JOINT STAFF ANNUAL ETHICS TRAINING
Based your current official position, you were invited by a non-profit organization to an
event that will be attended by 1,000. Of the 1,000 attendees, approximately 20 percent
will be from the Department of Defense; 30 percent will be from the Legislative Branch;
40 percent will be representatives from academia; and 10 percent will be members of
industry. The event will allow you to exchange ideas and views among the invited
guests. The event is also scheduled to occur in the evening so you will attend the event
on your own time. The value of this gift of free attendance is approximately $75 per
person. Are you allowed to accept the gift of free attendance? - Answer-Yes, this event
is a widely attended gathering, and before I attended the event, I coordinated with my
ethics counselor and received written authorization to accept this gift.
As a gesture of thanks, a retailer gave you a briefcase after you, using your
Government credit card, had purchased office supplies from the retailer. Can you
accept the briefcase? - Answer-No, because acceptance violates the general ban of
accepting gifts from persons who do business or seek to do business with the
employee's agency.
You work officially with a contractor whom you otherwise do not know. The contractor
invites your supervisor and you to dinner at a hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, a block
from the White House. The contractor does not invite anyone else. The cost of each
meal is valued at $21.00. May the supervisor and you accept the offer? - Answer-No, an
employee may not accept a gift from a prohibited source that exceeds $20.00. Also, the
gift was offered because of your and your supervisor's official positions.
You have decided that it is time to retire from the Federal Service and are talking with
two contracting companies that currently have contracts within your Directorate about
possible job opportunities. Is there anything special you should do? - Answer-Yes, you
should disqualify yourself from any official participation concerning these contracts and
any particular matter that has a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of
entities with whom you are discussing future employment.
Since you are working for the Federal Government, can you work for any company
outside the Government? - Answer-You may hold a second job while working for the
Federal Government as long as it does not create a conflict of interest with your Federal
job. You should speak with your ethics counselor before engaging in outside
employment.
May a retired E-6 accept a salary from a company owned and controlled by the
Government of France? - Answer-Yes, provided the retired military member obtains the
approval from his/her Service Secretary and the Secretary of state before accepting the
salary.
You are asked to sell tickets to subordinates in the workplace for a fundraising event
sponsored by a nonprofit organization that helps military spouses. May you sell the
Based your current official position, you were invited by a non-profit organization to an
event that will be attended by 1,000. Of the 1,000 attendees, approximately 20 percent
will be from the Department of Defense; 30 percent will be from the Legislative Branch;
40 percent will be representatives from academia; and 10 percent will be members of
industry. The event will allow you to exchange ideas and views among the invited
guests. The event is also scheduled to occur in the evening so you will attend the event
on your own time. The value of this gift of free attendance is approximately $75 per
person. Are you allowed to accept the gift of free attendance? - Answer-Yes, this event
is a widely attended gathering, and before I attended the event, I coordinated with my
ethics counselor and received written authorization to accept this gift.
As a gesture of thanks, a retailer gave you a briefcase after you, using your
Government credit card, had purchased office supplies from the retailer. Can you
accept the briefcase? - Answer-No, because acceptance violates the general ban of
accepting gifts from persons who do business or seek to do business with the
employee's agency.
You work officially with a contractor whom you otherwise do not know. The contractor
invites your supervisor and you to dinner at a hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, a block
from the White House. The contractor does not invite anyone else. The cost of each
meal is valued at $21.00. May the supervisor and you accept the offer? - Answer-No, an
employee may not accept a gift from a prohibited source that exceeds $20.00. Also, the
gift was offered because of your and your supervisor's official positions.
You have decided that it is time to retire from the Federal Service and are talking with
two contracting companies that currently have contracts within your Directorate about
possible job opportunities. Is there anything special you should do? - Answer-Yes, you
should disqualify yourself from any official participation concerning these contracts and
any particular matter that has a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of
entities with whom you are discussing future employment.
Since you are working for the Federal Government, can you work for any company
outside the Government? - Answer-You may hold a second job while working for the
Federal Government as long as it does not create a conflict of interest with your Federal
job. You should speak with your ethics counselor before engaging in outside
employment.
May a retired E-6 accept a salary from a company owned and controlled by the
Government of France? - Answer-Yes, provided the retired military member obtains the
approval from his/her Service Secretary and the Secretary of state before accepting the
salary.
You are asked to sell tickets to subordinates in the workplace for a fundraising event
sponsored by a nonprofit organization that helps military spouses. May you sell the
