Policies & Compliance Acknowledgments
Free Code of Conduct Template (PDF)
A code of conduct acknowledgment documents that an employee has read and agrees to baseline workplace conduct expectations — respect, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and legal compliance.
Download the template
Free, no signup required. Fill in the blanks by hand, or use it below to fill and send for signature.
When to use it
Use this during onboarding or whenever a code of conduct is introduced or updated — a signed acknowledgment is what turns a written policy into something the company can actually point to and enforce.
What's typically included
- Purpose
- Professional conduct and respect
- Conflicts of interest
- Confidentiality
- Compliance with law
- Reporting concerns
- Consequences
- Employee acknowledgment
How to fill it in
- Fill in a real name or role for reporting concerns (manager, HR, or a compliance contact) — a code of conduct that says "report it" with no named path tends to go unused when it matters most.
- Keep the anti-retaliation line in the reporting-concerns section — it's there specifically to encourage good-faith reporting, and removing it undercuts the section's purpose.
- If your company already has a separate confidentiality agreement or harassment policy, this code is meant to work alongside them, not replace them — the confidentiality section here explicitly references "any separate confidentiality agreement you've signed."
This document involves employment or workplace-compliance obligations that vary by state and by employer size. It is a general starting point only — not legal advice — and should be reviewed by an employment attorney licensed in your state before use.
Frequently asked questions
Does this replace an anti-harassment policy required in our state?
Not necessarily — several states require specific anti-harassment policies and training with particular content (sometimes annual sign-off). This code of conduct covers general professional conduct expectations, but check whether your state requires a dedicated, more detailed harassment policy on top of it.
What happens if an employee reports a concern under this code?
The policy states that the company prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith — fill in a real contact so employees know exactly who to report to, since an unclear reporting path discourages use.
Is an electronically signed code of conduct acknowledgment legally binding?
Yes, under the U.S. ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, the same as any other signed policy acknowledgment.
Ready to use this template?
Every word is editable before you send — this is a starting point, not a final draft.