A thought inspired by this thread. Maybe we should have a standard template for a code of conduct for organizations, that we will encourage all rational-sphere and EA orgs to endorse. This template would include, never making people sign non-disparagement agreements (and maybe also forbidding other questionable practices that surfaced in recent scandals). Organizations would be encouraged to create their own codes based on the template and commit to them publicly (and maybe even in some legally binding manner). This flexibility means we don’t need a 100% consensus about what has to be in the code, but also if e.g. a particular org decides to remove a particular clause, that will be publicly visible and salient.
Codes created by organizations can simply avoid topics that are sensitive for them, or describe them in nebulous ways. You can probably imagine a code written by a bad organization that seems nice and is technically followed by the bad organization, mostly because it contains lots of applause lights but not the specific boring things.
I am in favor of having one centrally created document “this is what a decent EA employment looks like”. Of course it is optional for everyone. The point is to create common knowledge. Especially for young people, for whom it may be the first job ever. It’s not to force everyone to follow it, but rather to show that if your employer does not follow it, then it is not normal, if you complain you are sane, and you can do better (while remaining in the EA area).
As I imagine it, most of it wouldn’t even be specific for EA, but rather the common sense that inexperienced people may miss. Such as “you are entitled to a salary, paid in cash, where the specific number is written in the contract”. To prevent employers from saying things like: “you know, this is how it works in for-profit companies, but EAs are different”.
If a particular code doesn’t talk about e.g. non-disparagement agreements, or talks about them in some confusing, unclear way, then people will notice. The point of having a template is precisely drawing attention to what is expected to be there (in particular when it’s not there).
Also, I think we should really strive to be better than for-profit companies (see non-disparagement agreements again).
A thought inspired by this thread. Maybe we should have a standard template for a code of conduct for organizations, that we will encourage all rational-sphere and EA orgs to endorse. This template would include, never making people sign non-disparagement agreements (and maybe also forbidding other questionable practices that surfaced in recent scandals). Organizations would be encouraged to create their own codes based on the template and commit to them publicly (and maybe even in some legally binding manner). This flexibility means we don’t need a 100% consensus about what has to be in the code, but also if e.g. a particular org decides to remove a particular clause, that will be publicly visible and salient.
Codes created by organizations can simply avoid topics that are sensitive for them, or describe them in nebulous ways. You can probably imagine a code written by a bad organization that seems nice and is technically followed by the bad organization, mostly because it contains lots of applause lights but not the specific boring things.
I am in favor of having one centrally created document “this is what a decent EA employment looks like”. Of course it is optional for everyone. The point is to create common knowledge. Especially for young people, for whom it may be the first job ever. It’s not to force everyone to follow it, but rather to show that if your employer does not follow it, then it is not normal, if you complain you are sane, and you can do better (while remaining in the EA area).
As I imagine it, most of it wouldn’t even be specific for EA, but rather the common sense that inexperienced people may miss. Such as “you are entitled to a salary, paid in cash, where the specific number is written in the contract”. To prevent employers from saying things like: “you know, this is how it works in for-profit companies, but EAs are different”.
If a particular code doesn’t talk about e.g. non-disparagement agreements, or talks about them in some confusing, unclear way, then people will notice. The point of having a template is precisely drawing attention to what is expected to be there (in particular when it’s not there).
Also, I think we should really strive to be better than for-profit companies (see non-disparagement agreements again).