06/23/2023

What to Do When an Association's Code of Conduct and Employment Policy Conflict

This can create a major problem

An employee working in the health services office of a national nursing association receives a call from a member who reveals they may have committed Medicaid fraud with a billing error. The member hangs up and does not reveal their name, but the employee cross references the number and finds the caller's information in the association's member database.

The employee happens to be a credentialed member of the association, and their code of conduct or ethics requires them to file a formal complaint to their professional conduct committee when they "have direct knowledge and supporting evidence" of violations to the code.

However, their job at the association requires that the information about the member remains confidential. Is this employee in violation of their association's code of conduct if they do not file a formal complaint?

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.