welcome to the annual boem|bsee ethics training. this course will not be similar to the traditional...
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the Annual BOEM|BSEE Ethics Training
This course will not be similar to the traditional ethics courses you may have had to take in the past. This course will give you an opportunities to skip some lessons, if you
successfully complete the pretest. These ethics rules apply to you as a Federal Employee. We want to keep you out of
trouble.
N2 - Attention Getter
Intro Slide
Welcome to your Annual Ethics Training. This course is designed for you to fulfill your annual ethics credits in DOI learn. You will need to get an 80% or above to pass this course. Before some of the lessons you will get an opportunity to take a pretest. If you successfully complete the pretest with 100% you can skip the section. If you get a score, below 100% on the pretest you will need to take the lesson.
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Course Objectives
N4 – Course Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to comply with the following Ethics Standards:
•Criminal Ethics Statutes
•Principles of Ethical Conduct
•Prohibited Sources
•Post-Government Employment
•Gifts
•Outside Work and Activities
•Charge Card Use
•Use of Government Equipment
•Political Activity
•Seeking Employment
Ethics Statutes with Criminal Penalties
N6 – Module Content
• 18 U.S.C. 201 Bribery and Gratuities• 18 U.S.C. 203 Representation of Others for Compensation• 18 U.S.C. 205 Representation of Others with or without Compensation• 18 U.S.C. 207 Post-Employment Restrictions• 18 U.S.C. 208 Conflicting Financial Interests• 18 U.S.C. 209 Supplementation of Salary
It will list the definition of the following
14 Principles of Ethical Conduct
1. Public Service is a Public Trust.
2. Avoid any actions which create the appearance you are violating the law or any ethical standards.
3. Don’t solicit or accept a gift from a prohibited source.
4. Don’t hold financial interests that conflict with your duties.
5. Don’t engage in financial transactions using non-public information.
6. Don’t hold outside positions (paid or volunteer) that conflict with your official duties.
7. Perform an honest day’s work.
8. Protect and conserve Federal property.
9. Disclose waste, fraud, abuse and corruption.
10. Satisfy, in good faith, your obligations as citizens (e.g., comply with tax and child support, car registration and licensing obligations).
11. Don’t give preferential treatment to anyone.
12. Follow the laws which provide equal opportunity for all.
13. Don’t use your public office for private gain (your gain or another’s).
14. Don’t make unauthorized commitments or promises which exceed your authority.
Prohibited Source is any entity which…
1) Seeks official action by your agency
2) Does business or seeks to do business with
3) Conducts activities regulated by your agency
4) Has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance of your duties
OR
5) Is an organization a majority of whose members are described in 1-4 above.
A video scenario will be given here
N5 – Module Content
The video will show a person using his position to get a family member a job in the agency
Questions on the Video
• 3 Multiple choice questions will be given about the video.
If the learner correctly answers the question then they proceed if the question is answer incorrectly then then will go back to the 14 Principles of Ethical Conduct
Pretest on Gifts from outside sources
3 Multiple choice questions will be given it they get 100% they will skip this lesson if the get less then 100% then they will need to take the lesson.
GiftsThe Basic Rule is...
• Do not solicit or accept a gift from a prohibited source.
• A prohibited source does business with, seeks to do business with, or is regulated by your Agency or is an organization a majority of whose members are prohibited sources.
Does NOT have to be an Oil/Gas Company!
Could be a computer software or travel business, etc.
For example, American Petroleum Institute (API) is a prohibited source because of its membership
• A gift is anything of value
Lunches provided while on official business
Free attendance at a conference or other training event
• Even if a regulation indicates that you may accept a gift, that does not mean that you should accept.
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Gifts continued The Office of Government Ethics has noted that certain items are NOT gifts, including:
• Food items that are NOT part of a meal (the coffee and donuts rule)
• Greeting cards, certificates, trophies (little intrinsic value)
• Prizes in contests open to the public (does not include prizes at conferences)
• Commercial discounts for Federal Employees (e.g., insurance companies, department stores & hotels)
• Items purchased by you or by the Federal government
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Gifts continued The items noted below ARE GIFTS
• Gifts valued at $20 or less per source, per occasion (maximum of $50 per calendar year)
Subject to Further Supervisory Restriction
• Gifts based on a personal or outside business relationship (paid for by the individual, not their
company) A personal relationship may indicate that a recusal is required.
• Free attendance at Widely Attended Gatherings (WAGs) or where you are a speaker
(WAGs are narrowly defined and require advance written approval.)
• Awards (with Ethics Office approval)
Be mindful of the “Appearance Factor” and the need to remain Objective and Unbiased.
A video scenario about Gifts will be given here
The video will show a contractor offering lunch to an employee
Questions on the Gifts Video
• 3 Multiple choice questions will be given about the video.
If the learner correctly answers the question then they proceed if the question is answer incorrectly then then will go back to the beginning of the Gifts Lesson
Continuation of Gift Test
4 other written scenarios will be given. After each scenario the learner will be asked to pick the appropriate action.
If the learner get the answers wrong they will then get sent back to the beginning of the lesson
Responsibilities of Charge Card Holders
• Use your charge card only for authorized purposes.
-Transportation, rental vehicles, fuel for rental vehicles, meals, lodging, parking, baggage, tolls, ATM cash advances while on travel orders.
- ATM withdrawals can be made within 5 days of starting travel or while in travel status, but never after ending travel. Withdrawals should not exceed the M&IE portion of the per
diem, plus any known reimbursable expenses.
– Do not allow others to use your card for purchases or charge the travel expenses of others on your card.
– Do not use the card for personal expenses (such as fuel for your personal vehicle, meals on airplanes, room service, or movie rentals in hotels).
– You may NOT use your card when on “local travel,” even for official business expenses.
Responsibilities of Charge Card Holders continued
• Pay the full amount on your monthly bill by the due date shown, regardless of the status of your voucher reimbursement.
• Charge card use is monitored regularly
• Charge card use is monitored regularly
• Supervisors are required to take immediate action when they note problems
• The charge card statement must be kept for 3 years
• Promptly paying the bill for inappropriate charges does NOT make everything OK
Penalties for misuse include: Reprimand, suspension, removal and the possibility of prosecution
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Charge Card Holder test
4 written scenarios will be given. After each scenario the learner will be asked to pick the appropriate action.
If the learner select the incorrect answer a message will appear informing the learner why it’s the wrong answer.
Use of Government EquipmentThe Department monitors all network activity, including personal email accounts accessed via your government computer, watching for:
• Credit card numbers
• Social Security numbers
• Tax information
• Bank account information
• Mortgage information
• Usernames and passwords
• Sexually explicit and/or foul language
• Sexually and/or racially derogatory comments
• Solicitation of sexual acts
• Discussion and/or description of illegal activities
Be smart. Protect yourself. Avoid including these items in email, web searches, social media posts, etc.
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Use of Government Equipment
Limited personal use must comply with acceptable use standards. Don’t forward, reply to or save emails containing inappropriate content.
Never send:
• Sensitive information
• Pornography
• Videos or pictures depicting illegal activities
• Disparaging comments
• Sexually explicit language
Exercise editorial discretion. Always be professional. Respect your audience.
Use of Government Equipment
Sensitive Data
Sensitive data should remain on government-furnished devices that utilize encryption.
Sensitive data should never be downloaded to personally owned devices.
Sensitive data should never be emailed to private email accounts for retrieval from devices outside of the bureau’s network.
Use of Government EquipmentIncident Response Process
All suspicious computer activity, the loss or theft of government-owned computer equipment or any unusual activity involving bureau information, regardless of form (electronic, paper, fax, telephone etc.) should be reported to the Help Desk.
Bureau employees and contractors should refrain from contacting parties other than the Help Desk, unless instructed to do so.
(877) 256-6260
or
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Use of Government EquipmentTest
A mix of multiple choice, True or False and Matching questions will be asked.
If the learner select the incorrect answer a message will appear informing the learner why it’s the wrong answer
Political Activities (The Hatch Act)
The Hatch Act regulates political activity by government employees. Employees retain the right to speak concerning political subjects and candidates.
Political Activity is defined as:
Activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate
for partisan political office, or a partisan political group.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is responsible for administering
the Hatch Act. You may contact the OSC at www.osc.gov or by e-mail at [email protected].
Political Activities (The Hatch Act)
Common IssuesEmployees may NOT engage in political activity while on duty, while in a government office, while using a government vehicle.
Employees may not place flyers on office bulletin boards or refrigerators, send e-mails, display political buttons or pictures, or encourage co-workers to attend rallies or fund-raisers.
Employees may NOT Solicit, Receive or Accept political contributions. This prohibition applies whether on or off duty. Do not forward messages that include links to make political contributions.
Note: The Limited Personal Use Policy concerning government equipment does NOT apply to political activities. (No government equipment or time may be used for political activities.)
Political Activities (The Hatch Act)
Employees (except some senior employees) may engage in the following forms of political activity…
• Attend rallies and fund-raising events and make political contributions
• Display political bumper stickers on personal cars
• Sign nominating petitions, campaign for candidates, and make campaign speeches
• Assist in voter registration drives
• Express opinions about candidates and issues
• Join, become an officer in and/or be an active member of a political
party or club, including serving as a delegate to a convention
• Distribute campaign literature in partisan elections
• VOTE
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Political Activities (The Hatch Act) Test
The learner will have a written scenario and will have to select the appropriate action, through multiple choice and true and false questions.
Seeking Employment Pretest
3 Multiple choice questions will be given it they get 100% they will skip this lesson if the get less then 100% then they will need to take the lesson.
Seeking Employment
You may not participate in any particular Government matter that will affect the financial interests of a person or entity with which you are seeking employment.
You are considered to be seeking employment if --
• You are actually negotiating for employment
• A potential employer has contacted you about possible employment and you do not reject the offer (postponing negotiations to a future date, such as when you will be retiring, does not qualify as a rejection of the offer), and/or
• You have contacted a prospective employer about possible employment (unless the sole purpose of the contact is to request a job application)
You are considered no longer seeking employment if --
• Either you or the prospective employer rejects the possibility of employment and all discussions have ended, or
• Two months have passed since your submission of an unsolicited resume and you have received no expression of interest from the prospective employer.
If using an intermediary (e.g.: recruiter, employment agency, headhunter, etc.), you are not seeking employment unless you know the name of the prospective employer.
Seeking Employment Test
The learner will have a written scenario and will have to select the appropriate action, through multiple choice and true and false questions.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact you
Ethics Officer
N7 – Summary of Key Points
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BOEM|BSEE Ethics ContactsLocal Ethics Liaisons
New Orleans
Warren Jones (504) 736-3273
Anchorage
Linda Reeves (907) 334-5250
Headquarters Ethics Offices
Donna Huston BSEE (703) 787-1417
Michelle McCluer BOEM (703) 787-1648
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N8 – Congratulations
Congratulations on completing this course.