Ethics
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 1
Definitions
Ethics is the discipline dealing with what is
good and bad with Moral, Duty, and
Obligations.
Ethical conduct is conforming to accepted
professional standards of conduct.
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 2
Ethical Conduct
• Principle - Public service is a public
trust, requiring:
–Loyalty of members
–Honest effort in performing duties
–Impartiality
–Protection of Federal property
–Disclosure of Waste Fraud and Abuse
–Satisfaction of financial obligations
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 3
Ethical Conduct
• Basic Concepts - Members shall:
–Apply principles to propriety of conduct
–Avoid appearance of violation of the laws governing ethics
–Seek advice of agency “Ethics Official” whenever in doubt
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 4
Ethics Issues
•Impartiality in performing official duties.
•Misuse of position.
•Political/social activities.
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 5
Official Duties
• Impartiality in performance
–Specific authorization required if impartiality in
question
•Matters covered
–Self-interest, member of household, close
personal or any business relationships.
•Disqualification
–Applies
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 6
Misuse of Position
• Involves –Use of CAP office for private gain
–Revelation of non-public information
–Unauthorized use of government property
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 7
Use of CAP Resources
•Equipment
•Communications
•Vehicles
•CAP position
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 8
General Rule
“Employees shall protect and conserve federal
property and shall not use it for other than
authorized purposes”
5 CFR 2635.101(b)(9)
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 9
Yes
Caution No
What is Authorized?
Personal Use: unrelated to mission
(no permission)
Personal Use: supportive of mission
(with supervisor’s permission)
Official Use: directly related to mission
accomplishment
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 10
Authorized Personal Use
• Personal Use: (supportive of mission)
– Does not adversely affect performance of
official duties
– Is of reasonable duration and frequency
– Serves a legitimate public interest
– Does not reflect adversely on DoD or CAP
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 11
Authorized Personal Use
Can you use the office copier to make 100 copies of
your letter to friends announcing your 15 year old
son’s graduation from medical school?
• Personal Use: (supportive of mission)
– Does not adversely affect performance of
official duties
– Is of reasonable duration and frequency
– Serves a legitimate public interest
– Does not reflect adversely on DoD or CAP
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 12
Authorized Personal Use
Can you use your computer at work after
hours to type your annual Christmas letter?
• Personal Use: (supportive of mission)
– Does not adversely affect performance of
official duties
– Is of reasonable duration and frequency
– Serves a legitimate public interest
– Does not reflect adversely on DoD or CAP
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 13
Authorized Personal Use
Can you use the office ZIP code directory to locate
the zip code of an old boyfriend who just hit the
lottery?
• Personal Use: (supportive of mission)
– Does not adversely affect performance of
official duties
– Is of reasonable duration and frequency
– Serves a legitimate public interest
– Does not reflect adversely on DoD or CAP
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 14
Guiding Principles
Rule #1:
Rule #2
CAP resources are for the benefit of the CAP
Sometimes, the CAP benefits by allowing its
members to use CAP resources
-Make employees more efficient
-Improve employee morale
-Increase public’s confidence in the CAP
BALANCE TEST
Value to CAP
Value to Society
Lesson 4: Ethics
Cost to CAP
Susceptibility to Abuse
Visibility
Sleaziness Slide 15
The Devil is in the…Details
OFFICIAL USE: Determined by mission. Must be directly
related to and necessary for accomplishing the mission.
MISSION: Will differ from agency to agency, office to office
PERSONAL USE:
SUPERVISOR’S APPROVAL:
1. Formal Regulation
2. Office Policy
3. Case by Case
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 16
Equipment
(Computers, Copiers, Printers)
OFFICIAL USE: Accomplish mission
PERSONAL USE:
- Does not adversely affect official duties
- Is of reasonable duration and frequency
- Is performed on employee’s personal time
- Serves a legitimate public interest
- Does not reflect adversely on CAP
- Creates no significant additional cost to CAP
- AUTHORIZED BY SUPERVISOR
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 17
Supplies
(Paper, Pens, Paper Clips, Etc.)
OFFICIAL USE: Accomplish mission
PERSONAL USE:
- May not create significant additional cost to CAP
- Must serve legitimate public interest
CONCLUSION: Rarely appropriate to use supplies
for personal use
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 18
Pop Quiz - True/False
1. May I use the office copier to make myself a personal copy of
my daughter’s report card to send to her grandparents?
2. May I use the copier to reproduce 75 color copies of my
daughter's graduation from Mrs. Smith's Finishing School and
Mud Wrestling Academy?
3. May I use the copier to reproduce 200 copies of HQ CAP
Commanders address to the graduating class of Mrs. Smith's school?
4. May I use the office fax to receive a 40 page personal fax?
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 19
Use of CAP Communications
Systems at CAP Expense
MAY BE USED WHEN:
- Necessary in CAP’s interest
FAX
- Personal communications in
emergencies
- Approved personal communications when
deployed
- Notify family of schedule change when on
official travel
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 20
Use of CAP Communications
Systems Not at CAP Expense
Limited Personal Use:
- No adverse effect on official duties
- Reasonable duration and frequency
- Serve legitimate public interest
- No adverse reflection on Government
- Do not overburden communications, no
significant additional cost to DoD and no long
distance charge to Government
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 21
Privacy
Any official or personal use may be monitored by the CAP
- E-mail notes
- Internet searches
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 22
Pop Quiz - True/False
You may use CAP communications systems to:
1. Send Faxes to advertise sale of your car
2. Do a 12-minute lunchtime internet search on your
gardening hobby
3. Make toll-free long-distance call for honeymoon
reservations
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 23
Use of Government Position
•
Endorsements
•
Fundraising
•
Benefits
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 24
CAP Owned Vehicles
OFFICIAL USE: Accomplish mission
• PERSONAL USE: Authorized Purposes
• - TDY
– -Lodging
– -Restaurants
– -Religious Services
– -NOT Entertainment
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 25
Pop Quiz-True/False
1.
Since my organization is downsizing, may I use my CAP
computer during duty hours to prepare my resume?
2.
May I use my name and title to ask employees to support the
Cadet Fund Raising Activity?
3.
May I take a CAP vehicle to a fitness center to exercise while
on TDY?
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 26
Miscellaneous Resources
•
•
•
•
•
- Food
- Business Cards
- Gifts
- Stamps and Mail
- Credit Cards
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 27
Hypothetical
Your subordinate is the secretary of the local PTA. He asks
you if he can do the following things using CAP equipment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
telephone five people to set up a meeting
use his computer to type the agenda
e-mail notices of the meeting to 200 members
make 200 copies of the agenda
fax an invitation to Scott Adams to be a speaker
at the meeting (long distance)
Lesson 4: Ethics
Slide 28