For Independent Contractors (“Bees”)
At BrightBee, we are committed to maintaining a safe, professional, and supportive environment for our Bees, as well as for students, staff, and administrators at our partner sites. Because Bees work in school and school-related environments, it’s particularly important that Bees adhere to applicable regulations.
This Code of Conduct outlines expectations that reflect our partner sites’ expectations, and describes basic reporting protocols and accountability procedures.
I. Core Expectations
All Bees are expected to:
- Prioritize student safety at all times.
- Maintain professional demeanor and appearance, showing respect to students, staff, and the community.
- Arrive on time and fulfill assigned shifts.
- Follow school-specific policies, including emergency procedures and health and safety protocols.
- Protect confidentiality of student and staff information.
- Report incidents, injuries, or safety concerns immediately through official BrightBee channels.
- Limit personal electronic use during student-facing time, unless required for the role.
- Comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws and site-specific policies.
II. Child Safeguarding & Boundaries
Student safety is BrightBee’s highest priority. All Bees must:
- Maintain professional boundaries with students at all times.
- Avoid physical contact except as permitted by school policy (e.g., safety or emergency situations).
- Refrain from direct communication with students outside of official settings, including text messages, phone calls, direct messaging, and social media interactions (following, commenting, or private messaging).
- Recognize and avoid boundary-crossing behaviors, such as showing favoritism, sharing personal details, or engaging in conduct that could be misinterpreted as overly personal or inappropriate.
- Participate in mandatory background checks and child protection training, in compliance with state and partner specific requirements.
- Report any concerns about student safety or boundary violations immediately to the on-site administrator, as well as BrightBee’s Support Team.
- Understand that repeated inappropriate behavior may result in deactivation or removal from assignments.
III. Accountability
1. One-Strike Policy (Immediate Deactivation)
Behaviors that pose an immediate risk to student safety or site trust result in instant deactivation of contractor status (“One Strike”). Examples may include:
- No-call, no-show for an assignment
- Endangering student safety or well-being
- Harassment, discrimination, or abusive behavior
- Violation of boundaries or touch policies
- Substance use or being under the influence on site
- Gross negligence or abandoning assigned responsibilities
Protocol: Deactivation occurs immediately upon a site incident report. The Conduct Team may follow up for documentation, but account reactivation is not guaranteed.
2. Conduct Team Review
For less severe issues, BrightBee uses a Conduct Team Review. Examples may include:
- Repeated tardiness or late cancellations
- Consistently poor or unprofessional feedback from site administrators
- Violations of site dress code or professional appearance standards
- Improper use of personal electronics
- Not adhering to school/site policies
Protocol:
- Conduct Team reviews the incident report.
- Bees may be asked to provide context.
- Decisions may include:
- Documentation of the issue in the Bee’s record
- Temporary or permanent site restrictions
- Removal from the platform (generally for repeated incidents)
IV. Feedback vs Incident Reports
- Feedback: Constructive notes from site administrators or BrightBee staff, informational only, highlighting areas for attention. Does not trigger formal review unless repeated or severe.
- Incident Report: A formal record of a significant issue affecting student safety, site trust, or BrightBee’s reputation. Triggers Conduct Team review and may result in One-Strike deactivation or Conduct Review protocol.
Protocol: BrightBee may monitor trends in feedback or incidents.
Check out the next articles in the BrightBeehavior Guide for tips to shine bright. Each assignment matters!