Institutional Policies, Rules, Regulations

While ethical considerations are not the focus of this course, ethics as it applies to vendor relationships, is important. Ethics refers to moral principles that govern an individual's, or a company's, behavior.

Earlier in this course, the implementation of a laboratory or institutional policy regulating employee relationships with vendors was discussed. Always be aware of the specific institutional rules/regulations governing your laboratory. The average employee may not be privy to the bigger picture - as represented in one example - where the use of a particular vendor by the US (federal government) may not be allowed because its goods are produced in a country under sanction by the United States.

It is up to the laboratory management to instruct employees as to what possible violations might look like in the realm of the vendor relationship. Vendors must follow institutional rules, and specific protocols such as signing in/out of the laboratory, identification badges, and attending a specific vendor training course provided by the facility or institution. Vendor relationships may involve working on-site alongside employees or working remotely via telephone, email, or electronic video conference calls.