RW Caldwell Associates (RWCA) abides by the following Professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice established collaboratively between RWCA, Career Partners International, and the Association of Career Management Consulting Firms International. This Code applies to all businesses which RWCA practices.

Professional Code of Ethics

A CPI Partner firm (assume "and its employees") remains aware of the unique dual relationship that it has with corporate clients and individual candidates. The firm remains mindful of the need to provide professional service to each without comprising the other.

CPI Partner firms commit to respect the confidential nature of information communicated by both the corporate client and the individual candidate. "Privileged information" will not be passed to a third party, utilized for personal gain, or passed to another person for his or her personal gain.

Although a CPI Partner firm may assist a corporate client with pre-termination planning, or other corporate consulting services, the partner firm will not participate, in any way, in the separation decision that is the exclusive responsibility of the corporate client.

A CPI Partner firm will accept only those assignments it is qualified to undertake based on full knowledge of the client's reasons for requiring services, the candidate's situation, and the professional competence and capability of the consultants involved.

A CPI Partner firm accepts only assignments that can be undertaken immediately or explains clearly when such new work can begin.

A CPI Partner firm will begin an assignment only after the expressed agreement of the sponsored candidate and the commitment of the corporate client.

A CPI Partner firm clearly designates which consultant will have primary responsibility for coordinating the services provided to any particular individual or group of individuals.

A CPI Partner firm commits to keeping the corporate client informed on a regular basis regarding progress of assignments currently being handled.

A CPI Partner firm treats with respect, dignity, and equal opportunity all individuals referred to them for the provision of outplacement, coaching, or recruitment services.

A CPI Partner firm commits, on behalf of its staff, to encourage all service providers within its employ to address issues of professional development that will allow them to keep current with new means of service delivery.

A CPI Partner firm presents its individual consultants and firm’s qualifications openly, clearly, and without embellishment to all those with whom they intend to do business.

CPI Partner firms may advertise. Any such advertising shall, however, be conducted in a professional and fair manner and in conformity with federal, state and local laws and regulations.

CPI Partner firms must engage in firm promotions, public relations, and business activities in a manner that involves no representations, expressed or implied, that are false, deceptive, unsubstantiated, or that otherwise have a capacity to mislead.

Articles and interviews with the media will be conducted with dignity and discretion to reflect favorably upon the CPI Partner firm, the various clients served, and the career management services profession. Corporate client and/or candidate approval will be obtained before discussion of specific assignments.

It is the policy of CPI Partner firms to promote free and fair competition in the provision of career management services. No partner will demean or denigrate their competition publicly or privately.

CPI Partner firms will not engage in any unlawful restraint of trade, unfair methods of competition, or other violations of antitrust laws.

Each CPI Partner firm will comply with all applicable laws relating to the conduct of business within their state, province, or country.

Standards of Consulting Practice

Corporate Client Relationships and Fees
CPI Partner firms (assumes all its employees) will abide by all laws.

Integrity and a high degree of professionalism will characterize the activities of CPI Partner firms. Partner firms are cognizant of the confidential nature of the corporate confidences they share and will be responsible for their safekeeping.

The scope of service to be provided for a client company, including fee, shall be contracted in advance of the assignment and related to the objective needs of the individual candidate or project.

A CPI Partner firm will not accept payment, nor keep payment, for services it does not perform.

CPI Partner firms will not give nor accept gifts of value or perceived value except in conformance with ethical standards and acceptable business practices.

A CPI Partner firm will control reports given to client companies regarding candidate progress and will communicate this fact to the client during the engagement stage of a project. Partner firm feedback will not include confidential information about candidate job or industry preference, interview specifics, psychological assessment, medical/ personal matters, or lawsuits or threats thereof.

CPI Partner firms will avoid conflicts of interest. No firm will enter into a fee arrangement that may prejudice, or be perceived to prejudice, the independent professional relationship that exists between a partner firm and a candidate being served.

CPI Partner firms will close out individual candidate files, following cessation of service delivery, in accordance with lawful records retention practices.

Consulting Relations
The scope and duration of service to be provided by a CPI Partner firm will be communicated fully to individual candidates at the onset of their assignment. Adjustments to service levels will only be made with corporate client approval and full disclosure to the candidate.

A CPI Partner shall not knowingly accept an assignment that it is unlikely to complete successfully. For example, if an individual candidate appears to need medical and/or psychotherapeutic assistance, the firm shall candidly discuss the particulars of the case with the sponsoring organization (with due regard for the privacy of the individual candidate) together with the limitations of career management consulting in the case. Should the assignment be continued, the partner has the responsibility to establish clearly what shall be the respective responsibilities of the parties involved.

A CPI Partner firm assumes responsibility for serving the interests of individual candidates, including a candidate’s right to confidential treatment of certain information, and communicates clearly this responsibility to sponsoring organizations.

A CPI Partner firm will recognize and honor the diversity of its clients, candidates, and employees.

A CPI Partner firm assumes responsibility for counseling and aiding candidates in their planning for, and choice of, their future careers. However, counsel will be free of subjective opinion, suggestion, or innuendo, and fully respect all candidates’ autonomy for independent career decision-making.

CPI Partner firms will be good corporate citizens, recognizing that the communities in which they work are the same communities in which they live. Partner firms are encouraged to give their talents and resources (including financial where possible) back to the communities that they serve.

A CPI Partner firm shall have formal and effective means for assuring the professional quality and integrity of the services it provides. These means may include, but need not be limited to, internal review by supervisors or peers and surveys of candidate satisfaction during and after the provision of career management consulting services.

CPI Partner firms will observe a special sensitivity regarding the unique role a consultant performs for a candidate. Relationships will remain strictly business, avoiding personal attachments or assumptions that could lead to inappropriate behavior.

Business Development Practices
CPI Partner firms commit themselves to maintaining unquestioned ethical standards in business development. No business development practice that adversely affects another partner, or which conflicts with purposes and standards of Career Partners International, will be engaged in by a partner firm.

CPI Partner firms will compete based on firm strengths, not based on competitor weaknesses. Partner firms will not denigrate nor criticize competitor firms, their products, nor their personnel.

Advertising by CPI Partner firms shall be factual, dignified, and otherwise consistent with the purpose of the partnership. Partner firms will characterize its products, capabilities, and people accurately and ethically.