Code of Professional Conduct

The National Payroll Institute’s Code of Professional Conduct provides principles of professional conduct by which Members will conduct themselves.

The Code of Professional Conduct provides minimum standards of professional behaviour for Institute's Members. They apply to all Members and Students of the Institute.

Read on to learn more about these standards

Members shall:

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner consistent with this Code and will strive to enhance the image of the Association and its Members.
Comply with the By-laws and the Code of Professional Conduct of the Institute as amended from time to time, and with any order or resolution of the Board or its committees under the By-laws.
Act in the interest of employees, employers and interested third parties, and shall be prepared to sacrifice their self-interest to do so.
Avoid conflicts of interest.
Not make public statements or comments which may be interpreted as representing the Institute or its views, except when authorized to act as an official spokesperson.
Notify the Institute of any breach of the Code by another Member, or any other situation of which the Member has sufficient knowledge which appears to put in doubt the competence, reputation or integrity of Members.
Not issue a communication on any payroll information, whether for publication or not, when the information is prepared in a manner which might tend to be misleading. It is recognized that, under exceptional circumstances, compliance with this rule may place a Member in a difficult position in relation to the Member's employer. Nevertheless, it is a breach of professional duty if the Member becomes associated with any letter, report, statement, or representation which the Member knows, or ought to know, is false or misleading.
Employ their technical expertise with due professional care and judgment.

Members shall:

Have a fundamental responsibility to act with trustworthiness, integrity and objectivity.
Not permit their name to be used with, participate in, or provide services to, any activity which they know, or which a reasonably prudent person would believe to be unprofessional or unlawful.
Not discriminate against a person for any reason, and shall adhere to the guidelines as set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom.
Report to the Professional Conduct Committee any situation the Member has sufficient professional knowledge of and which the Member thinks may be detrimental to the Institute and its Members.

Members shall:

Respect personal and confidential relationships that may arise in business or professional activities as defined by privacy legislation, company policy and/or professional practice.
Not disclose or use any confidential information concerning the affairs of any employee, former employee, employer or former employer except as described in this section.
Disclose the employer's or employee's affairs: (a) where disclosure is compelled by a process of law or by a statute; or (b) where such information is required to be disclosed by the Professional Conduct Committee and the Board of Directors of the Institute in the proper exercise of their duties, unless such disclosure shall contravene the applicable Privacy Legislation of the jurisdiction the infraction takes place.
A Member is not prohibited from disclosing the employer's or employee's affairs: (a) where properly acting in the course of the duties incumbent on a Member; or (b) where a Member becomes aware of apparent or suspected unprofessional activity. Before making such a disclosure, a Member should obtain advice from senior management within their organization in accordance with the policies and procedures of that organization, and then, if necessary, seek the advice of outside legal counsel as to the Member's duties and obligations as a member of the Institute subject to this code of Professional Conduct. A Member so doing shall not be in violation of this Rule regarding confidentiality by reason only of the seeking or following of such legal advice or reporting.
Members who handle money or other property in trust shall do so in accordance with the terms of the trust and the general law relating to trusts. These Members shall maintain such records as are necessary to account properly for the money or other property.
In accordance with the policies established by the Institute, a Member who holds a National Payroll Institute designation shall maintain a professional standing by participating in Continuing Professional Education (CPE) as defined by the Board of Directors.
Not be associated with information which the Member knows, or ought to know, to be false or misleading, whether by statement or omission.
Immediately disclose any material discrepancy that becomes known to the Member concerning payroll information on which the Member has issued a communication, or with which the Member is associated.

A Member shall be subject to disciplinary action under the Discipline Process of the Association for any offence which constitutes a breach of professional conduct.

A Member who has been found guilty or granted an absolute or conditional discharge of any criminal or similar offence which may cast doubt as to that Member's honesty, integrity or professional competence, shall promptly inform the Institute in writing of the conviction, finding of guilt or discharge, as the case may be, when the right of appeal has been exhausted or expired. In such cases, the Member may be charged under the discipline process with professional misconduct by the Professional Conduct Committee. In such cases, satisfactory evidence of the conviction, finding of guilt or discharge issued by any competent court shall be sufficient evidence of the conviction and the perpetration of the offence.

Unprofessional or similar offences may include, but are not limited to, the following offences:

activity that is not consistent with the Academic Honesty Policy of the Institute;
fraud, theft, forgery or income tax evasion;
violation of the provisions of any securities legislation; or
any criminal or similar offence for conduct in, or related to, the Member’s professional capacity, or for conduct in circumstances where there was reliance on the Member’s Membership in, or affiliation with, the Association.

The Chair of the Professional Conduct Committee will convene a meeting of the Committee to conduct an investigation. The Committee must submit a written report to the Chair within 30 days of completion of the investigation. The Professional Conduct Committee will recommend through the Chair to the Board of Directors of the Institute, the recommended actions, which could include the suspension or termination of membership. The President will give the Board’s decision to all parties within 30 days of receiving this report.

Academic Honesty Policy

The policy established by the National Payroll Institute’s Certification Department that outlines the responsibilities of those in academic study with the Association.

Board

The Board of Directors of the National Payroll Institute.

Code

The Code of Professional Conduct of the Institution, as amended from time to time.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

The formal process as defined by the NPI's Board of Directors whereby members who have attained the NPI certifications are required to earn credit hours of new professional learning based on established criteria.

Member

A Member is a person or party as defined within Section 4.1 of the Institute’s By-Laws.

Professional Conduct Committee

The Committee established by the Institute to monitor this Code.

Professional Services

Any services performed or offered to be performed by a Member for an employee or employer, where the public or the Member’s employer is entitled to rely on the Member’s Membership in the Institute as giving particular competence.

Student

An individual who is enrolled in the Institute’s program of professional studies. A student must observe these Rules except where the wording of any Rule makes it clear that it specifically relates to Members or there is a specific exception made in a particular rule.

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