seeking business with the Institute. All employees must disclose authorized transactions of this nature to the Institute. All payments or transactions must be consistent with applicable laws and accepted practice and must be accurately recorded in the Institute’s books and records.
• 4.16 Relationship with Government and Public officials:
  An employee of PTVA’s Institute of Management may occasionally contact government and regulatory officials to keep them informed about her/his operations and positions on issues. She/he is responsible for these contacts and must understand and obey the laws governing lobbying activities and reporting requirements. She / He should also be familiar with specific rules set by individual agencies or other governmental bodies.
• 4.17 Public Representation:
  No employee shall, without the express consent of the Management/ Competent Authority, call for Press meets, brief the Press or speak to the Media or participate in discussions, forums etc. in the media, to discuss any issues related to the activities of the Institute or future prospects or projections of the Institute.
• 4.18 Charitable Contributions:
  Although employees are encouraged to be socially responsible and politically active, Employees may not contribute the Institute’s funds or assets to any Charitable Institution or similar Institution, unless such contribution is expressly permitted by law and has been pre-approved by the appropriate, authorized representative of the Institute.
• 4.19 Political Activity:
  No employee shall involve in any political activity directly or indirectly. No employee of the Institute shall canvas for any political party or candidate at any point in time.

  Employees shall not contribute the Institute’s funds or assets to any Political Candidate, Party unless such contribution is expressly permitted by law and has been pre-approved by the appropriate, authorized representative of the Institute.

  Any PTVA’s Institute of Management employee who stands in elections for any public office may do so after informing the concerned authority within the Organization. Further, if elected to the post, the employee has to resign from the services of the PTVA’s Institute of Management to pursue his public / political career.

• 4.20 Regulatory Compliance:
  Every employee shall, in her/his occupational conduct, comply with all applicable laws and regulations, both in letter and spirit, in all the areas in which one operates.
• 4.21 Third Party Representation:
  Third Parties which have business dealings with PTVA’s Institute of Management but are not members of the PTVA’s Institute of Management, such as Consultants, Visiting Faculty Members, Contractors, Vendors and Suppliers are not authorized to represent the Institute without the written permission of the Institute.
• 4.22 Policy against Sexual Harassment and Other Harassment:
  PTVA’s Institute of Management recognizes that Sexual Harassment violates basic rights of gender equality, right to life and liberty and right to work with human dignity as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. To meet this objective, measures shall be taken to avoid, eliminate and if necessary impose punishment for any act of sexual harassment, which includes unwelcome sexually determined behaviour as per the guidelines of the Government of India/ University of Mumbai/UGC/AICTE/DTE, Maharashtra against Sexual Harassment, as deemed appropriate and applicable.

  Other Harassment:
  PTVA’s Institute of Management prohibits harassment of one employee by another employee or superior on any basis including but not limited to race, colour, religion, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability and/or age. The purpose of this policy is not to regulate our employees’ personal morality. It is to assure that in the workplace, no employee harasses another. Harassment includes but is not limited to slurs, epithets, threats, derogatory comments, unwelcome jokes and teasing using verbal/oral/physical gestures or any electronic media.

  The Institute has a Grievance Redressal Committee where the complaints regarding any kind of harassment by a member of the Institute can be lodged by the employees of the Institute.

• 4.23 Whistle Blower policy: The PTVA’s Institute of Management provides a platform for employees to disclose information internally, which she/he believes shows serious malpractice, impropriety, abuse or wrong doing within the institute without fear of reprisal or victimization.
  Suggestion Box are kept at Reception Counter and Library, in case the employees want to make use of them to bring such issues to the notice of the Management.
• 4.24 Ethical Conduct:
  PTVA’s Institute of Management expects its employees to maintain high moral and ethical standards. These standards are characterized by honesty, fairness, equity in interpersonal and professional relationships as well as in our day-to-day activities. Employee of this Institute is supposed to inform in case, if he deviates from the above standard (or if any case is filed against him).

  No PTVA’s Institute of Management employee shall engage himself in any business activity without the knowledge and permission from the Institute. Further, if he directly or indirectly recommends any of his friends / relatives for any business dealing with PTVA’s Institute of Management, he must disclose the nature of such relationships and transactions beforehand.

• 4.25 Dress Code:
  PTVA’s Institute of Management expects its employees to follow a dress code which helps them to work comfortably at the workplace and at the same time project a professional image for our customers, potential employees and the community we are a part of. Hence, it is essential that all employees take pride in her/his appearance and maintain proper dress code and general appearance during office hours. Employees are expected to dress neatly and in a manner consistent with the nature of the work performed.
• 4.26 Environment, Health, Safety and Laws of the land:
  Employees shall adhere to the laws of the land – wherever they are – and shall not violate, cause or any action that impacts the Environment and the Health and Safety of PTVA’s Institute of Management Employees, Customers and at the Community at large.
• 4.27 Substance Abuse:
  To meet our responsibilities to Employees, Customers and Investors, the Institute shall maintain a healthy and productive work environment. Misusing controlled substances or selling, manufacturing, distributing, possessing, using or being under the influence of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job is absolutely prohibited.
• 4.28 Threats and Physical Violence:
  No employee shall use threatening words, or assault or commit acts of violence or possess weapons, firearms, ammunition, explosives or incendiary devices in the workplace, on work premises or in work vehicles or elsewhere.

  The list of behaviour, while not inclusive, provides examples of conduct that is prohibited by this policy:
  1. Causing physical injury
  2. Making threatening remarks
  3. Aggressive or hostile behaviour that creates a reasonable fear of injury to another person or subjects another individual to emotional distress
  4. Intentionally damaging employer property or property of another employee
  5. Committing acts motivated by or related to sexual harassment or domestic violence.

• 4.29 No Smoking:
  Smoking is strictly prohibited in the Institute premises. Appropriate actions shall be initiated against any person found contravening with the policy of this code.
• 4.30 Disciplinary Actions:
  All employees covered under this Code of Conduct and Ethics are required to adhere to the principles and rules laid down in this code. Failure to do so will attract appropriate action including disciplinary action against the employee who is found to violate these principles.
  Disciplinary action may include immediate separation of employment or any other action as deemed fit as per the guidelines of the University of Mumbai, UGC, AICTE, DTE & Ministry of HRD and the rules of the Institute. The Institute will recover any loss suffered by it due to violation of the provisions of this code by any employee.
  Disciplinary Proceedings against the delinquent employee shall be conducted in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
  The employees of the Compliance Committee and/or employees of Audit Committee will be notified of any concerns about violations of standards for conduct of business, ethics, laws, rules, regulations or this Code.