FREE Civil Service FAQ Employee Ethical Conduct Questions and Answers

Question 1

A civil service employee is offered a ticket to a professional sporting event, valued at $150, by a contractor whose firm has a multi-million dollar contract with the employee's agency.
Under the Standards of Ethical Conduct, which of the following is the most appropriate action for the employee to take?

Accepted Answer

Decline the ticket, as it is from a prohibited source and exceeds the nominal value limit.

Answer

Accept the ticket, as it is a one-time gesture of goodwill.

Answer

Accept the ticket but report it on their annual financial disclosure form.

Answer

Decline the ticket but suggest the contractor donate it to a charity auction.

Question 2

An employee at a federal agency uses their government-issued computer and official email account during their lunch break to send out invitations and manage RSVPs for a personal, non-work-related fundraising event they are organizing. Which ethical principle does this action most likely violate?

Accepted Answer

The prohibition against using public office for private gain.

Answer

The duty to disclose waste, fraud, and abuse.

Answer

The prohibition against conflicts of financial interest.

Answer

The requirement to obtain prior approval for outside activities.

Question 3

A mid-level civil service employee is considering taking a part-time job on weekends with a company that is in the same industry their agency regulates. The job does not involve any representation before the government. What is the employee's primary ethical obligation before accepting this employment?

Accepted Answer

They must seek prior written approval from their agency's ethics official.

Answer

They must resign from their civil service position to avoid any conflict.

Answer

They only need to ensure the outside work does not interfere with their official work schedule.

Answer

They can accept the job without notification as long as their salary is below a certain threshold.

Question 4

Which of the following situations would require a federal employee to recuse themselves from a particular matter to avoid a conflict of interest?

Accepted Answer

Reviewing a contract proposal from a company where the employee's spouse is a senior executive.

Answer

Serving on a panel that is awarding a grant to a university from which the employee graduated 20 years ago.

Answer

Participating in a policy decision that will broadly affect an industry where the employee owns a widely diversified mutual fund.

Answer

Recommending a former subordinate for a position in another federal agency.

Question 5

A senior executive service (SES) employee leaves their federal position to work for a private consulting firm. For one year after their departure, what specific restriction applies to their interactions with their former agency?

Accepted Answer

They may not communicate with or appear before their former agency with the intent to influence any matter on behalf of another person.

Answer

They are permanently banned from communicating with any federal agency on any matter.

Answer

They can freely communicate with their former agency as long as they did not personally work on the specific matter in question.

Answer

They are only restricted from working on contracts that were awarded during their final year of service.

Question 6

A civil service employee becomes aware of what they reasonably believe to be a significant waste of government funds in a program managed by their office. According to the Principles of Ethical Conduct, what is the employee's responsibility?

Accepted Answer

To disclose the information to the appropriate authorities.

Answer

To gather conclusive evidence of the waste before taking any action.

Answer

To discuss the matter only with colleagues they trust.

Answer

To address the issue directly with the person responsible for the program.