RFMA Ethics and Policies

It is the responsibility of each RFMA member to read and understand these guidelines as written in the RFMA Ethics and Policies.

The Restaurant Facility Management Association (RFMA) represents a group of facility professionals and Vendor companies dedicated to advancing industry awareness of restaurant facility management, while promoting professional and ethical standards.

With this in mind, the following policies and guidelines have been established to promote the growth of all our members and their business endeavors.

Code of Conduct

All RFMA members are to comply with the Code of Ethics at all times. When in doubt, members have the responsibility to seek clarification from RFMA. RFMA members shall always treat each other professionally and shall abide by the Mission Statement. RFMA members shall govern themselves by our goals and by-laws of the association and shall support the objectives of its Board of Directors and the interests of the association.

In all our business dealings, RFMA members will:

1. Treat everyone fairly, with honesty and respect.
2. Avoid any unfair or deceptive practice.
3. Follow the proper grievance reporting process.

Nondiscrimination Policy

RFMA is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, and disability, veteran or draft status.

Meeting Etiquette

1. All members shall conduct themselves in accordance with the RFMA Code of Ethics.
2. All members must be registered and all fees current in order to attend RFMA meetings and conferences.
3. Falsifying a membership application and/or registration form is subject to an internal grievance review and possible penalty.
4. All members are prohibited from attending or sponsoring any functions that are not sponsored by RFMA during official hours at RFMA meetings or events.
5. No vendor shall take advantage of exhibiting time to bring restaurateurs from the aisles or other vendor exhibiting areas to their own exhibiting area.
6. Conference badges must be properly displayed at all times and cannot be shared.
7. Non-Exhibiting vendor members are not allowed on the exhibit floor.

Usage Policy

1. The RFMA logo shall not be used without the express written consent of RFMA. Contact RFMA for the required Licensing Agreement or click here to download the form for vendor corporate allied members and click here to download the form for restaurant professional members.
2. RFMA Conference Exhibitors may use the pre-attendee and post-attendee lists to send emails. These emails may be sent one time before and one time after the conference, and lists are not to be shared with any third-party individuals or companies
3. The RFMA Member Directory is for use only when making personal contact with another RFMA member and is not to be used for bulk emails or shared with any third-party individuals or companies.

Media Policy

1. The Restaurant Facility Management Association (RFMA) reserves and exercises the right to limit media involvement or participation at any or all of its functions.
2. RFMA provides a direct access contact for any magazine and/or media related questions through its business office in Plano, Texas. Phone (972) 805-0905.
3. Members may use RFMA website materials for their or their company’s exclusive use, provided that the materials are not republished without prior written consent of RFMA. Furthermore, all copyright and other proprietary notices must be kept intact.

Social Media Policy

Social media has become extremely popular because it allows people to connect in the online world instantly to form relationships for personal and business purposes. It can take many different forms, including internet forums, weblogs, social blogs, podcasts, pictures, and videos. RFMA staff and members who use social media channels are asked to exercise personal responsibility and to follow this policy and any other guidelines that are in place to ensure effective and appropriate usage.

All defamatory postings will be removed from RFMA social media content, at RFMA’s discretion. Defamatory postings include, but are not limited to, those that are: racist, sexist, threatening, insulting, unlawful, and violating another’s privacy.

RFMA staff and members shall:

• Respect their audience
• Uphold the RFMA Values and Code of Ethics
• Use good judgment and appropriate language
• Ensure that their profile and any content posted are consistent with the professional image they present in respect to their association with RFMA

• When making comments or opinions, be sure to identify these as their own and not those of RFMA. Consider using a disclaimer if appropriate, such as "The views expressed in this blog are my own and not those of RFMA”

RFMA staff and members shall not:

• Upload content deemed disruptive, threatening, abusive, harassing, obscene, libelous, or an invasion of another's privacy
• Use RFMA’s name in a derogatory manner nor defame or disparage RFMA or it’s members / staff
• Upload content deemed confidential by RFMA
• Infringe the intellectual property of any organization, company or individual – this can create liability
• Use RFMA logos, brands, slogans or other trademarks without RFMA’s prior written consent
• Breach data protection requirements (for example, never disclose personal information about a colleague / member online)
• Breach any other laws or ethical standards (for example, never use social media in a false or misleading way, such as by claiming to be someone other than yourself or by making misleading statements)

Please notify RFMA immediately at rfmamanagement@rfmaonline.com of any negative or inappropriate postings that may jeopardize the association.

Grievance Reporting Policy

RFMA membership is a privilege not a right and may be suspended or terminated with cause.

Grievances may be filed against individual RFMA members or companies for violations of the Code of Ethics during RFMA functions or at any other time outside of a RFMA event when a member feels that another member has violated the Code of Ethics. Grievances must be filed in writing through one of the following channels:

1. Grievance forms are located at the RFMA booth during conferences or on the RFMA Website under About Us / Code of Ethics, at the bottom of the page.
2. File grievance by emailing form to rfmamanagement@rfmaonline.com or by faxing form to (972) 805-0906.

Grievance Process
The following process will be followed upon receipt of a filed grievance or when the staff or board discovers a violation directly:

1. Grievances shall be reviewed by the Ethics Committee of the Board of Director’s, which is chaired by the Immediate Past Chair and includes two other previous Chairs.
2. The Ethics Committee may make further inquiries before determining how to proceed, and will make a recommendation to the full Board of Directors if any disciplinary action is advised.
3. Should the Board decide that further action is necessary, they may choose disciplinary action up to and including suspension or revocation of membership.

The Ethics Committee of the Board of Directors will also have the option to recommend disciplinary action up to and including suspension or revocation of membership against any RFMA member or company that submits or falsifies allegations. Download a GRIEVANCE FORM.