Document ID: OSHA-2009-0012-0126
Agency: osha
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2009-08-21T04:00Z

Summary of the Ethics Rules

for Non-Federal Individuals

U.S. Department of Labor

							

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of the Solicitor

Division of Legislation and Legal Counsel

Tel. No. (202) 693-5528

STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT

Summary of Ethics Rules

for Non-Federal Individuals Who 

Work With the Federal Government

Individuals who are employed directly with the United States Government
are required to adhere to standards of conduct as prescribed by law and
regulation.  Similarly, persons who work with the United States
Government – but not as employees of the Government – are held to a
high standard of conduct to ensure public confidence in the integrity of
the Government.  

These rules apply to:  contractors, representatives on Federal advisory
committees, advisors or consultants to Federal source evaluation panels,
 volunteer student interns, or as otherwise determined.  

Listed below are some of the rules that you must follow.  Violations of
some of these rules may subject you to criminal or civil penalties.  

If you have any question about these rules or other ethics issues, you
should contact the Counsel for Ethics, Office of the Solicitor at (202)
693-5528.

Department Ethics Officials:

Designated Agency Ethics Official:

Solicitor of Labor	 

	Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official:

	Robert A. Shapiro, Associate Solicitor for Legal Counsel

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MISUSE OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

Government resources may only be used for official authorized Government
activities.  For example, this rule applies to use of:

•	Government equipment (including computers and photocopying
machines);

•	Government supplies (including agency letterhead and Government
envelopes);

•	Government services (including telephone and fax services); and

•	the time of Government personnel.  

If you are working in a Government office, you should be careful to
preserve Government property.  If you are entitled to reimbursement from
the Government for certain expenditures, such as travel costs, you must
ensure that all charges you claim are legally authorized and are
documented.  Limited use of Government resources may be made for
personal purposes, provided it is done in accordance with the
Department's Appropriate Use Policy.  See Department of Labor Management
Series (DLMS) 9, Chapter 900 (available on LaborNet/Reference Library).

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MISUSE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION 

Certain information you obtain as part of your work with the Federal
Government may not be used for your private activities or disseminated
to persons outside the Government unless they are specifically
authorized to receive the information.  This includes:

•	nonpublic data;

•	nonpublic economic analyses;

•	information on ongoing civil and/or criminal investigations;

•	private personnel information;

•	source selection and other nonpublic procurement information;

•	classified national security information;

•	labor statistics data;

•	proprietary business data and trade secrets;

•	information about internal, predecisional deliberations of the
government; and

•	other nonpublic information.  

Release or dissemination of such information must be specifically
authorized by a Federal official.  Improper use or release may result in
criminal charges (for example, for misuse of national security
information) or civil liability (for example, for misuse of business
proprietary information).

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MISUSE OF GOVERNMENT AFFILIATION

You may not use your association with the Government, including business
contacts obtained through your work with the Government, to try to
obtain personal benefits or favors for yourself, friends, relatives, or
business associates.  

Because you are not a Federal employee, you may not represent that you
serve or act on behalf of the Federal Government unless you are
specifically authorized to do so.  You may not use your association with
the Government to imply that the Government endorses your personal
activities.  Therefore, you should not use a Government logo or seal on
your personal business card or stationery or refer to a Government
office on your business card unless your relationship with the
Government is made clear (e.g., contractor for the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, member of the Native American Employment and
Training Council, etc.).

In addition, you may not use your Government affiliation for your own
personal gain or for that of others, or use that affiliation in any
manner endorse a product service or enterprise.

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ADDITIONAL RULES

Additional rules may apply depending on the specific arrangement or
agreement between you or your employer and the Federal Government.  For
example, a clause in a contract under which you provide services to the
Government may subject you to the same standards of ethical conduct
applicable to Federal employees or may restrict you from engaging in
certain activities.  Similarly, if working under a student volunteer
agreement or a memorandum of understanding, the terms of the agreement
may impose limitations on your activities.  In addition, special
provisions may require you to disclose information regarding your
financial interests or employment, bar you from accepting certain gifts
or payments, or otherwise regulate your conduct.   

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