Inherent in the vocational service ideal are:

1. Adherence to, and promotion of, the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including faithfulness and fidelity to employers, employees and associates, fair treatment of them and of competitors, the public, and all those with whom one has any business or professional relationships;
2. The recognition of the worthiness to society of all useful occupations, not just one's own or those which are pursued by Rotarians;
3. The contribution of one's vocational talents to the problems and needs of society.

Vocational service is both the responsibility of a club and of its members. The role of the club is to implement and encourage the objective by frequent demonstration, by application to its own actions, by example and by development of projects that help members contribute their vocational talents. The role of the members is to conduct themselves, their businesses, and their professions in accordance with Rotary principles and to respond to projects which the club has developed.

"Vocational Service Month" shall be observed annually in October as a special month devoted to vocational service, to emphasize the involvement of each Rotarian, and not just clubs, in the everyday practice of the ideals of vocational service.

Declaration for Rotarians in Businesses and Professions

The 1989 Council on Legislation adopted the following declaration for Rotarians in businesses and professions:

As a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to:

1. Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve;
2. Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country, and to the moral standards of my community;
3. Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation;
4. Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public, and all those with whom I have a business or professional relationship;
5. Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society;
6. Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community;
7. Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my business or profession;
8. Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship.

In Section 41.010.4 of Chapter V of the Rotary Code of Policies 2001, it is stated:

Vocational Service Activities

To encourage good employer-employee relations, clubs should:

1. arrange at their own meetings and encourage at meetings of other groups in their communities, programs on cultural, economic and geographical conditions in countries other than their own as a means of helping to overcome possible difficulties arising from language barriers and differences in cultural and social backgrounds as a result of the mass movement of workers from one country to another;
2. consider taking steps to initiate or support citizens' advisory bureaus for the purpose of assisting new arrivals in the community to integrate into their new environment;
3. where an eligible and qualified candidate is available, elect a member under the classification "Labor Organizations";
4. from time to time, invite labor representatives together with representatives of employer organizations, if so desired, to meetings featuring addresses or debates on relevant subjects;
5. bring to the attention of members the extent to which the policies of states and governments depend upon negotiations and agreements between the leaders of trade associations and union leaders, and the consequent opportunity for club members to play a leading part in their trade associations and thus possibly to influence the establishment of policies in this field.

Vocational Service Committees

The Following responsibilities may be undertaken by one or more Vocational Service Committee members (depending on the size and organization of the club):