Ethics Guidance for Occupational Health Practice 9th Edition - Book - Page 34
2.68. Care should be taken in offering or accepting corporate gifts or hospitality
where a commercial relationship exists or might exist. Larger organisations are
likely to have rules and procedures governing such activity. It is prudent
to maintain a personal register of corporate hospitality and to avoid behaviour
which could be interpreted as being an inducement to actual or potential
clients.
2.69. Occupational health professionals employed by a commercial agency to work
with a client should not use their position to gain personal advantage by, for
example, offering the same service at a lower rate (as an independent
contractor). Occupational health professionals acting as technical advisors in
developing tendering bids must not have a commercial relationship with the
competition. They should declare any personal or professional interests and
must advise objectively on the merits of each proposal.
Transfer of services
2.70. Any transfer of services should be conducted with courtesy, and the abiding
principle should be to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the workers
for whom the occupational health service is being provided. There may be
issues relating to the employment status of an existing occupational health
team and, in the UK, these are covered by the Transfer of Undertakings
(Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) 20.
2.71. The outgoing provider should make every reasonable effort to facilitate the
handover and should not be obstructive. Issues relating to the transfer of
occupational health records are addressed in the Information Chapter.
Resourcing
2.72. The bulk of the expense in the delivery of any occupational health contract is
likely
to
relate
to
the
costs
of
the
individuals
employed. To maintain profitability (particularly in the later stages of a contract
term when margins may have been eroded) it can be attractive to a provider to
reconfigure the skill mix and / or the staffing levels. Whilst such activities are a
legitimate business efficiency practice, it is essential that they are conducted
transparently.
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