One of the first things we ask new Mavens to provide is their current employment status – including the name of their employer if they have one. We consider this to be the single most important piece of information in a Maven Profile.

Why is this so important? The answer is simple: we need this information to protect you and every other Maven user. We have developed a sophisticated Conflict Management System and your complete and correct employment information is needed in order for this system to function properly.

Let’s say you work for Widget Inc., which is developing a solar-powered mobile phone – and you are the on the team that finally figured out how to do it. Needless to say, all of the other mobile phone manufacturers are trying to play catch-up, and they need to find some solar expertise of their own.

Maven is the answer! And so a Maven customer, Phone Builders Inc., turns to Maven for their research needs. But one thing they don’t want is to be accused of stealing ideas from Widget, so they use Maven’s Conflict Management System to prevent Consultations with anyone who works for Widget.

Unfortunately, if you didn’t provide Maven with your correct current employment info, and instead wrote something silly like “Confidential” or “Don’t want to disclose,” you might inadvertently end up on the phone with your direct competitor! And nobody wants that – not you, not Maven, and definitely not Phone Builders.

Situations like this can easily be avoided by providing your complete, current, and accurate employment information to Maven. It’s for your own protection and, more importantly, it’s legally required in order for you to participate in Maven.

What does it mean to be “Employed”? The laws vary from country to country, but generally speaking if a company sends you a paycheck, you are an employee. It doesn’t matter if you’re the janitor, the bookkeeper, or the CEO, if you get paid by a company, you are Employed and the company that writes the check is your Employer.

If you live in the United States and you are currently performing work that will result in you being provided with a W-2 at the end of the year, you are considered an employee of the company that provides the W-2. If you have more than one job, list them all on Maven so we can be sure to keep you out of sticky situations.

Complete and accurate information is not just legally required – it helps Maven work better. We promise to protect your privacy and confidentiality, and we certainly won’t share any information about you with others without your permission, but please help us protect you and the Maven community by giving us accurate information.