Kayleigh is a graduate in Arts and Law from the University of New South Wales. With an interest in human rights and intellectual property law, she has experience working in communications and marketing for small businesses and not-for-profits.
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If you’re running a business, you’re making decisions every day that affect customers, staff, suppliers, and your reputation. Most of the time, those decisions are straightforward.
But sometimes, something “extra” sits in the background - a personal relationship, a side business, a gift from a supplier, or an employee’s second job. That’s where conflicts of interest can creep in.
A conflict of interest doesn’t automatically mean someone is doing the wrong thing. The real risk is what happens when conflicts aren’t disclosed, aren’t managed, or (worse) are hidden until the damage is already done.
In 2026, with more remote work, more side hustles, more vendor partnerships, and more public scrutiny online, having a clear Conflict of Interest Policy isn’t just “nice to have”. For many businesses, it’s a practical safeguard that helps you prevent disputes and make fair decisions consistently.
What Is A Conflict Of Interest (And Why Is It Such A Big Deal)?
A conflict of interest happens when a person’s personal interests could improperly influence (or be seen to influence) the decisions they make for your business.
That “could” and “be seen to” is important. Conflicts can be:
- Actual - the person is currently influenced by a personal interest.
- Potential - the situation could become a conflict depending on what happens next.
- Perceived - it looks like a conflict to an outside observer, even if the person believes they’re acting fairly.
In practice, conflicts of interest often show up in areas like:
- hiring and promotions
- supplier selection and procurement
- financial approvals and reimbursements
- confidential information and access to data
- outside work and secondary employment
- gifts, benefits, entertainment, and “mates rates” deals
Why Conflicts Become Business Risks
If conflicts aren’t managed, they can lead to very real consequences, including:
- Bad decisions (for example, choosing a supplier for personal reasons rather than quality or price)
- Workplace disputes (especially where others believe a process wasn’t fair)
- Loss of trust inside your team and with customers
- Reputational damage (a single social media post can go a long way)
- Legal exposure (depending on the issue, this can overlap with employment law, privacy, director duties, or misleading conduct)
A good policy gives your team a clear process so they know what to do early - before a situation becomes a crisis.
Why A Conflict Of Interest Policy Matters More In 2026
Even if your business has operated for years without a formal policy, the way businesses operate in 2026 has changed what “risk” looks like day-to-day.
1. Side Hustles And Secondary Employment Are More Common
It’s increasingly normal for employees (and even contractors) to have a second job, freelance work, or a small online business. Sometimes that’s harmless. Sometimes it competes with you, uses your resources, or creates divided loyalty.
A Conflict of Interest Policy helps you set expectations early: what must be disclosed, what requires approval, and what is not allowed.
2. Remote Work Can Make Conflicts Harder To Spot
When people work remotely, managers don’t always have visibility over who is dealing with which supplier, how decisions are made, or whether business resources are being used appropriately.
A policy creates consistency. Instead of relying on “someone will probably notice”, you give people a clear duty to disclose conflicts upfront.
3. Procurement And Partnerships Move Faster
Businesses are entering partnerships, referral arrangements, influencer deals, and vendor relationships faster than ever. When speed is the priority, it’s easy to skip the “governance” piece - until a conflict later undermines the whole deal.
4. Your Reputation Is More Fragile (And More Visible)
Perceived conflicts can be just as damaging as actual ones. Even when there’s no misconduct, the appearance of favouritism or “inside deals” can harm trust.
A clear policy won’t stop people from making assumptions - but it does help you show that you have a process, you apply it consistently, and you take integrity seriously.
5. Investors, Enterprise Clients, And Regulators Expect Governance
If you’re growing, raising capital, expanding into regulated work, or pitching for enterprise contracts, governance becomes part of your credibility.
Having a formal Conflict Of Interest Policy can be a small document that signals you run your business professionally and can manage risk like a mature organisation.
Who Needs A Conflict Of Interest Policy?
In short: almost every business can benefit from one, even if you’re small.
You’re especially likely to need a Conflict of Interest Policy if you:
- have employees who make purchasing decisions (supplier selection, renewals, approvals)
- work with contractors and consultants who also work with competitors
- run a membership-based business, marketplace, or platform where moderation decisions matter
- operate in health, education, finance, NDIS, or other sensitive sectors
- are growing quickly and hiring managers for the first time
- have multiple founders, shareholders, or family members involved in the business
Small Business Example: “It’s Just My Team Of Five”
In a small business, the most common conflicts of interest often involve personal relationships (friends, partners, relatives) and supplier arrangements. Because teams are close-knit, people may assume disclosure is unnecessary - but that’s exactly when misunderstandings happen.
Startup Example: Co-Founders And “Related Party” Deals
If you’re a startup, conflicts often show up as:
- a founder hiring a friend’s agency without a proper comparison process
- a director approving payments to a business they own
- equity decisions that advantage one founder’s side project
This is where your broader governance documents (like a Shareholders Agreement) and a Conflict of Interest Policy can work together: one sets the decision-making rules, the other sets the disclosure and management process when personal interests are involved.
What Should A Good Conflict Of Interest Policy Include?
A Conflict of Interest Policy should be practical. Your team should be able to read it quickly and understand what they’re expected to do.
While every business is different, most strong policies cover the following.
1. A Clear Definition Of “Conflict Of Interest”
This is where you define actual, potential, and perceived conflicts (in plain English), and give a few examples relevant to your industry.
The goal is to remove doubt. If someone is thinking, “Not sure if this counts,” it’s better they disclose it.
2. Who The Policy Applies To
Your policy should state whether it covers:
- employees (including casuals and part-timers)
- directors and officers
- contractors and consultants
- volunteers (if relevant)
Conflicts don’t only occur in employment relationships - and in 2026, contractor-heavy teams are very common.
3. The Disclosure Process (The Heart Of The Policy)
This section should answer:
- When do you need to disclose a conflict?
- Who do you disclose it to?
- How do you disclose it (form, email, system)?
- What details must be included?
- What happens after disclosure?
A good disclosure process is what prevents “silent conflicts” from becoming allegations later.
4. How Conflicts Will Be Managed
Once a conflict is disclosed, your policy should explain what management actions might be taken, such as:
- the person stepping back from decision-making
- additional approvals being required
- competitive quotes being obtained
- reassignment of duties
- ending an external arrangement (for example, a conflicting side business)
It’s also important to state who makes the final call, and how that decision will be documented (which matters if the decision is later questioned).
5. Gifts, Benefits, And Hospitality Rules
This is a common “grey area” for conflicts of interest - especially for teams that deal with suppliers, sales, sponsorships, or procurement.
Your policy can set practical rules around:
- what gifts are acceptable (if any)
- value thresholds that require disclosure
- when hospitality is allowed (for example, industry events)
- when gifts must be refused or returned
6. Confidentiality And Use Of Business Information
Conflicts often overlap with confidentiality. For example, an employee with a side hustle might use your customer lists, pricing information, or supplier terms to benefit their own business.
If your business collects and handles personal information, you also want policies that align with your privacy obligations, including a clearly drafted Privacy Policy.
7. Consequences Of Non-Disclosure
This doesn’t need to sound harsh, but it should be clear.
For example, your policy might say that failure to disclose a conflict (or dishonesty in disclosure) may lead to disciplinary action. This helps set expectations and supports fair management if issues arise.
How To Put Your Conflict Of Interest Policy Into Practice
A policy is only helpful if it actually gets used.
In our experience, businesses get the best results when they treat the policy as a working part of operations - not a “set and forget” document.
Step 1: Map Where Conflicts Are Most Likely To Occur
Before finalising the policy, think about where conflicts typically arise in your business. Common hotspots include:
- procurement and supplier onboarding
- recruitment and promotions
- expense approvals and reimbursements
- referral arrangements and partnerships
- access to sensitive customer or financial data
This helps you tailor the examples and procedures to your real world.
Step 2: Build It Into Your Onboarding
Conflicts are easier to manage early. If someone joins your business with an existing side business, family connection, or investment interest, you want to know upfront.
A practical approach is to:
- ask for a conflict disclosure as part of onboarding paperwork
- repeat disclosures annually (or when circumstances change)
- make it a standing agenda item for senior roles
Step 3: Document Decisions Consistently
When a conflict is disclosed, document what was disclosed, what decision was made, and why. This can protect you if someone later claims unfair treatment or improper conduct.
For companies, this is often aligned with internal governance documentation, including a Directors Resolution Template where board-level decisions need to be recorded properly.
Step 4: Train Managers To Spot And Handle Conflicts
Managers are usually the first point of contact for disclosures - and they’re also the people most likely to make day-to-day decisions where conflicts arise.
Manager training can cover:
- what to do when someone discloses a conflict
- how to keep the process confidential and respectful
- how to decide whether the person needs to step aside
- how to avoid retaliation or unfair treatment
If the person involved is an employee, it’s also important that your broader employment documentation (contracts and policies) supports consistent decision-making, including a properly drafted Employment Contract.
Step 5: Align It With Your Other Policies
A Conflict of Interest Policy works best when it doesn’t sit in isolation. Depending on your business, it may need to align with:
- code of conduct
- procurement policy
- IT and acceptable use policies
- privacy and data handling procedures
- complaints and reporting processes
For example, if you want staff to feel safe raising concerns about conflicts (especially serious ones), your reporting framework may connect closely with a Whistleblower Policy.
Common Conflict Of Interest Scenarios (And How A Policy Helps)
Sometimes it helps to see how conflicts show up in real workplaces. Here are a few common scenarios we see, and how a policy can reduce risk.
Scenario 1: Hiring A Friend Or Family Member
Hiring someone you know isn’t automatically wrong - especially in small business. The issue is when the process isn’t transparent, or when others believe the person got special treatment.
A policy can require disclosure and ensure the decision-maker steps back (or gets a second approver), which helps protect fairness and team morale.
Scenario 2: A Supplier Offers Gifts Or “Exclusive Deals”
If a supplier offers free products, tickets, meals, or discounts, it can create a sense of obligation - even if no one intends for it to.
A policy can set clear thresholds and approval requirements so your staff aren’t left guessing what’s allowed.
Scenario 3: A Team Member Has A Side Hustle In A Similar Industry
This is increasingly common. The key questions are usually:
- Is it competing with your business?
- Is it using your business time, resources, or confidential information?
- Could it influence decisions they make at work?
With a policy, you have a structured way to assess and manage the risk. Without a policy, you may only find out when a client complains, a coworker raises concerns, or confidential information has already been misused.
Scenario 4: A Director Or Senior Manager Approves Payments To A Related Business
Where decision-makers have financial interests in related entities, conflicts must be managed carefully. This is where documenting disclosures and decisions becomes crucial.
A well-drafted policy supports consistent governance, reduces misunderstandings among founders or shareholders, and helps show that decisions are made properly.
Key Takeaways
- A conflict of interest isn’t automatically misconduct - but if it isn’t disclosed and managed, it can quickly create legal, financial, and reputational risk.
- In 2026, conflicts are more common due to side hustles, remote work, and faster vendor and partnership decisions.
- A strong Conflict of Interest Policy should cover definitions, who it applies to, how to disclose conflicts, how they’ll be managed, and consequences for non-disclosure.
- Policies work best when they’re implemented in onboarding, supported by manager training, and backed by consistent documentation.
- Aligning your conflict process with your wider governance and workplace framework helps you handle issues fairly and confidently.
If you’d like help putting a Conflict of Interest Policy in place (or updating an existing one), you can reach us at 1800 730 617 or team@sprintlaw.com.au for a free, no-obligations chat.
