SPE Code of Conduct for Members

SPE expects its members to exhibit the highest standards of competency, honesty, integrity, and impartiality; be fair and equitable; and accept personal responsibility for adherence to applicable laws, protecting the environment, and safeguarding public welfare in their professional actions and behavior. These principles govern professional conduct in serving the interests of the public, clients, employers, colleagues, and their profession.

In any activity relating to SPE or its programs, activities, or events, members shall:

1. Professional Competence and Qualifications: Offer services only within their areas of competence and ensure the full disclosure of their qualifications.

2. Integrity and Fairness: Be honest, ethical, and fair in all professional matters, communications, and statements.

3. Societal Responsibility and Public Understanding: Put the safety of the general public first, consider the societal impacts of their work, and help to extend public understanding of relevant issues.

4. Public Health and Safety: Advise clients/employers on any actions that may adversely affect public health and safety, taking further appropriate disclosure actions, if necessary.

5. Environmental Responsibility: Recommend measures to minimize adverse environmental impacts of projects and designs, as far as practicable.

6. Public Statements: Refrain from statements made on behalf of SPE, their employers, or clients without consent. All public statements, including on social media, should be done with the highest degree of respect, integrity, and honesty. When making public statements (including posting on social media), SPE members must (i) not disclose confidential SPE information; (ii) express only personal opinions; and (iii) never represent themselves as a spokesperson for SPE.

7. Professional Relationships: Engage in professional relationships without discrimination with regard to any characteristic or activity protected by law. Promote the full exchange of differing perspectives and opinions, regardless of source.

8. Confidentiality: Act as faithful agents or trustees for employers and clients. Maintain confidentiality of materials, not using company, confidential or proprietary material and/or resources for personal gain. Ensure that steps are taken to guard intellectual property rights, data security, privacy, and digital communications.

9. Conflicts of Interest: Disclose to affected parties known or potential conflicts of interest or other circumstances which might influence - or appear to influence - judgment or impair the fairness or quality of their performance.

10. Continuous Learning and Professional Development: Enhance their own professional competence; support the professional development of others.

11. Accountability and Recognition: Accept responsibility for actions, seek and provide constructive criticism, and credit contributions of others appropriately.

12. Legal Compliance and Ethical Practice: Comply with applicable laws, canons, and ethical standards in engineering practice. Support others to do so, and report violations. 

13. Anti-Bribery and Corruption: Refrain from engaging in bribery or corruption, directly or indirectly, always maintaining high professional and ethical standards.

14. Civility and Non-Harassment: Refrain from engaging in any behavior that undermines the dignity and respect of other SPE members or SPE staff, including but not limited to persistent, malicious, or unwelcome mistreatment, whether verbal, physical, or otherwise, that harms, intimidates, offends, degrades, or humiliates another. SPE members must keep all interactions between and among fellow SPE members and SPE staff respectful and avoid offensive verbal, physical, virtual, or written interactions. For more information, please consult the SPE Anti-Harassment Policy.

Violations of the SPE Code of Conduct (even if the complainant does not consider himself or herself a victim) should be reported to SPE’s President at president@spe.org. Reports of violations should include specific details and reference the applicable Code of Conduct item. All concerns reported in good faith will be held in confidence and investigated according to the SPE Conduct Review Committee (CRC) Procedures. The CRC will not consider member complaints against the member’s employer or complaints regarding economic issues.

The CRC Chair is the current Chairperson of the Audit Committee and the other members are the current CEO, President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President. After due consideration, the CRC may impose no penalty, give a warning, suspend the member’s SPE membership for a set period, or permanently expel the member from SPE membership.

Violations of the SPE Code of Conduct by a holder of SPE Certification (SPEC) may result in the revocation of that certification.

— Approved by the Board of Directors February 25, 1985
— Revised by the Board of Directors September 26, 2004
— Revised by the Board of Directors September 19, 2010
— Revised by the Board of Directors September 29, 2013
— Revised by the Board of Directors April 13, 2025