Associate Policies

This collection of policies constitutes part of the employment contract between Syncopated and each of its associates. In exchange for compensation, all associates are expected to adhere to these policies.

These policies are published for evaluation by prospective associates (who should read them in their entirety) and for reference by Syncopated's associates, customers, and suppliers, and interested other parties.

Definitions

Throughout this document:

• "organization" refers to any group of people, including companies, corporations, governmental agencies, educational institutions (colleges, universities and other schools), and not-for-profit organizations;
• "Syncopated" refers to the Syncopated Software Development Corporation, a Texas corporation doing business as Syncopated Systems located in the City of Austin and Travis County, Texas, United States of America;
• "associate" and "associates" refer to a person or people employed by Syncopated, including managers and certain independent contractors;
• "manager" refers to an associate who plans, leads, organizes and controls organizational operations ultimately through delegation to and reliance upon other associates;
• "supplier" and "vendor" refer to a person or organization that provides a product and/or renders a service to Syncopated;
• "customer" and "client" refer to a person or organization to which Syncopated provides a product and/or renders a service; and
• "competitor" refers to any organization now engaged or planning to engage in similar lines of business, reasonably likely to create an adversarial relationship with Syncopated by seeking the same or similar clients and/or associates.

Right to Modify

Syncopated reserves the right to modify any of its policies at any time with or without notice. However, Syncopated will generally attempt to solicit input and suggestions for improvements from and consensus among its associates before making such changes, and to promptly update its publications to reflect changes.

Table of Contents

• Preamble
  • Definitions
  • Right to Modify
• Table of Contents
• Organizational Goal
• Employment
  • Relational Classification
  • Voluntary Employment
    • Grass Often Seems Greener...
    • Terminations
  • Background Investigations
    • Professional References
  • Compensation
    • Commitment to Living Wage
    • Equity
    • Adjustments
    • Pay Periods
  • Ownership Accrual
    • Profit Sharing
    • First Right of Refusal
  • Stipends
    • Redundant Coverage
    • Equipment and Workspace Expense
    • Self-Employment Tax
  • Other Benefits
    • Health Care
    • Insurance
  • Time Off
    • Vacation Time, Sick Days and Personal Time Off
    • Leaves of Absence
    • Snow Days and Other Mandatory Shutdowns
  • Skills
    • Professional Conferences
    • Additional Training
  • Recording and Reporting
    • Time Worked
    • Expenses
    • Gifts
    • Open Doors
  • Personal Conduct
    • Be Responsible
    • Limit Escalation of Conflicts
    • Report Hazards
    • Avoid Conflicts of Interests
    • Project a Professional Image
• Workplace
  • Business Hours
  • Visitors
  • Safety
    • Alcohol and Other Intoxicants
    • Tobacco
    • Firearms
    • Travel

Organizational Goal

Syncopated strives to constantly increase global efficiency, enlightenment and entertainment through applying the best modern science and delivering the greatest possible overall value for its customers and associates.

To achieve its goal, Syncopated regularly researches methods and develops electronic computer hardware and software technologies and products, typically to its customers' specifications. Syncopated re-invests its retained earnings for internal technology research, workflow optimization and speculative product development. Excess profits may be shared among its associates via Syncopated's ownership accrual program.

Employment

Syncopated shall meet or exceed the requirements of all employment laws and provide employment opportunity equally to any well-qualified person without regard to the person's age, gender, ethnic background, religious beliefs or any other factor unrelated to the person's ability to deliver excellent value to Syncopated's customers.

Relational Classification

Syncopated shall identify to each associate the classification of its relationship with the associate using the method prescribed by the United States' federal Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.). According to its publication Independent Contractors vs. Employees, these classifications include:

• independent contractors
• common-law employees
• statutory employees
• statutory nonemployees

Additional guidelines may be found in Employee or Independent Contractor?.

Voluntary Employment

Unless explicitly contracted to the contrary (in very rare circumstances only), an associate is employed "at will", per state law. This means that a given associate or Syncopated may terminate the associate's employment relationship at any time, for any or no reason. Employment relationships should therefore be expected to have lengths limited to the period in which both parties mutually benefit.

Grass Often Seems Greener...

As the old saying goes, "The grass often seems greener on the other side of the fence"; the only way one can surely know what lays beyond is to look. So, Syncopated encourages all associates to regularly research the job market, to interview with other organizations at least once yearly and to discuss their findings and aspirations openly and candidly with their managers.

Terminations

Syncopated shall reasonably attempt to avoid terminating the employment of any associate (such as through a "reduction in force" or "layoff") unless given overwhelming compelling motivation by the associate, including (but not limited to) any material misrepresentation of the associate's educational, employment or criminal history.

Syncopated requests that resigning associates give ample notice and aid in the selection and training of their replacements.

An associate who fails to contact Syncopated within three days of the associate's last expected arrival may be assumed to have abandoned the associate's relationship with Syncopated, thereby initiating a voluntary termination.

Background Investigations

Syncopated shall reserve the right to investigate public records of a prospective or current associate's history including (but not limited to) any criminal activity, education, eligibility to work and licensure to drive an automobile and/or to possess a concealed handgun.

Professional References

Syncopated shall require professional references to be provided for all prospective associates.

Likewise, to the extent allowed by law, Syncopated shall attempt to provide substantively true and complete private references for any given associate or former associate seeking employment elsewhere, including truthful references reasonably likely to affect adversely the person's employment prospects elsewhere.

Compensation

Syncopated shall attempt to compensate each associate for each hour worked a living wage commensurate with the associate's level of education and experience, and accrual of ownership, in addition to all other benefits commonly provided within Syncopated's lines of business.

Commitment to Living Wage

Syncopated shall attempt to compensate each of its associates adequately to sustain at least a reasonably comfortable standard of living at each location in which it does business.

To help decrease local roadway congestion, part of this compensation may take the form of incentives offered for living near Syncopated's workplace and/or commuting during off-peak hours.

Equity

Syncopated shall attempt to compensate each associate commensurate with the associate's years of verifiable accredited post-secondary education (completed in the United States and certain other countries) and years of verifiable professional experience.

The number of years of each associate's education is typically calculated as the number of years typically required to earn the associate's highest degree earned, plus half the number of years typically required to earn any other degree(s) that the associate earned, as summarized in the table below. Each year calculated represents one year of full-time study, which usually includes approxiamtely 15 in-class hours of study per term (semester or quarter). As with most other organizations, Syncopated does not consider unearned "honorary" degrees, credits granted based on "life experience", nor degrees obtained through "distance learning" programs that do not adequately verify the identity of students being examined, such as those typically offered by the University of Phoenix.

Adjustments

The performance of all associates will be evaluated annually during the same period. An additional evaluation of an associate will occur if (and when) reassigned to another manager, preferably with both managers present.

Shortly following each evaluation, the associate's compensation will be adjusted based on Syncopated's estimated rate of price inflation and the associate's performance level during the evaluation period.

Pay Periods

Syncopated shall maintain regular pay periods and post their details in work areas as required by law.

Ownership Accrual

Syncopated proudly extends to its associates a unique, proprietary and unusually progressive ownership accrual program, which is intended and designed to assure the longevity of Syncopated and equitable long-term prosperity of all associates.

Through the ownership accrual program, the degree of an associate's ownership interest increases commensurate with the amount of time the associate works for Syncopated. The ownership interests of former associates diminish as current associates accrue ownership.

Profit Sharing

The degrees of associates' ownership interest shall be used in paying dividends and/or any proceeds from Syncopated's sale or dissolution.

First Right of Refusal

To allow Syncopated to limit its ownership to current and past associates, Syncopated retains the right to purchase an associate's equity at its full book value at the time a transfer of ownership would be made (through divorce or inheritance, as examples).

Stipends

Associates incurring certain expenses will generally be paid stipends to offset their increased financial burdens. These stipends are generally paid based upon an associate's compensation.

Redundant Coverage

Associates who receive comparable health benefits (as provided through a spouse's employer, for example) will generally be paid a stipend equal to 15% of their compensation.

Equipment and Workspace Expense

Associates who regularly use both Syncopated's and their own equipment, workspace, and utilities will generally be paid a stipend equal to 5% of their compensation.

Associates who regularly use only their own equipment, workspace, and utilities will generally be paid a stipend equal to 10% of their compensation.

Self-Employment Tax

Associates who work as contractors will generally be paid an additional 7.5%, representing the additional half of the self-employment income tax that they are required to pay.

Other Benefits

Associates employed directly are eligible to receive benefits in excess of wages and salaries paid.

Health Care

Syncopated pays associates' costs of reasonable preventative and remedial health, dental and vision expenses, provided that all services and/or products billed have been rendered and/or delivered and meet the satisfaction of the associate.

Associates may elect to extend health care coverage to their domestic partners (including parents, spouses, children, friends, and so on), but assume additional costs in doing so.

Insurance

Syncopated shall offer accidental death and dismemberment (a.d.&d.), unemployment and workers' compensation insurance as required by law and may offer additional coverage at its discretion.

Domestic partners may be designated as beneficiaries.

Time Off

Syncopated offers reasonable flexibility when associates require time away from their work.

Vacation Time, Sick Days and Personal Time Off

Associates accrue paid time off based on the number of hours worked.

Syncopated may, on a per-case basis and at its sole discretion, extend additional benefits to an associate for an extraordinary illnesses or condition, but reserves the right to require appropriate written evidence.

Leaves of Absence

Under certain conditions, an associate may schedule a temporary unpaid leave of absence. The maximum length of leave shall be commensurate with the length of the associate's relationship with Syncopated.

Snow Days and Other Mandatory Shutdowns

For various reasons, including to protect the health and safety of its associates, Syncopated may temporarily shut down its operations after notifying each of its associates.

For mandatory shutdowns expected to last more than one week, associates may be eligible to receive compensation from unemployment insurance.

Skills

Due to the extremely technical and professional nature of Syncopated's business, all associates should complete at least a four-year accredited college curriculum. Most associates are best served by degrees in engineering and/or physical science.

Professional Conferences

To maintain professional skills and to promote awareness of Syncopated within its industrial communities, each associate will be expected to attend each year at least one major conference related to his or her area of professional specialty.

Additional Training

Syncopated shall strongly encourage and sponsor the training of each associate in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (c.p.r.) at least once each year.

Recording and Reporting

Time worked and expenses incurred should be recorded contemporaneously. Good-faith estimates may be accepted in the absence of adequate records, but adequate records shall always be strongly preferred.

Time Worked

Spans of time worked should be rounded to the nearest quarter hour, recorded throughout the day and reported daily.

In accordance with federal labor laws, associates may and should allocate five minutes in each hour worked for off-task personal needs such as restroom breaks, personal telephone calls, and so on. If more than five minutes in any hour will be needed, the time should be recorded.

Expenses

Syncopated shall promptly reimburse associates for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the performance of their work, provided that the expenses are reasonably evidenced (through records of cash receipt, and so on) and are "ordinary and necessary and not extravagant" as prescribed by the United States' federal Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.).

Syncopated shall promptly reimburse associates for use of their motor vehicles for business use (not for commuting between the associates' homes and Syncopated's workplace) using the rules and standard per-mile deduction rate prescribed by the United States' federal Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) for the current year.

Gifts

To deter potential conflicts of interests, associates are discouraged from giving or receiving gifts. Any gift to or from an associate should be promptly reported by the associate.

Open Doors

Syncopated uses an "open door" policy, meaning that any associate may contact any manager for any reason at any reasonable time.

Personal Conduct

Associates are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is professional, responsible and courteous toward all others.

Be Responsible

Associates will generally be expected to take responsibility for their own actions, including promptly correcting their own mistakes and discretely informing others of their own or others' actual and reasonably-foreseeable mistakes.

Limit Escalation of Conflicts

If an associate perceives that another person, while acting in good faith, has or may have violated or may in the foreseeable future violate a law, Syncopated policy, professional standard or social norm, the associate should promptly and discretely notify the other person, inviting discussion and potential rectification of the situation that caused concern. These matters should generally be referred to managers only if they cannot be resolved otherwise.

Report Hazards

Any hazards endangering the safety of people or property should be reported appropriately and as soon as practical. Reasonably mark potential hazards.

Avoid Conflicts of Interests

To avoid conflicts of interests, associates should not give, solicit or accept gifts or other consideration in any form to or from any entity with which Syncopated has a business relationship, including (but not limited to) current and prospective associates, suppliers, customers and/or competitors. Associates should attempt to limit these relationships to a level that is professional, collegial and friendly.

No associate or spouse or domestic partner of an associate should be simultaneously employed by nor have any other financial interest in one of Syncopated's suppliers, customers or competitors.

To protect each associate's freedom of or from religious beliefs, religious evangelism cannot be permitted while working or at the workplace.

Use of Syncopated's resources (including computing facilities and office supplies) should be reserved for business purposes. Certain resources may be purchased from or through Syncopated at Syncopated's cost plus up to a small administrative fee.

Occasional slight variances may be permitted, provided that they do not materially affect the performance of any associate's duties or Syncopated's expenses.

Project a Professional Image

To ensure the health and safety of associates while performing certain tasks, associates may be required to remove jewelry and/or don specific dress such as hard hats, safety goggles, face shields, hair nets, coveralls, smocks, aprons, ponchos, shoes, boots and electrical grounding straps (tethered and/or non-tethered) as prescribed by the United States' federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and professional standards.

In place of a formal dress code, associates should use good sense in choosing their appearance, generally following these guidelines:

• While working, at Syncopated's location, or elsewhere representing Syncopated, associates should appear well-groomed and professional.
• Within a reasonable proximity, associates should be free of detectable odors (such as alcohol, cigarette smoke, chewing gum, food, perfumes or colognes), body art (including tattoos and jewelry through pierced flesh, other than up to one on each ear), underwear and parts of the body usually concealed in most public places and/or other professional environments.
• When representing Syncopated in any public setting, clothing worn should not bear logotypes or text other than Syncopated's.
• In part as courtesy and a cue to strangers, long hair styles should be reserved for women and short hair styles should be reserved for men.

Workplace

Syncopated attempts to cultivate working environments that are professional and reasonably comfortable for all people with which it conducts its business.

Business Hours

Associates are encouraged to avoid using roadways during periods of peak congestion, which historically occur from 5:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.. Associates may generally arrive and leave earlier or later, but should plan to work seven hours (not to exceed eight hours) each business day.

The times of day during which work is to be performed may vary greatly and is generally set by associates based on mutual agreement between colleagues. Managers may arbitrate disagreements that cannot be resolved between peers.

Visitors

Any public reception areas shall be available to visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday of each week, excluding shutdowns and most national holidays. Prospective visitors should contact Syncopated to schedule an appointment with an associate prior to their arrival.

Safety

Associates are expected to take all reasonable precautions to assure the safety and security of themselves and people and property around them (including intellectual property) and to help others promote workplace safety. This includes reasonably notifying others of potential hazards observed.

Alcohol and Other Intoxicants

Associates who choose to consume alcohol are encouraged to do so in moderation.

Syncopated shall not hire nor employ any person who consumes illegal substances or who consumes substances illegally.

Associates may not work while incapacitated by intoxicants or illness.

Syncopated reserves the right to require chemical testing of any associate who reasonably appears to demonstrate signs of intoxication while working or within a Syncopated workspace. Further, Syncopated reserves the right to immediately terminate an associate found to be intoxicated (using chemical testing, per local motor vehicle standards) or who appears to be intoxicated and refuses such a test.

Tobacco

Syncopated shall not hire nor employ any person who regularly uses tobacco products.

In accordance with a City of Austin ordinance, no person may smoke within 15 feet of entrances. In addition, Syncopated requires that at least this minimum distance be maintained from ventilation intakes or windows that may be opened.

Firearms

Syncopated shall attempt to create a work environment that deters the commission of violent crimes and other problems inherent to its lines of business. To do so, Syncopated shall not prohibit those licensed to carry concealed firearms in public places from doing so in its public reception areas nor in its private workspaces, provided that those carrying concealed firearms personally assume all liability for doing so.

Syncopated shall not hire nor employ any person statutorily prohibited from possessing firearms.

To protect the safety of its associates, Syncopated shall, whenever practical, avoid doing business with those who prohibit possession of firearms.

Visitors carrying concealed firearms are requested to discretely notify their host associate(s) prior to their arrival.

Travel

While traveling, each associate will be expected to conform to all laws, including posted speed limits.

Syncopated recognizes many serious safety and health risks associated with aviation and air travel, so associates are strongly encouraged to use modes of surface transportation whenever possible.