Ethics Pledge Briefing

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Meeting with Labor RepresentativesI. Welcome and Introductions

II. Purpose

III. About the PledgeA. Reasons for Requiring the PledgeB. Broad Overview and Explanation of the PledgeC. General Information

i. The Role of the Ethics Officerii. Trainingiii. Deadlines

IV. Questions and Answers

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Ethics Pledge – Purpose

The purpose of the D.C. Employee Ethics Pledge is to ensure all D.C. Government employees understand that they are public servants, entrusted with working for the common good of our city and its residents.  As public servants, they have been given access to information and resources for one purpose: To serve the government and citizens of the District of Columbia.

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Ethics Pledge – About the Pledge

Reason for requiring the Pledge: To ensure employees are knowledgeable of and pledge to abide by their ethical responsibilities under the law.

While there is no penalty if an employee disagrees with the pledge, or refuses to sign, each provision of the pledge is supported by a corresponding Federal or D.C. statute, which itself carries administrative, civil and/or criminal penalties for violations.

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Ethics Pledge – ExamplesAvoid representational conflicts of interest.An employee must not use his/her official position or office to obtain financial gain for:• Him/herself• Immediate family• Associates

Avoid gifts, payments from interested parties.Gifts include:• Tips, loans, favors, entertainment, presents, or anything

else of value

Act impartially.• Give preferential treatment to anyone• Promote on the basis of family or relative• Appoint, employee, promote, or advance any “relative” to

a position

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Ethics Pledge

Suggested Conflict of Interest Remedies

• Disclose

• Recusal

• Reassign

• Divest

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Role of the Ethics Counselor• By March 31, 2012, or within 30 days of

appointment, complete the ethics training course provided by OAG.

• Monitor agency to ensure employees take the pledge and attend the training.

• Collaborate with DCHR to identify needs to deliver agency-specific training that may be needed beyond the standard training.

• Serve as the agency resource and point of contact to respond to any questions or concerns raised by employees regarding the ethics policy.

• Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Timeline• November 14, 2011 – All Cabinet Members took the official ethics

pledge

• March 31, 2012 – Deadline for Ethics Counselors to receive instructor-led training from the OAG

• April 9, 2012 – Online training available to employees

• April 16, 2012 – Deadline for District employees to sign the ethics pledge

• December 31, 2012 – Deadline for employees to complete ethics training

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012

Questions

If you have questions about the Ethics Pledge, please contact:

• Charles Tucker, General Counsel, DCHR (202) 727-1524• Kathleen Clark, D.C. Ethics Counselor (202) 724-1521

Meeting with the Labor UnionsMarch 21, 2012