Types of conflicts of interest at work
The following general categories of conflicts of interest that you might run into at work:
Financial
When an employee financially benefits from a decision they make at work, there is a financial conflict of interest. They are focused on their own financial gain rather than what could increase profits for their company. A financial conflict of interest would exist, for instance, if a worker offered a client a special deal in exchange for a gift from them personally.
Confidential
When a worker reaps benefits from secret information, there is a confidential conflict of interest. This category includes items like business reports, trade secrets, competitor insights, and other private information. An illustration would be if a worker told a prospective employer the secret recipe of their current employer.
Relational
When an employee favors someone based on their personal relationship, this is referred to as a relational conflict of interest. Family members, close friends, and romantic partners may all be involved in this type of conflict of interest. Strong personal ties between two employees may result in biased judgments based on those ties rather than merit. For instance, a manager may unconsciously or consciously favor an employee’s work if they begin dating.
What is a workplace conflict of interest?
A conflict of interest at work occurs when an employee benefits personally from their position. This sort of circumstance can arise when a person in authority decides what’s best for them rather than what’s best for the company. To ensure they are acting morally, both managers and employees must be aware of a potential employee conflict of interest. You can uphold an environment of equality in the workplace by being mindful of how certain decisions may affect others or be perceived by coworkers.
Impacts of workplace conflicts of interest
It’s ideal for your team to find ways to prevent workplace conflicts of interest. The following scenarios could arise when employees can personally gain from their professional standing:
Examples of common workplace conflicts of interest
Here are some common examples of workplace conflicts of interest:
Conflict of Interest in the Workplace
FAQ
Is conflict of interest illegal in the workplace?
The Act contains a general prohibition against conflicts of interest. Conflict of interest laws aim to limit how much public employees prioritize their own financial interests over the interests of the general public.
What are the 4 things to consider you have conflict of interest?
A conflict of interest arises when a person’s personal interests, such as those related to their family, friends, finances, or social life, could impair their judgment, decisions, or actions at work. Conflicts of interest are regulated by government organizations because they are taken seriously.
Can conflict of interest get you fired?
A person or organization has a conflict of interest when two of their relationships vie for that person’s loyalty. For instance, the individual might be loyal to both his or her employer and the family business. Each of these companies anticipates that the customer will put the company’s interests first.
