home | contact us | about us | 




 











 
FAQs

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE ETHICS IN ACTION™ AWARDS?
NOMINATIONS VS. APPLICATION
ELIGIBILITY
NOMINATIONS
APPLICATIONS: APPLYING FOR AN AWARD
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
AFTER SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION
SELECTION PROCESS
ETHICS CHECK
SPONSORS
AWARDS CEREMONY

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE ETHICS IN ACTION™ AWARDS?

1. Why would/should I nominate a business? What’s in it for me?

There are a number of great reasons for nominating a business for an Ethics In Action™ Award:

Businesses have found that by nominating other companies, they build stronger relationships with their partners, customers, suppliers, distributors …even their competitors. They also encourage other businesses to be good corporate citizens.

As a customer, the Ethics In Action™ Awards provide you with an opportunity to publicly let businesses know that you appreciate and support efforts for exemplary socially and/or environmentally responsible business practices. By nominating a business or business leader for an award, you are encouraging the nominee (as well as other businesses) to be good corporate citizens.

Many non-profit organizations partner with businesses and business leaders, and/or rely on them for support. The Ethics In Action™ Award provides you with an opportunity to recognize these business partners, sponsors, and supporters by nominating them for an award.

All nominations are entered into a draw for two tickets to the Ethics In Action™ Awards gala event on November 2, 2006.


2. What do I receive as an award finalist or recipient/winner?

Press coverage and public acknowledgement:  Ethics In Action™ Award finalists are announced in the press via news releases, and the BC Ethics In Action™ Society runs large announcements/advertisements in key BC newspapers and publications (in past years this included The Vancouver Sun, BC Business magazine, and Shared Vision, and The Vancouver Board of Trade also featured information and announcements about the Awards and award recipients.

All Ethics In Action™ Award finalists are invited to a gala event on November 8 at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in downtown Vancouver.
All finalists are profiled in the event program, and receive an Ethics In Action™ Awards Finalist logo that they can apply to their print materials and website. .
Award recipients are announced and interviewed before 400-500 guests.

Award recipients receive a custom-made award, an Ethics In Action™ Awards Recipient logo, as well as photos from the awards event that they can use in printed materials and website.

Award finalists and recipients are profiled on the Ethics In Action™ website.

 

NOMINATIONS VS. APPLICATION

 

3. What’s the difference between the nominations and application processes? 

Award Nominations:  The nominations process is a very simple and quick on-line process.  Simply type in the name of the business or business leader, select an award category, provide their contact information, and provide one or two sentences about why you feel this business or individual is deserving of an Ethics In Action™ award (max 500 characters).  Go to "make a nomination".
 

After a nomination form has been received (via email) by the BC Ethics In Action™ Society, the nominator received acknowledgement, and the nominee is invited to apply for an award (by preparing the application package)

Award Applications: Nominees must follow up with applications, should you want to be considered for a 2006 Ethics In Action™ Award.

Only businesses (or individuals) that have completed the application package are screened for an EIA Award. 
 

This year we have stream-lined the application process with an online form and accept email submissions for the letters of support.

How to Apply:

1)     Confirm your eligibility by reviewing the eligibility criteria (see question #6 below)

2)       Review the award categories and select the appropriate category for application:

3)       Fill out the application  form for the category of your choice.

A word of caution: we highly recommend that you first save your answers in a word document; then copy and paste them into the corresponding fields on this form.

4)       Follow the instructions for completion and submission of the application, and:

 

5)    Attach two letters of support (For explanation of letters of support, see #35 and #36 below)

6)   Attach full color high resolution business logo (min. 300 dpi resolution)

4.  Must I apply for an award in the category in which my business was nominated?

No. While the nominator may choose one category in which to nominate you, you are welcome to choose to apply in a different category if you believe it better represents your performance.

Please review the award categories http://www.ethicsinaction.xplorex.com/page136.htm,

and apply in the category that best fits the performance of your business (or choose the Individual Impact category if the application is for an outstanding individual).

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

5. Who is eligible to apply for EIA awards?

Mandatory criteria for eligibility:

1.       Business applicants must be located in British Columbia and have been in operation in British Columbia for a minimum of three years.

2.       Individual applicants must be employed for a minimum of three years by one or more business(es) that has /have been in operation in BC for a minimum of three years.

3.       Business must be a for-profit public, private or cooperative enterprise, that principally earns it’s revenues from commercial /industrial activities.

4.       Businesses in the armaments and tobacco industries are not eligible.

5.       Previous nominees, finalists and award recipients are eligible to apply for an award in the same category or in a different category.

6.       Charitable organizations and EIA sponsors and their subsidiaries are not eligible.

6. Are non-profits and governments eligible for awards?

The Ethics In Action™ Awards celebrate good corporate citizens so that others may learn from and be inspired by their examples. We invite award applications from businesses and business leaders adhering to the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and demonstrating exemplary leadership stakeholder accountability in all operations and activities. Socially and environmentally responsible companies consider the full scope of their impact on communities and the environment when making decisions, balancing the needs of stakeholders with their need to make a profit.

To be eligible for an Award a business must be a for-profit public, private or revenue-generating cooperative enterprise that principally earns revenues from commercial /industrial activities. Individual award applicants must work with businesses that fit these criteria.

The Awards seek to honour those businesses that are balancing financial management with environmentally and/or socially-responsible decision-making. The priorities for charitable and government organizations might not require the same profit-motive or requirements for revenue generation, therefore they are not eligible.

7. Can I nominate my own business or an individual in my company?

Yes. Self-nomination and nomination by another are equally valid. Please note: In order to be eligible for an award, all nominees must fill out an application form in the award category of their choice and provide two (2) letters of support.

8. Must the head office of a business be in BC in order to be eligible?

No. To be eligible, a business must be located in British Columbia and have been in operation in British Columbia for a minimum of three years. Previous award recipients include the BC operations of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and Toyota Canada Inc.

9. Can previous nominees (and applicants) be nominated or apply for an award in 2006?

Yes. A previous nominees (from past years), including finalists and winners (see question 13 below) can be nominated or apply again in the same or a different category.

10. Can previous winners be nominated or apply for an award in 2006?

Yes, past award recipients are eligible, although it in applying for an EIA award, it is advisable to select a different category from the one in which the business won in a previous year. Alternatively, you should demonstrate significant changes and advancements so that you are not applying for an award for the same programs, policies, initiatives and business strategies for which you were previously honoured.

3

NOMINATIONS

11. How do I make a nomination?

In 2006, the nominations process is a very simple and quick online process.

Simply go to "Make a Nomination" where you type in the name of the business or business leader, select an award category, provide their contact information, and provide one or two sentences about why you feel this business or individual is deserving of an Ethics In Action™ award (max 500 characters).


After a nomination form has been received (via email) by the BC Ethics In Action™ Society, the nominator receives acknowledgement, and the nominee is invited to apply online for an award by completing the application package. 

Please note:  In order to be eligible for an award, all nominees must then fill out the application form in the award category of their choice, and provide two (2) letters of support.

12. How much time will it take to complete a nomination?

If you have the contact information for the business on hand, the nomination process should take you 5 to 10 minutes.

13. Do I need to self-nominate or can I apply directly for an EIA award?

Self-nominations are accepted, however rather than self-nominate, you may choose to skip the nomination process, and proceed to the application process. Please note: In order to be eligible for an award, all nominees must fill out an application form in the award category of their choice and provide two (2) letters of support).

14. Can a nominator also submit the application forms?

Yes…

If you are a 3rd party nominator…. you may choose to participate in the application process as well. However, you must do so with the cooperation and approval of the company you have nominated.

If you are a self-nominee… simply fill out the application form in the category of your choice and secure two (2) letters of support.

15. How do I know if I should nominate a company in the “small to medium” category or the “large” category?

If a business has 250 employees or less, it fits into the “small to medium” category. If it has 251 employees or more, it fits into the “large” category. If you do not know the precise size of the business, make an ‘educated guess.’ In preparing their award application, the business will confirm the appropriate category.

16. Can a business be nominated in more than one category?

Yes. However, applications are restricted to one (1) category only. The business should then review the award categories and selected the most appropriate category in which to apply.

17. Does the nominee have to agree to, and sign off on the nomination?

No. However, the business or business leader must agree to proceed with the application process, and participate in preparation of the application package.

18. Do I have to do anything more after I submit the nomination?

If you are nominating a business or individual, the BC Ethics In Action™ Society will contact them and invite them to proceed to the application phase of the process. We will also notify the business or individual as to the name of the nominator, however, you are not required to participate further in the application process.

If you so choose, you can work with the business or individual to assist them in preparing their application package.

If you are self-nominating, we will contact you and invite you to proceed to the application phase of the process.

19. What is the deadline for nominations?

The deadline for receipt of application packages is 5:00 pm Monday July 31, 2006. Nominations must be received well in advance of this date, in order to allow the business time to prepare their application package.

20. What happens if my nomination is late?

If your nomination is received in the last few days before the deadline for applications, it is unlikely that the business or business leader will be able to complete the application package before the deadline at 5:00 pm Monday July 31, 2006.

21. How will I know if my nominee is a finalist/recipient?

Finalists will be notified by email, and their names will be announced on the Ethics In Action™ Awards website and in a media release and published in certain media. Award recipients will be announced at the gala event on November 2nd, in Vancouver. Their names will be announced on the Ethics In Action™ Awards website and in a media release and publications immediately following the gala event.

APPLICATIONS: APPLYING FOR AN AWARD

22. How do I apply for an EIA award?

In 2006, the application for an award is an on-line process.
Regardless of whether or not you have been nominated, follow these steps in preparing the application package. This includes the steps outline in #14 below.

23. What goes into the application package?

The application process is as follows:

1)       Review the eligibility criteria.

2)       Review the award categories and select the appropriate category for application.

3)       Fill out the application form for the category of your choice.

4)       Attach two letters of support.

5)       Attach full color business logo (min 300 dpi resolution).

A word of caution: we highly recommend that you first save your answers in a word document; then copy and paste them into the corresponding fields on this form.

24. Can a nominator also submit the application forms?

Yes…

If you are a 3rd party nominator…. you may choose to participate in the application process as well. However, you must do so with the cooperation and approval of the company you have nominated.

If you are a self-nominee… simply fill out the application form in the category of your choice and secure two (2) letters of support.

25. Can a business apply in more than one category?

No. Please choose the one category that best fits the applicant.

 

26. Can a nominated company switch award categories for the application?

Yes, the business or individual should review the award categories and apply in the category that best fits your accomplishments.

 

27. Why do I have to write a 200-word summary when I have answered all the other questions?

This is the last box in the application form. We ask for this summary because if you are selected as a finalist, this summary will be published in the Event Program. If you are chosen as an award recipient/winner, this summary will be posted on the EIA website.

 

28. Why must I submit a logo for my business?

Having electronic versions of the company logo and the 200 word summary, greatly facilitates promotion of your business if you become a finalist. By receiving the logos with the application packages, there are no delays in promoting finalists.

Finalist logos appear in the Event Program and on the EIA website, along with the 200 word summary. Finalists names and logos are also featured in visual displays at the awards event.

29. What happens if I exceed the word limit with my application?

The questions on the application forms are set up to restrict the number of words in the response to each question. When you cut and paste your answers (from you word document to the application form) you will not be able to submit the application package until the word count is within the specified limit.

30. What do I need to send by email?

Nothing. This year, the EIA Awards is an on-line process. We hope helps to improve the envirionmental performance of EIA, and we hope it helps facilitate your application process.

31. Why can’t I send supplementary material with my application? What happens if I do?

The Selection Committee needs to be able to compare all nominees in a category on an equal basis, so only the materials in the application package are considered. The Selection Committee will not receive any additional materials submitted with the application package.

32. How much time will it take to complete an application?

A good application package will take about 3 hours to complete. Some of the work must be done by others, for example the Letters of Support must be completed by other businesses or organizations. If the business has a CSR report and/or keeps good records of its corporate social responsibility activities, the package will take much less time to put together. If the information is not readily at hand, the process might take longer.

If you are a 3rd-party nominator and considering working with a business other than your own to prepare an application package, please get in touch with that business as soon as possible so you can prepare the application together.

33. What is the deadline for applications?

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 5:00 pm Monday July 31, 2006.
All applications are to be submitted online http://www.ethicsinaction.com/apply.html.

34. What happens if my application is late?

In 2006 we have extended the application deadline, and streamlined the application process. Therefore, no application packages received after 5:00 pm Monday July 31, 2006 will be accepted.

35. What kind of help is available to help me prepare my application?

This year we revised the application form to make it more self-explantory. Please review the questions and fill in your response. The last question is simply a summary that introduces your organization and summarizes why you (business or indivdual) are deserving of a 2006 award in the category in which you are applying.  You are also required to submit two (2) letters of support. You will find a sample here.

If you have any other questions regarding the application process or form, you can email your questions to nominations@ethicsinaction.com or phone 604-682-1953 ext. 101.

36. Can I pay someone to assemble the nomination for my business? Do I have to declare that I’ve done so?

Yes, you can pay someone to help prepare your application package. You do not need to declare that you have done so.

37.  Is my information kept private?

The information we collect in the applications package is for the Award applications process only. The Ethics In Action™ (EIA) Awards respects an individual's right to privacy and to the protection of his or her personal information. We are committed to meeting the privacy standards established under the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). However, if you are selected as a finalist for a 2006 EIA Award, the 200 word summary (last box in the award application form) is published in the EIA Event Program and other the EIA website.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT

38.  Do the two “Letters of Support” need to be from people outside of the nominated business?

Yes. The letters of support can come from clients, suppliers, associated businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, government or individuals. We recommend your letters of support come from individuals or groups who can testify first-hand to the positive impacts of the business or business leader’s programs and initiatives.

To review a sample Letter of Support click here.

39.  Can letters of support for an individual be from inside the business?

No. Letters of support from inside the business cannot be considered unbiased assessments of the individual’s impact on the business.

To review a sample Letter of Support click here.

AFTER SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION

40. How will I know if the Selection Committee has received my application package?

All 2006 EIA award applicants will receive an email acknowledgement of receipt of their application package. If anything is missing from the package, that email will also request the missing information.

41.  What happens if my application is incomplete?

If your application package is received before the deadline of 5:00 pm July 31, we will contact you by email regarding the missing information. You will have until the July 24th deadline to provide the missing information.

42. Do I have to do anything more after I submit the application?

No. As long as your application package is complete, you don’t have to do anything more. All applications will be considered by the volunteer Selection Committee, and following their deliberations we will announce the award finalists. Award recipients will be announced at the gala event on November 2nd, 2006 in Vancouver, BC.

43.  How will I know if the applicant is a finalist/recipient?

Finalists will be notified by email, and their names will be announced on the Ethics In Action™ Awards website and in a media release and published in certain media. Award recipients will be announced at the gala event on November 2nd, in Vancouver. Their names will be announced on the Ethics In Action™ Awards website and in a media release and publications immediately following the gala event.

SELECTION PROCESS

44. How does the selection process work?

After all nominations have been received, a volunteer Selection Committee reviews each package and selects a maximum of four finalists and one award recipient in each category.  

45. Who is on the selection committee?

The members of the volunteer Selection Committee vary from year to year. They are recognized experts in their fields of business. Some represent companies that are past award recipients. Some are academics who are expert in business ethics.

The 2005 Selection Committee: 

  • Jennifer Campagnolo, The Higher Ground Consultancy
  • Roxanne Davies, New Directions Business Retraining Association
  • Jennifer Hawes, Coldstar Freight Systems Inc.
  • David LePage, Fast Track to Employment
  • Stephen Long, Royal Roads University
  • Jason Mogus, Communicopia
  • Kathleen O'Malley, ICBC
  • Lucille Pacey, Arts Umbrella
  • Bob Purdy, Fraser Basin Council
  • Kathleen Speakman, BC Technology Social Venture Partners
  • Shirley Weir, Volunteer Vancouver
  • Mark Wexler, Simon Fraser University

46. How are members of the Selection Committee chosen?

Previous members of the committee are invited to return. Additional potential members are solicited from various business networks.
If you would like to be considered as a Selection Committee member, please send email to eia@ethicsinaction.com

All Selection Committee members work as volunteers.

47. How many finalists are selected in each category?

The Selection Committee chooses a maximum of four finalists in each award category. There are seven award categories: two each in Environmental Excellence, Community Care and Overall Leadership, and one in Individual Impact.

48.  What are the criteria for award selection?

The criteria differ slightly from category to category.  Awards criteria are outlined in Awards Categories.

49. How do you verify the claims/descriptions within the application?

To a great extent, we rely on businesses to behave ethically in the process of completing their application package. At the same time, our volunteer Selection Committee is composed of people who have experience and expertise in diverse business sectors, who are sufficiently knowledgeable and well-connected to detect inaccurate claims or descriptions.

ETHICS CHECK

50.  What is involved in the Ethics Check?

Each business or individual selected as an EIA Award finalist or recipient undergoes a screening process that determines whether or not there is evidence of unethical actions, failure to address employee, customer or community concerns; or, evidence of a track record of non-compliance with laws and regulations, or of fines, penalties or convictions.

The Ethics Check does not require any effort by the applicants. The findings of the screening are presented to the EIA Selection Committee, which then uses this information as part of its selection process.

The Ethics Check is conducted using publicly available sources of information including the following: media sources, Better Business Bureau, labour and industrial relations boards, WCB, BC Government, Government of Canada, etc.

51.  Who does the Ethics Check?

The Ethics Check is conducted by IMPACS, the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society, on behalf of the volunteer Ethics In Action™ Selection Committee. IMPACS is a registered charity. The Ethics Check does not require any effort by the business or individual applying for an EIA award.

 

52. If I submit in one category will poor performance in a different category hurt me?

The ethics review checks performance in all areas and a poor performance in one area may jeopardize a company’s nomination in another category. Please review the ethics check screening criteria


SPONSORS

 

53.  Who sponsors the Ethics In Action™ Awards?

EIA Sponsors are businesses and organizations who support what the Awards stand for.  

54.  How can my business/organization become a sponsor?


2006 Sponsorship Application
2006 Sponsor information

For more information on sponsoring the 2006 Ethics In Action™ Awards, contact Jody Henderson.

 

55.  Can a sponsoring business/organization also be nominated for an EIA award?

You might nominate a business without realizing they are a sponsor. The BC Ethics In Action™ Society will advise the business that they have been nominated.  However, sponsors are not eligible to apply for an award in the same year they are sponsoring, as this would be a conflict of interest.

 

56.  Can a sponsoring business also apply for an EIA award?

No. Sponsors are not eligible to apply for an award in the year they are an EIA Awards sponsor. This would be a conflict of interest.


AWARDS CEREMONY

57.  How do I obtain tickets for the awards ceremony?

 

Tickets for the awards ceremony gala event will go on sale in early September. They will be sold online only, via the Ethics In Action™ Awards website. Award finalists will receive complimentary tickets to the event.

58.  When is the awards ceremony?

The BC Ethics In Action™ Society will how the 13th annual EIA Awards gala on Thursday November 2nd, 2006. Check back to this website for details about the event location (in Vancouver, BC), and for ticket information.
© Copyright 2006 Ethics in Action. All rights reserved.