Code of Ethics

Complaint procedures for employees, former employees, and applicants for employment are very simple. Anyone who feels he/she has been discriminated against has only to see an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Counselor for the process to begin. The most important single thing to remember is that the person must see the EEO counselor within 45 calendar days after the act (or failure to act) occurred which constitutes an alleged discriminatory action. The alleged action can involve race, color, religion, sex, nationality, origin, age or mental/physical handicap.

The EEO Counselor will explain your rights and the complaint procedures at the first interview. The EEO Counselor can advise complainants and get answers for them, but the counselor cannot act as your representative. If after counseling, you decide to file a formal complaint, it will be investigated by an outside investigator. At any time during the processing of your complaint, you are entitled to have a representative present, even during your first interview with an EEO counselor.

CODE OF ETHICS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Any person in Government Service should:

• put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department

• uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and all governments therein and never be a part of their evasion

• give a full day’s labor for a full day’s pay; giving to the performance of his duties to his earnest effort and best thought

• seek to find and employ more efficient and economical ways of getting tasks accomplished

• never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remuneration or not; and never accept, for himself or his family, favors or benefits under circumstances, which might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of his governmental duties

• make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office, since a government employee has no private work, which can be binding on public duty

• engage in no business with the Government, either directly or indirectly, which is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of his governmental duties

• never use any information coming to him confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means for making private profit

• expose corruption wherever discovered

• uphold these principles, ever conscious that public office is a public trust

(This Code of Ethics was agreed to by the House of Representatives and the Senate as House Concurrent Resolution 175 in the Second Session of the 85th Congress. The Code applies to all Government Employees and Office Holders.)

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12674, "PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES," April 12, 1989, as amended.

1. Public Service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and ethical principles above private gain.

2. Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.

3. Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.

4. An employee shall not, except as [provided for by regulation], solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties.

5. Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.

6. Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the Government.

7. Employees shall not use public office for private gain.

8. Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.

9. Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.

10. Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking or negotiating for employment, that conflict with official Government duties and responsibilities.

11. Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities.

12. Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those--such as Federal, State, or local taxes--that are imposed

by law.

13. Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.

14. Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or ethical standards. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.

Required Online Training – When complete, print the certificate and turn in to the secretary.

DODEA Online Training Portal: https://intranet.ds.dodea.edu/ETP

Updated: 6/23/2020