Community Standards, Safety & Code of Conduct

Chores is a community referral platform operated by Chores App LLC and used by participating school districts to connect families with trusted student helpers, while fostering responsibility, leadership, service, and real-world workplace skills.

The safety and well-being of every participant is our highest priority. Every participant — including students, parents, families, volunteers, district partners, and Chores staff — shares responsibility for creating a community built on trust, transparency, respect, and accountability.

By participating in Chores, you agree to comply with this Community Standards, Safety & Code of Conduct Policy.

Our Community Values

Every participant agrees to uphold the following principles:

• Safety — Protect the physical and emotional well-being of every participant.
• Respect — Treat everyone with dignity, kindness, and professionalism.
• Responsibility — Honor commitments and communicate honestly.
• Integrity — Act ethically and accept responsibility for your actions.
• Inclusion — Welcome and value people from all backgrounds.
• Community — Build trust through service, collaboration, and mutual support.

Expectations for Student Helpers

Be Responsible

• Accept only tasks they can safely complete.
• Arrive on time and communicate promptly if plans change.
• Complete agreed-upon work to the best of their ability.
• Ask questions if task expectations are unclear.
• Decline any task that is unsafe, illegal, or outside the original agreement.

Be Respectful

• Communicate courteously and professionally.
• Respect the family's home, property, and privacy.
• Follow agreed-upon instructions.
• Maintain appropriate language and behavior.

Prioritize Safety

• Tell a parent or trusted adult where they are going.
• Carry a charged mobile phone whenever practical.
• Share their expected return time.
• Leave immediately if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
• Contact a parent or guardian if safety concerns arise.
• Report unsafe conditions or inappropriate conduct immediately.

Expectations for Families

Provide a Safe Environment

• Post accurate task descriptions.
• Clearly communicate expectations and compensation.
• Maintain a reasonably safe work environment.
• Disclose pets, pools, construction areas, or other potential hazards.
• Ensure a responsible adult (18 or older) is reasonably available during in-home tasks involving students under 18 unless otherwise agreed upon with the student's parent or guardian.

Support Student Success

• Treat students with patience, courtesy, and professionalism.
• Clearly explain the task before work begins.
• Respect a student's right to decline or discontinue any task.
• Never pressure students to perform work beyond what was originally agreed upon.
• Allow students to leave immediately if they feel unsafe.
• Recognize that Chores provides learning opportunities as well as practical assistance.

Safe Meeting Guidelines

To protect both students and families:

First-Time Meetings

Whenever practical:

• A parent or guardian should accompany the student during the first meeting with a new family.
• Families should introduce all adults who will be present.
• Expectations should be reviewed before work begins.

Transportation

Student helpers may not:

• Transport children.
• Drive clients.
• Operate family vehicles.
• Provide passenger transportation.
• Be required to ride with families to complete a task.

Transportation to and from a task remains the responsibility of the student and parent or guardian unless separately arranged.

Overnight Work

Chores does not permit:

• Overnight babysitting.
• Overnight pet sitting inside another person's home.
• Overnight stays.
• Travel with families.

Work Location

Tasks should normally occur at the verified address on file. If work must occur elsewhere, parents or guardians should be informed before the task begins.

Appropriate Adult Interaction

Adults participating in Chores agree to:

• Treat students with professionalism and respect.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Keep conversations focused on the task.
• Respect students' decisions to decline or discontinue work.
• Avoid behavior that could reasonably make a student uncomfortable.
• Model appropriate conduct at all times.

Adults may never:

• Develop or attempt romantic or inappropriate personal relationships with students.
• Encourage secrecy from parents or guardians.
• Request or send sexually explicit messages or images.
• Make sexually inappropriate jokes or comments.
• Initiate unnecessary physical contact.
• Offer gifts intended to create inappropriate relationships.
• Harass, manipulate, intimidate, or exploit students.

Communication Standards

Participants agree to:

• Communicate honestly, professionally, and respectfully.
• Use Chores messaging whenever practical before exchanging personal contact information.
• Respond promptly to messages.
• Notify others of cancellations, delays, or schedule changes.
• Respect personal boundaries.
• Use appropriate language in all communications.

Safe Work Environment

Families may not request students to perform work involving:

• Roofing
• Electrical work
• Hazardous chemicals
• Firearms or weapons
• Heavy machinery
• Commercial construction
• Driving passengers
• Illegal activity
• Any work prohibited for minors by law

Students should immediately decline any prohibited task.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Participants agree to:

• Respect each other's privacy.
• Use contact information only for Chores-related purposes.
• Protect confidential information learned through Chores.
• Never photograph or record another participant without permission.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

Chores has zero tolerance for conduct that threatens the safety, dignity, or well-being of participants.

Harassment & Bullying

Including but not limited to:

• Offensive comments, jokes, or images
• Name-calling
• Intimidation
• Threats
• Repeated unwanted contact
• Humiliation
• Persistent disrespectful behavior

Sexual Harassment & Inappropriate Conduct

Including:

• Unwelcome sexual comments
• Requests for romantic or sexual relationships
• Sharing sexually explicit material
• Unwanted physical contact
• Inappropriate communication with minors
• Grooming or attempted exploitation of student participants

Discrimination

Participants may not:

• Refuse opportunities based on protected characteristics.
• Create a hostile environment.
• Make derogatory remarks.
• Engage in biased or unequal treatment.

Violence & Threatening Behavior

Including:

• Physical violence
• Threats of violence
• Physical intimidation
• Possession or use of weapons
• Destruction of property

Illegal or Unsafe Conduct

Participants may not:

• Engage in illegal activity.
• Use alcohol or illegal drugs during Chores tasks.
• Request or perform prohibited work.
• Misrepresent identity or qualifications.
• Commit fraud or theft.

Retaliation

Retaliation against anyone who reports a concern, participates in an investigation, requests assistance, or supports another participant is strictly prohibited.

Reporting Safety Concerns

Participants should immediately report:

• Unsafe working conditions
• Harassment
• Boundary violations
• Discrimination
• Fraud
• Threats
• Suspected abuse or exploitation
• Illegal activity
• Any conduct that makes a participant feel unsafe

Reports can be filed directly in the app from a profile or conversation, or by emailing [email protected]. Chores may:

• Review available information.
• Speak with those involved.
• Temporarily suspend accounts during an investigation.
• Work with participating districts when appropriate.
• Notify law enforcement or child protective authorities when required by law or necessary to protect participant safety.
• Suspend or permanently remove any participant whose conduct presents a significant risk to others.

Good-faith reports are encouraged and will not result in retaliation.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of an emergency:

• Call 911 immediately.
• Contact the student's parent or guardian.
• Notify Chores as soon as practical.

Chores is not an emergency response service.

Community Promise

Chores is more than a technology platform — it is a community built on trust, service, learning, and mutual respect.

Together we create meaningful opportunities for students, provide valuable support for families, and strengthen our neighborhoods through safe, positive community connections.

Participant Acknowledgment

By participating in Chores, you acknowledge that you:

This acknowledgment is confirmed in-app when you create your Chores account. Participants under 18 additionally require parent or guardian consent — see the Parent/Guardian Consent Form available from the sign-up screen.