Ethics Principles May 2003-1

7/26/2019 Ethics Principles May 2003-1

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Welcome to Ethics Traini

The reputation of a thousandyears is determined by theconduct of one hour.

Japanese proverb


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Training Objective

Clear Understanding of the Ethicsin Public Service ct

Update on !ecent !ules Changes

!esources for "uestions


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Ethics

The embodiment of those valuesthat the person or organi#ationfeels are important$% and spell ourproper conduct and appropriate

action.

- Merriam

Webster


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Ethical Choices

&hat you 'nd is that the tough

ethical choices are not bet(eengood and evil% but rather bet(eent(o goods)

Truth versus LoyaltyIndividual versus Community

Short-term versus Long-term

Justice versus Mercy


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Ethical Principals

*b+ectivity Sel,essness

Ste(ardship

Transparency

-ntegrity


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Objectivity

Public employees must place the

publics interest before anyprivate interest or outsideobligation / choices need tomade on the merits.

RCW 42.52.020, Activities incompatiblewith public duties

RCW 42.52.00, !inancial interests in

transactions


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Conflict of Interest

con,ict of interest occurs (hen you

have a private interest that maybene't from your actions% or (hen aprivate interest could interfere (itho0cial duties

n interest need not be 'nancialtocreate a con,ict of interest

1ost con,icts result from the e2erciseof discretionary authority


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Dilemma

3ou are a health inspector (ith apartnership interest in a localrestaurant% and are assigned toperform an inspection of this samerestaurant.

Can you conduct the inspectionWhat actions should you tae


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Dilemma

state employee serves on the boardof directors for a non/pro'torgani#ation. The non/pro't bids ona contract from the employeesagency. The employee serves on therevie( panel that (ill select the

successful contractor.

Can the employee serve on therevie" panel even though there is

no personal bene#t


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Dilemma

3ou enforce business licensere"uirements. 3ou discover that alocal business% (ith (ith you havea private legal dispute% is overduein paying its ta2es.

What "ould you do


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Selflessness

Public employees should not ma4e

decisions in order to gain 'nancialor other bene'ts for themselves%their family% or their friends.

RCW 42.52.0#0, $pecial privile"es

RCW 42.52.%40, &i'ts

RCW 42.52.%50, (imitations on "i'ts

RCW 42.52.0)0, *mplo+ment a'ter public

service


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Use of State Position

state o0cer or employee maynot use his or her state position tosecure special privileges or togrant e2emptions to bene't

himself% herself% family members%or other persons.


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Gifts

5eneral rules

Those items that are not gifts Those items that are gifts% but not

sub+ect to the 678 limitation $ebuttable presumption these do not

in%uence The only items that may be accepted by

employees (ho contract or regulate


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Post-state Employment Former state officers or employees may not benefit

from state employment

Contract restriction

Beneficial interest restriction

Offers of employment

Prohibition against participating in previous statetransactions

Situations are fact-specific


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Dilemma

3ou receive a pla"ue and a 6988 chec4

from the -nstitute of 5overnment:inancial 1anagers for your manycontributions to the 'eld.

Can you accept the pla&ue and thechec


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Dilemma

3ou supervise a contract (ith ;C

udits. ;C is sponsoring a regionalconference and tells you that if youattend% ;C (ill (aive your conferencefees.

Can you accept the "aiver o'con'erence 'ees


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Dilemma

3ou are a professor for a state university orcommunity college and a publisher sends

you a te2tboo4 7.

-s this activity a violation of the Ethics inPublic Service ct?


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Textboos

On September 12, 2003, the Executive Ethics Boardissued Advisory Opinion 03-0 that prohibits se!!in"textboo#s $or persona! pro%t& 'here are severa! options$or disposin" o$ textboo#s in !ieu o$ se!!in" them&

State supported institutions o$ hi"her education may(ant to consider adoptin" po!icies or procedures thatassist $acu!ty members in exercisin" these options& )orexamp!e, $acu!ty may dispose o$ textboo#s and otherpub!ications by "ivin" them to the institution, to acharity or educationa! $oundation, or in accordance (itha"ency surp!us property procedures&


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Ethical !abits

long habit of not thin4ing athing(rong gives it the super'cialappearance of being right.

(Thomas )aine


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Ste"ar#ship

Public employees have a duty toconserve public resources and fundsagainst misuse and abuse.

RCW 42.52.0#0, $pecial privile"es

RCW 42.52.%0, se o' persons, mone+, orpropert+ 'or private "ain

RCW 42.52.%)0, se o' public resources 'orpolitical campai"ns

WAC 22-%%0-0%0


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$%estions to &s 'o%rself&ill my use of state resources result in

added costs or any other disadvantage to thestate?

m - using this resource in order to avoidpersonal e2pense?

m - con'dent that my use of stateresources (ill not compromise the security or

integrity of state information or soft(are?

re state resources being used forpurposes that could be embarrassing for myagency if reported publicly?


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The Use (ones

Public employees have a duty toconserve public resources and fundsagainst misuse and abuse.

*reen +one/ 1cial uties

3ellow one/ ersonal se nder(imited Circumstances

Red one/ rohibited ses


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The Green(one

An+ se that is Reasonabl+ Related to3our 1cial uties

Combined !und Campai"n


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The 'ello"(one

ersonal se 6 nder (imited

Circumstances$eallyde minimise2ceptions

'here is !itt!e or no cost to the state*'here is no inter$erence (ith the per$ormance o$

o+cia! duties*'he use is brie$ in duration and $reuency*'he use does not distract $rom the conduct o$

state business*and'he use does not disrupt other state emp!oyees

and does not ob!i"ate them to ma#e a persona!


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The )e#(one

)rohibited ,ses

*utside business interestsCommercial uses-llegal or unprofessional activities

Political activities% including lobbying


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Dilemma

3ou send emails to your friends home

computer from your state computerregarding personal plans for the(ee4end.

Is this appropriate ste"ardship o'state resources


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Dilemma

3ou ran across an article in T-1Emaga#ine that you (ant to share (ith

friends and ma4e several copies usingthe o0ces copier.



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Dilemma

3ou send an email to your senatoropposing the con'rmation of a nominee

for federal o0ce.



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Dilemma

3our supervisor approves the use of astate

computer to do course (or4 for a classthat

(ill enhance your s4ills.



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Dilemma

3ou send a brief email or ma4e a brief%local call to chec4 on your 4ids.



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Dilemma

3ou access the -nternet during a lunch

brea4 to chec4 on your stoc4 portfolioand transfer assets to a di@erent fund.

Is this appropriate ste"ardship o'

state resources


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perfect value consists in

doing (ithout (itness all that(e could have done in front ofthe entire (orld

- obel Laureate *abriela Mistral

$%ote


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Transparency

Public employees must practice

open and accountablegovernment. They should be asopen as possible about theirdecisions and actions% and

protect truly con'dentialinformation.

RCW 42.52.050, Con7dential in'ormation


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Confi#ential Information

Standards that protect con'dential

information)

.utside employment/ business/ orpro'essional activities

0isclosure 'or personal gain or bene#t 0isclosure to unauthori1ed person


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P%blic )ecor#s

Standards for disclosure)

May not intentionally act to conceal arecord i' under a personal obligationto release the record2

May apply to e-mail communications


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Integrity

Employees in public serviceshould not place themselvesunder any 'nancial or otherobligation to outside individualsor organi#ations that might

in,uence them in the performanceof their duties.

RCW 42.52.020, Activities incompatible with publicduties

RCW 42.52.%%0, Compensation 'or o1cial duties or


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!onoraria

Aonorarium de'ned

gency approval re"uired 1ay not be approved if donor)

Is e3pected to see contractual relations

Is regulated by the agency

Is reasonably e3pected to see or opposeadoption o' rules or policy changes by youragency


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O%tsi#e Compensation

&or4 must be bona 'de and actually performedB and%

ot related to a contract or grant you superviseB Comply (ith agency policies on outside employmentB

ot be compensated by anyone you contract (ith orregulateB

ot related to a contract or grant you authori#eB

Cannot involve the disclosure of con'dentialinformation.


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$%ote

-f $ you cant be a good e2ample%then youll +ust have to be a horrible(arning.

- Catherine 4ird


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Exec%tive Ethics *oar#

-nterprets and enforces the ethics

la( -ssues advisory opinions

!evie(s agency ethics policies

-nvestigates and hears complaints

-mposes sanctions for violations 0isciplinary action also may be

taen by the agency


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Complaint Stat%s


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Goo# People - *a# Choices

88>= / D of Cases involving sanction -n >889 / F7G of cases involved sanctions Civil Penalties 69>F%D88 / 69FDF average Suspended 6HD9 average

-nvestigative Costs 6H9%9>7 / 6HI>average

gency !estitution 69I%7>J


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Goo# People - *a# ChoicesGoo# People - *a# Choices

Keadlines or performance goals

Lac4 of resources% human or other(ise Pressures to produce and get the +ob done The action is not really illegal or unethical

The action is in the individuals or

organi#ations best interests The action (ill never be discovered :ear of authority


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*riefly

0aily decisions "ill guide us in

crisis

5alues can be instilled

Subordinates see standardsChoice is o'ten bet"een t"o6goods7

6.nly a leader o' courageous ethical


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Interventions

Establish (or4place e2pectations

;rief common ethical problems Publici#e note(orthy role models

!outinely raise potential ethics issues

!evie( commitment to ethics annually

ttend to the ethical treatment ofothers

Documents

Ethics Principles May 2003-1