We know and trust that you’re always working toward the best future for Buffer. We also recognize that bias is real and often can’t be helped!

If you have a personal or financial interest in a particular subject, tool, situation, or person that would be useful for the team to know as it relates to company decisions, please let us know.

This might come up in a number of different ways, like:

• Owning shares of stock in a company that might do business with Buffer
• Owning shares of stock in a company that might compete with Buffer
• Strongly advocating for job applicants with whom you have a deep connection (partners, family members, etc.)
• Participating in the interview process for job applicants with whom you have a deep connection (partners, family members, etc.)
• Making decisions regarding Buffer product discounts, refunds, or extended trials for causes or individuals you're close to

It’s awesome to build relationships in the SaaS world, invest in companies you believe in and connect to the greater Buffer community, and we expect situations like this will happen quite often! In the spirit of Buffer trust and transparency, let’s share openly with one another so we can all have full context and make the best, unbiased decisions.

If you find yourself in a situation like this or one similar, share the situation with your lead and/or anyone you might be working on the project or decision with. This might look like saying something like:

• “I don’t think I should be the sole decision maker about whether we go with Tool Provider A or Tool Provider B because I am an investor in Tool Provider A.”
• “Before we vote on which non-profit should receive our donation, I wanted to share that I am a board member of X Charity. Just wanted to disclose transparently!"
• “Before I share my opinion and advice on whether we should sign a contract with Tool A, I wanted to share that I have a relationship/close friendship with that tool’s founder. Make sure you take that into account and get advice from others as well.”
• “I don’t think I should be part of the interview process for Candidate X because we have a close relationship and I could possibly bring bias into the process.”
• "Can I get a second opinion on a non-profit discount for X Organization? I don't see a 501c3 on their website and this is a cause that I feel passionate about, so I might bring some bias into the decision!"