Chapter 3: Standards Of Conduct

All merchandising companies have established Standards of Conduct. Standards of conduct are necessary to help everyone work together as a team and to protect merchandisers and customers.

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated by your merchandising company. Unacceptable behavior is defined as:

"Any personal conduct which substantially impairs the merchandiser’s ability to function effectively by reason of its detrimental effect either on the merchandiser’s relationship with other team members or on the reputation of your company."

Examples of unacceptable behavior may include but not be limited to the following:

• Unauthorized absences from work (if you cannot show up for work, it is your responsibility to get hold of your team lead/supervisor immediately)
• Merchandisers are strictly prohibited from possessing, using alcohol or illegal drugs during working hours (this includes non-prescribed drugs and inappropriate use of over-the-counter drugs while working, operating a company vehicle either leased or owned by the company).
• Dealing in illegal drugs, regardless of whether such conduct occurs during or after working hours, is likewise prohibited.
• Sharing of confidential/proprietary information about your company, the employees or it’s customers and clients
• Leaving before your scheduled time or abusing break and meal times
• Damaging or destruction of company property, including tools, computers, PDA’s or any other property belonging to the company
• Bringing personal firearms, weapons onto the client’s property
• Theft
• Insubordination to your supervisors or to the store management
• Disregarding company’s policies on use of company credit cards or company vehicles

Harassment
Your company has a policy on providing a work environment free from offensive conduct and will not tolerate harassment of any kind.

Offensive behavior is prohibitive by law and includes harassment based on sex, age, race, national origin, religion, sexual preference, disability, marital status or membership in other protected groups.

Merchandisers are expected to adhere to your company’s policies regarding harassment in the work place and after hours behavior towards your team members, vendors, customers and clients.

Examples of harassment include but are not limited to:

• Inappropriate verbal conduct which includes derogatory jokes, comments or sexual innuendoes
• Pressuring a person for sexual activity
• Unwelcome touching, hugging, blocking movements of a person while working or constant brushing up against another’s body
• Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements
• Disparaging remarks to a person about his/her gender or body
• Threats to submit to sexual favors as a condition of one’s employment

If a merchandiser experiences or witnesses offensive behavior by another merchandiser, by a supervisor or store management, by a customer or any other person whom he/she encounters but does not feel able to deal with the offensive behavior directly, the merchandiser should follow your company’s policy on who is the appropriate person to contact.

Every report of offensive behavior will be taken seriously and investigated. The facts shall determine the necessary response and actions.

Dress Code and Grooming
Your company’s reputation is maintained by the image its merchandisers present to the clients, customers and team members. Therefore, it is extremely important that you dress in a professional manner at all times.

Know your company’s policy on dress code and grooming. As a professional merchandiser, it is important to:

• Maintain a neat and clean appearance
• Use good judgment in selecting on-the-job clothing
• For safety reasons, bare upper arms and legs, open toed shoes or flip-flop sandals are not allowed.
• Cutoff or ripped jeans, tee shirts with off-color or offensive wording, halter or tank tops and swimwear are considered inappropriate at any work site.
• Torn, tattered or dirty clothing is never acceptable.
• Revealing clothing is unacceptable.
• Proper undergarments must be worn at all times.
• Hair must be clean and appropriate for a business setting.
• Wear your name tag at all times.
• Don’t wear strong smelling perfumes or after shave/cologne.

Merchandising companies will have their own policies on dress code and grooming standards. Merchandisers will need to check with their respective merchandising company on policies that refer to:

• Hats, sunglasses, and jewelry
• Body piercing and nose rings
• Clothing items for a specific client; such as vests, name tags, etc.

In summary, as a merchandiser you are expected to:

• Meet the quality and productivity expected by your company
• Demonstrate the values and mission-statement of your company
• Conduct yourself as a professional, qualified and customer-driven merchandiser
• Dress professionally and follow company policies on grooming
• Know your company’s policy on harassment and offensive behavior

When you have completed this chapter, click here to begin Chapter 4; Time Management Skills.