Module 1 Working with Lynk As a Lynk expert, you’ll provide on-demand consulting services on an independent basis to Lynk clients. You’ll have flexibility in the engagements you participate in as well as your overall time commitment.
Before you start, please check if your current employer has any policies prohibiting you from participating in Lynk’s activities. If you change jobs during your engagement with Lynk, please let us know by updating your profile immediately as this may affect who you can consult.
Much of the work you will do with Lynk is confidential. You should never disclose information to any third parties regarding:
The identity of Lynk’s clients The content of actual, or potential consultations Information about any actual or potential business investments, trading decisions, or transactions of any client Any other confidential information related to Lynk consultations, Lynk, or its clients Let us know about any follow-up arrangements you might make with clients after a consultation, so that we can ensure you’re compensated fairly and maintain compliance.
I've just stopped working in one industrial sector and now work in another. What should I do?
A) Immediately update your profile with the change B) Update your profile after a while. C) Nothing A) Immediately update your profile with the change
CORRECT Correct! Updating your profile with any changes to your job status or background information (including areas of expertise) will ensure you are matched and recommended for more suitable consultations.
B) Update your profile after a while
CORRECT Also correct. However, you could miss out on consultation opportunities during the time when your profile is not yet updated with the latest changes.
C) Nothing
INCORRECT Incorrect. You will not be matched or recommended reflecting your latest experience unless your profile is updated to reflect the change.
I have recently secured employment with a governmental agency. What should I do?
A) Immediately update your profile with the change B) Nothing A) Immediately update your profile with the change
CORRECT Correct! You may now bear additional obligations and responsibilities as a current employee, advisor or consultant to any government, government department, government agency or any other state entity. Depending on your role with respect to the government agency and the engagement requests, you may or may not be able to participate in paid engagements. You should update your profile as soon as possible.
B) Nothing
INCORRECT Incorrect. If you are, or have become, an employee, advisor or consultant to any government, department/agency of any government, or any state entity, you must update your profile as soon as possible.
Module 2 Understanding Confidential As a Lynk expert, you are responsible for understanding and maintaining confidentiality. Should you have any questions, you may refer to our general definitions and guidelines. If there is ever any doubt on what information must remain confidential, please get in touch with us at dpo@lynkpeople.com .
Confidential information Confidential information is any information that is not known by the general public and should not be shared. This may include, but is not limited to:
Personal information Information about your employer or about any other companies (e.g. strategic plans) Information sensitive to your jurisdiction (e.g. classified military information) Regulatory information applicable to any government or government-linked agency (e.g. proposed policy reforms) See examples of confidential information.
Examples of confidential information (list is not exhaustive):
1. Personal 2. Employer and other companies Earnings forecasts Proposed financing and M&A transactions Product-introduction plans and dates Short and long-term market strategies Technical and performance specifications Results of clinical trials Production and inventory levels Chemical formulas Company reorganization details Gain or loss of a major customer 3. Jurisdictional Classified military information State or national secrets 4. Regulatory Changes in current laws Future policy making Material nonpublic information (MNPI) Material information is any information that:
Could affect or potentially affect the market price of a company’s securities Is relevant to an individual or institution considering investing in a company’s securities, or a current shareholder wishing to sell Could affect the financial fortunes of a specific industry or company, the more likely it is considered “material” If this material information is not yet public it is classified as nonpublic information. Nonpublic information is any information that is not public through filings or public disclosure (including social media). If the information is scheduled to become public, it should not be disclosed before the date it is made public. See examples of material information.
Please get in touch with us at dpo@lynkpeople.com if you are unsure about whether information you wish to share with a client is confidential information or material nonpublic information.
Examples of material information (list is not exhaustive):
1. Quarterly earnings or sales significantly different from consensus 2. Major development specific to that industry A client approached me to participate in a consultation that involves a former employer whom I have left over a year ago. May I participate in the consultation?
A) Yes, since I am no longer employed there, I am no longer bound by contractual obligations to not discuss the company. B) No, since I was once in a position of trust, I should never disclose or discuss what I have learnt there. C) It depends on whether there are any non-disclosure agreements or equivalent restrictions between me and my former employer. A) Yes, since I am no longer employed there, I am no longer bound by contractual obligations to not discuss the company.
inCORRECT Incorrect. Even after you have left a company, you may still be subject to nondisclosure agreements or other obligations with the company. You should check your past employment agreements, employee code of conduct, handbooks, compliance manuals, and any present or former consulting agreements to ascertain your rights and obligations and hence eligibility for consultations.
B) No, since I was once in a position of trust, I should never disclose or discuss what I have learnt there.
INCORRECT Incorrect. While you have the discretion to decide whether to participate in consultations, you may discuss non-confidential information, provided you do not have any potential conflict of intest, and are not subject to any non-disclosure agreements or the equivalent. When in doubt, please contact Lynk with your questions.
C) It depends on whether there are any non-disclosure agreements or equivalent restrictions between me and my former employer.
CORRECT Correct! Provided that you are not subject to any non-disclosure agreements or the equivalent, and that you do not have any potential conflict of interest, you may discuss non-confidential information. When in doubt, please contact Lynk with your questions.
Module 3 Conflicts of interest A conflict of interest is a situation in which you have competing interests or loyalties, professionally or personally. Please review the subject and scope of each request to ensure that no conflict of interest exists. Accept or decline consultations at your discretion.
Conflicts of interest may arise where:
You have an existing vested interest in the topic that the Lynk client wants to discuss The Lynk client is a direct competitor of your existing employer You have obligations not to discuss the topic that the Lynk client wants to discuss Get in touch with us at dpo@lynkpeople.com if you are unsure about whether a conflict of interest exists.
I received a consultation request regarding my view as a customer or user on the functionality, benefits and drawbacks of software that is used widely across the industry (including the company I am currently working for). May I participate in the consultation?
A) Yes, provided the scope of discussion is restricted to the product and you do not discuss your current employer, and are not bound by any non-disclosure agreements or the equivalent that restricts your ability to engage in outside consultations. B) No, because I need authorization from the software manufacturer to discuss the product. C) No, because I do not have a professional qualification in IT or computer sciences. A) Yes, provided the scope of discussion is restricted to the product and you do not discuss your current employer, and are not bound by any non-disclosure agreements or the equivalent that restricts your ability to engage in
CORRECT That's correct! As long as you have obtained all the necessary clearance and abstain from commenting on your own company, you are eligible for the consultation.
B) No, because I need authorization from the software manufacturer to discuss the product.
INCORRECT Incorrect. You do not need the manufacturer's explicit permission to discuss your opinion as a user or customer of their product unless there is a standing contractual obligation or any equivalent.
C) No, because I do not have a professional qualification in IT or computer sciences.
inCORRECT Incorrect. The consultation seeks your opinion as a user or customer based on personal experience and is not dependent on your educational background.
I was approached with a consultation offer, but I am unsure about my potential conflicts of interest. Which of the following documents should I review to fully ascertain my scope of responsibilities, obligations, duties and restrictions? "1) Your current and former employment agreements", "2) Any present or applicable former employee handbooks or compliance manuals", "3) Professional and other codes of ethics and conduct", "4) Any present and applicable former consulting agreements", "5) All non-disclosure agreements"
A) 1 only B) 1 and 5 only C) 2, 3 and 4 only D) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 A) 1 only
inCORRECT Incorrect. You may be restricted by agreements and codes other than those listed in your employment agreement.
B) 1 and 5 only
INCORRECT Incorrect. You may have other rules or codes that you would need to abide by.
C) 2, 3 and 4 only
inCORRECT Incorrect. You will also need to abide by the terms laid out in your employment and non-disclosure agreements.
D) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
CORRECT Correct! You should be comprehensive in ascertaining your eligibility before agreeing to participate in any consultation. If in doubt, you should decline the consultation invitation and please contact Lynk with your questions.
To bolster my credentials, can I name the companies of the users I have previously consulted through Lynk on my LinkedIn profile, resume, or any document conveying my professional experience?
A) Yes, since the projects have been completed. B) No, I may never disclose the client's identity or subject matter of the consultation at any time. A) Yes, since the projects have been completed.
inCORRECT Incorrect. At no point should you disclose a user's identity, his/her employer, or the subject matter of a consultation arranged through Lynk. Confidentiality must be respected at all times.
B) No, I may never disclose the client's identity or subject matter of the consultation at any time.
CORRECT Correct! Confidentiality must be respected at all times.
During a consultation with a user arranged via Lynk expert network, I realized that the business which the user is focusing on has serious underlying issues that I can help with. Having raised this during the conversation, the user offered to retain me as an independent advisor to assist them with restructuring the business. Can I do so?
A) Yes B) Yes, but only if arranged by Lynk. A) Yes
inCORRECT Incorrect. If the consultation was arranged via Lynk expert network, for any kind of consulting, advisory or employment arrangement with a user you connected to via Lynk, Lynk will help arrange the engagement. This applies for a period of one year following the last consultation or engagement with the user.
B) Yes, but only if arranged by Lynk.
CORRECT Correct! If the consultation was arranged via Lynk expert network, for any kind of consulting, advisory or employment arrangement with a user you connected to via Lynk, Lynk will help arrange the engagement. This applies for a period of one year following the last consultation or engagement with the user.
Module 4 Anti-bribery and anti-corruption As a Lynk expert, you are required to abide by anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation including the Foreign Corruption Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act, and all other applicable laws.
When participating in any Lynk engagements or activities, you should not offer or accept any money, gifts or entertainment for the purpose of influencing any government officials, or to obtain any business advantage or inside information. This is considered bribery.
If you are a government official or employee, an employee of a state-owned enterprise, or international public organization (e.g. UN, WHO, etc.), you should never discuss government legislation, regulation, policy, contracts, or other business that you would be in a position to vote upon or otherwise influence.
During a consultation, the user was very eager to source information regarding upcoming government policies in the Telecommunications space. I have contacts in the Ministry of Communications. I might be able to obtain the relevant information, and I may present gifts to these contacts to thank them for their time. This would allow me to secure a follow up consultation with the client. Shall I proceed?
A) Yes B) No A) Yes
inCORRECT Incorrect. Regardless of the reason - offering, paying, promising to pay, or authorising payment of money, gifts, or anything of value to government officials in order to obtain any classified information or an unfair advantage is considered bribery. You should not bribe any government official to obtain any classified information/ information which has not been made public.
B) No
CORRECT Correct! Regardless of the reason - offering, paying, promising to pay, or authorising payment of money, gifts, or anything of value to government officials in order to obtain any classified information or an unfair advantage is considered bribery. You should not bribe any government official to obtain any classified information/ information which has not been made public.
Module 5 Conditions for specific professions Additional conditions apply if you work in specific professions.
Please select the relevant profession if any of these apply to you.
Investment professional Lawyer Accountant or auditor Healthcare professional Employee of a government, state-owned entity or international public organization (e.g. UN, WHO, etc.) Employee of any publicly listed company, including subsidiaries and affiliates None of the above Investment professional
CORRECT You should not give investment advice during consultations.
Lawyer
CORRECT You should not give legal advice during consultations or establish attorney-client privileges with clients.
Accountant or auditor
CORRECT You should not give accounting advice during consultations or consult for clients who you currently audit or have audited in the past three years.
Healthcare professional
CORRECT You should not give medical advice or discuss patient information during consultations. If you are involved in any clinical trials, you should not discuss these trials unless results are publicly available.
Employee of a government, state-owned entity or international public organization (e.g. UN, WHO, etc.)
CORRECT Inform us if you hold one of these roles and can vote on or influence government legislation, regulation, policy, contracts, or other government business. This will affect your eligibility to participate in consultations. You must understand who you will be speaking to in a consultation, especially clients who invest in publicly-traded securities, or advisors to these firms (e.g. management consulting firms and political intelligence consultancies). Clients do not want confidential information from you.
Employee of any publicly listed company, including subsidiaries and affiliates
CORRECT Inform us if you are an officer, employee, or consultant of any publicly listed company, including subsidiaries and affiliates. This will affect your eligibility to participate in certain consulting opportunities.
