Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real KSA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards & Ethics flashcards as text
Which action is a prohibited personnel practice under 5 U.S.C. 2302?
Answer: Reassigning an employee in retaliation for whistleblowing
Retaliating against an employee for protected disclosures is a prohibited personnel practice.
The Hatch Act primarily restricts federal employees from doing what?
Answer: Engaging in partisan political activity while on duty or in the federal workplace
The Hatch Act limits partisan political activity, especially on duty, in federal spaces, or using official authority.
A supervisor learns that a close relative has applied for a vacancy in their unit. What does the anti-nepotism law require?
Answer: The supervisor may not appoint, employ, promote, or advocate for the relative
5 U.S.C. 3110 prohibits a public official from appointing or advocating for a relative in their agency.
You handle sensitive personnel records. A friend asks if a mutual acquaintance was disciplined. What is the right answer?
Answer: Decline, since the information is protected by the Privacy Act
The Privacy Act restricts disclosure of records about individuals without authorization.
When seeking non-federal employment, an employee must disqualify themselves from matters affecting a prospective employer once what occurs?
Answer: They begin seeking employment with that party in a way that triggers 'seeking employment' rules
Sending an application or engaging in negotiations means the employee is seeking employment and must recuse.
Which practice best reflects honesty when writing a KSA statement about a team project?
Answer: Describing your specific role and contribution accurately
Accurate attribution of your own actions is what makes a KSA credible and verifiable.
An employee notices a colleague routinely falsifying timesheets. What is the appropriate course of action?
Answer: Report it to a supervisor or the Office of Inspector General
Employees must disclose waste, fraud, and abuse to appropriate authorities such as the OIG.
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