Guidelines for external assignments and other occupations
Guidelines for outside work
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BI considers it important to ensure good working relationships with business and industry and public administration by means of research, reporting, consultancy and other types of services with an academic basis.
From this perspective outside work can make a positive contribution to academic development for both individuals and for the institution’s academic community.
Furthermore, outside work can contribute to promoting and marketing the institution. They may also enhance BI’s reputation as an attractive workplace.
Outside work may also represent an important social responsibility and role on the part of the university and higher education sector.
Employees in permanent full-time positions shall have BI as their main employer.
All outside work activities must accord with BI’s activities and terms of employment.
Employees at BI must not enter into contracts for outside work if such work is in direct competition with BI's activities or is in conflict with BI’s interests in other ways.
Ownership interests in companies that conduct competing activities or that may create conflicts of interest or loyalty are therefore not permitted.
Outside work must not restrict or delay the ordinary work at BI nor endanger confidence in the institution and its activities. The work shall not burden BI’s infrastructure or other resources to any significant degree unless an explicit agreement to this effect exists.
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As part of its managerial prerogative, line management at all levels shall be responsible for following up how these guidelines concerning employees’ outside work activities are practiced.
A significant responsibility shall nonetheless rest on individual employees to evaluate whether the nature of an outside work activity requires approval.
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The individual employee is obligated to clarify with a superior any instance where doubt may exist as to whether an outside work activity conflicts with these guidelines.
In the event of a disagreement over such an evaluation, the President shall have the final decision-making authority.
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Should BI become aware of a possible breach of these guidelines, the person(s) concerned shall be invited to a meeting with their immediate superiors without unreasonable delay.
Notification of such a meeting shall be given at least one week in advance and shall give a brief account of the relevant circumstances.
The person(s) concerned shall be given the opportunity to bring a representative to such a meeting. The purpose of such a meeting shall be to discuss the matters of the case, and minutes of the meeting shall be taken.
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On the basis of such a meeting, the immediate superior shall formulate in writing a proposed decision on the matter and send this to the parties concerned. The President shall be
informed.The person(s) concerned shall be entitled to have full access to all the case documents and shall be given the opportunity to comment in writing on the proposed decision. The deadline for such comments shall be 14 days after the proposed decision has been issued.
The President shall have the final decision-making authority in such cases. The decision shall be formulated in writing and a copy shall be sent to all the parties concerned.
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The body of appeal in connection with such decisions shall be the Board of Trustees of BI.
The deadline for submitting appeals shall be three weeks from when the decision was made.
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To ensure that similar cases are treated as equally as possible, the subject of outside work shall be regularly discussed at head of department meetings and other relevant fora.