Why we have this code
Horizon Labs builds software with clients, partners and a distributed team of engineers, designers and operators. This code sets out how we expect everyone to behave when they work with us or represent us, so that every project is professional, respectful and safe for the people involved.
Who it applies to
This code applies to Horizon Labs founders, employees, contractors and anyone else working on our behalf. It covers every place where our work happens: client meetings and calls, shared Slack channels, code repositories and issue trackers, email, events, and our public channels such as social media and community forums. We ask clients, partners and community members we interact with to follow the same standards.
What we expect
- Treat people with respect, whatever their background, identity, role, experience or location.
- Communicate honestly. Tell clients about risks, trade-offs and bad news early, in writing, and never overstate what we can deliver.
- Give and accept feedback on the work, not the person.
- Take ownership of mistakes, fix them, and share what we learned.
- Keep commitments on scope, hours and timelines, and raise it as soon as one is at risk.
- Work in the open with clients: in their repositories, their trackers and their channels.
What is not acceptable
- Harassment, intimidation or discrimination of any kind, in public or in private.
- Insulting, demeaning or sexualized comments, imagery or advances.
- Sharing someone's personal information without their permission.
- Misrepresenting our experience, our work, our progress or the hours spent.
- Any other conduct that would reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting.
Confidentiality, security and client code
- Client code, data, credentials and business information are confidential. We use them only for the client's work.
- We follow each client's security and access rules, use only the access we need, and remove it when the work ends.
- Client code and data only touch AI tools in secure environments agreed with the client.
- Intellectual property belongs to whoever the signed agreement says it belongs to. We do not reuse one client's confidential work for another.
Conflicts of interest
Anyone working for Horizon Labs must tell us about any personal or financial interest that could affect their judgment on a project, such as a relationship with a vendor we are recommending or a competitor of a client.
Reporting a concern
If you experience or see behavior that breaks this code, please tell us through our contact page or at info@horizon-labs.co. You can also raise it directly with either co-founder. We will review every report promptly and fairly, keep the reporter's identity as private as we can, and not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.
What happens next
Depending on what happened, we may respond with a private conversation and written warning, removal from a project or channel, ending a contract or working relationship, or, where required, involving the appropriate authorities. We will tell the people involved what we decided and why, as far as privacy allows.
Changes
We may update this code as our team and work change. The date above shows the latest version.
