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ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

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Title: ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE


1
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
Lamar State College Port Arthur
This training outlines what is expected of LSCPA
employees. It is intended only as a brief
introductory guide, and should not be considered
as a comprehensive legal document.
2
In this training you will get the answers to
these questions and more
  • What is ethical behavior and why does it matter
    at work?
  • How do I know if I am making ethical decisions?
  • What process should I follow to make ethical
    decisions?
  • What is the Colleges policy on Ethics and
    Standards of Conduct?

3
  • Ethics in the Workplace
  • Definitions, Benefits Choices

4
What are Ethics?
  • Ethics are moral values which affect personal or
    professional actions.
  • They are more than a set of rules. Ethics are
    knowing how to apply the rules and having the
    strength of character to behave in an ethical
    manner.

5
Ethics and LSCPA
  • General Guidelines
  • Be professional and provide excellent customer
    service.
  • Record and report information accurately.
  • (Examples LSCPA claims, monthly time reports,
    travel vouchers)
  • Cooperate with investigations.
  • Observe College policies and procedures.

6
Ethics and LSCPA
  • LSCPA employees should conduct themselves
    professionally at all times on the job, and act
    in ways that bring credit to themselves, the
    College, and the public we serve.
  • Your compliance with the Employee Ethics and
    Standard of Conduct Policy is of utmost
    importance. Unfortunately, even the appearance
    of wrongdoing by one employee may affect the
    reputation of every employee.
  • These rules and standards of conduct are not only
    LSCPA policy, but also Texas state law. Your
    compliance with these policies is expected for
    continuing LSCPA employment.

Employee Ethics and Standard of Conduct Policy
7
Benefits of Ethics in the Workplace
  • Personal Benefits
  • Peace of mind
  • Pride
  • Good reputation
  • Trust
  • Other Benefits
  • Ensure policies are legal
  • Improve society
  • Maintain a moral course in difficult times
  • Develop strong teamwork and productivity

8
Making Ethical Choices
  • When in doubt
  • Talk to people whose judgment you respect.
  • What would the most ethical person you know do?
  • What would you do if you were sure everyone would
    know?
  • Golden Rule Treat others as you would want to be
    treated.

9
Making Ethical Choices
The Six Pillars of Character emphasize various
values. These character traits can help you to
be ethical.
  • Trustworthiness
  • Honest Reliable Reputable
  • Respect
  • Tolerant Considerate With manners
  • Responsibility
  • Self control Self discipline Accountable
  • Fairness
  • Just Reasonable Impartial
  • Caring
  • Kind Compassionate Giving
  • Citizenship
  • Obey Respect Protect

10
Making Ethical Choices
  • Act in a manner that promotes public confidence
    in your integrity and fairness.
  • Follow the Six Pillars of Character
  • Be professional
  • Give excellent customer service
  • Follow LSCPAs Standards of Conduct as a guide
    for what specific actions are allowed or
    prohibited.

11
  • Standards of Conduct

12
LSCPA Standards of Conduct
  • Firearms/weapons
  • Political activities
  • Publicity
  • Conflict of interest
  • Prohibited representation
  • Acceptance of gifts
  • Confidentiality
  • State property
  • Outside employment
  • Drug-free workplace

Standards of Conduct
13
Acceptance of Gifts
  • Accepting gifts, gratuities, or entertainment
    from someone involved with a claim (or agency
    business).
  • This is not allowed You may not seek or accept
    anything of value for your official duties.

You are paid your state salary for your job
duties and responsibilities without expecting
anything in return.
14
Confidential Information
  • Do not give out confidential information you know
    through employment with the College to an
    unauthorized party.
  • Confidential information includes LSCPA claim
    files, personnel actions, and investigation
    files.
  • Giving out confidential information obtained
    through your job with LSCPA, or using such
    information for your own personal gain, would be
    unethical and unlawful.

Confidential Information Policy
15
Use of State Property
  • State law limits the use of Texas state property
    to state purposes.
  • LSCPA employees may use state property only to
    conduct official College business.
  • Employees are prohibited from conducting any
    outside or non-College business on state time.

Use of State Property Policy
16
Use of State PropertyExamples
  • Telephone fax
  • TEX-AN (long distance)
  • Credit cards
  • Computers
  • Copy machines
  • Cell phones
  • State vehicles (or rental vehicles paid for by
    the state)

17
Use of State Property Internet
  • The Internet should be used for legitimate state
    business. However, brief, occasional and
    incidental personal use is allowed.
  • Personal use of the Internet is a privilege (not
    a right) and personal use should be limited to
    short work breaks, lunch and 30 minutes before or
    after work.

Internet Policy
18
Use of State Property Internet
  • Prohibited
  • Accessing pornographic sites/material.
  • Accessing, posting, or sharing material that can
    be considered racist, sexist, threatening,
    obscene or otherwise objectionable under state or
    federal law.
  • Use that hampers or impedes the conduct of state
    business.
  • Use for political purposes.
  • Use for the solicitation for charities/organizatio
    n memberships.
  • Use for subscribing to mailing lists or mail
    services.

19
Use of State Property E-Mail
  • E-mail should be used only for legitimate state
    business. However, e-mail messages of a personal
    nature may be sent and received as long as use is
    brief, occasional and incidental.
  • .

Personal use of e-mail is a privilege (not a
right), and personal use should be limited
E-Mail Policy
20
Use of State Property E-Mail
  • Prohibited
  • Use for solicitation for charities or
    organization membership.
  • Use for personal monetary interest or gain.
  • Use that hampers or impedes the conduct of state
    business.

21
Use of State Property LSCPA Records
  • Falsifying and/or destroying LSCPA records is a
    violation of LSCPA policy. It may also constitute
    a violation of the Texas Government Code and/or
    Texas Penal Code and carry criminal penalties.
  • All records are considered state property and may
    not be removed or destroyed except within
    accordance with LSCPA record and retention
    schedules.
  • Check with your manager for specific operational
    policy.
  • The Internal Audit Division is required by law
    to report such violations to the State Auditor.

22
Use of State PropertyLSCPA Facilities
  • You may not use work hours and/or state property
    to solicit and collect gifts, contributions or
    services from non-workers for special events or
    incidents, or for political purposes.
  • Limited voluntary donations for co-workers on
    special occasions, such as retirements, may be
    approved by your manager.

23
Other Employment
  • You may not engage in outside employment or
    activities that conflict with College duties and
    responsibilities.
  • The Outside Employment Policy requires each LSCPA
    employee to notify, provide relevant information,
    and receive approval from the proper authority
    before accepting employment with another
    employer.
  • Dual State Employment requires an employee to
    inform the employing state agency before
    accepting additional employment with another
    agency or institution.

Outside Employment Policy
24
Drug-Free Workplace
  • College employees must not work under the
    influence of
  • The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can provide
    employees and their dependents with confidential
    referral services for assistance in resolving
    problems with alcohol, drug or other substance
    abuse.
  • Household or commercial products
  • Other similar products
  • Unauthorized prescription drugs
  • Other dangerous drugs
  • Drugs
  • Alcohol
  • Controlled substances
  • Derivatives of controlled substances

Drug-Free Workplace Policy
25
Firearms and Other Weapons
  • LSCPA has a zero-tolerance policy for violence or
    harassment in the workplace.
  • In order to ensure a safe workplace for our
    employees and customers, College staff may not
    carry firearms or other weapons on LSCPA premises.

Firearms and Other Weapons Prohibited
26
Political Activities
  • State and federal laws restrict political
    activity of state employees.
  • You may not participate in political activities
    on state time.
  • This includes
  • Collecting contributions
  • Selling tickets to political fund raisers
  • Distributing campaign material
  • Making campaign phone calls

Political Activities Policy
27
Publicity
  • A specific individual is responsible for public
    communication about official College business.
  • All media inquiries should be directed to the
    Vice President for Student Services.
  • You should never accept an interview or provide
    information to the media unless directed to do so
    by the Executive Division.

Publicity Restrictions Public Statements
28
Conflict of Interest
  • On acceptance of appointment to LSCPA, an
    appointee who is an officer, employee or paid
    consultant of a Texas trade association must
    resign the position or terminate the contract
    with the trade association.
  • Only applies to LSCPA Employees, exempt
    employees, and those in salary group 17 or above.

Conflict of Interest Policy
29
Prohibited Representation(Revolving Door)
  • The Revolving Door statute restricts the
    activities of former employees, executives and
    governing body members of regulatory agencies
    after they leave the agency.
  • Only applies to former LSCPA Employees,
    Executive Directors, former state officers of
    regulatory agencies, exempt employees, and those
    in salary group 17 or above.

The Revolving Door Statute
30
LSCPA Standards of Conduct
  • Please note!
  • The previous examples are frequent issues that
    come up in the workplace.
  • Other ethical issues not covered in this training
    may occur.
  • If so, good judgment and communication with your
    supervisor should be used to make good decisions.
  • Any job-related conduct which is outside the
    scope of professional behavior, common courtesy,
    and excellent customer service, and any conduct
    which breaks any College policy or state and/or
    federal law, violates the Employee Ethics and
    Standards of Conduct policy.

31
Final Thought
  • If you have questions about how the Ethics Policy
    may apply to your particular situation, please
    contact your supervisor or Human Resources.
  • It is much easier and safer to get advice ahead
    of time rather than trying to undo inappropriate
    actions. Such actions can involve career-ending
    mistakes, or the possibility of suffering
    administrative, civil or even criminal penalties.

32
  • Knowledge Check

33
1. One of the guidelines to ethical behavior is
to be professional and provide excellent customer
service.
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
TRUE
FALSE
34
1. One of the guidelines to ethical behavior is
to be professional and provide excellent customer
service.
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
You should also record and report information
accurately, cooperate with investigations, and
observe College policies and procedures.
TRUE
35
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
2. These rules and standards of conduct are not
only LSCPA policy, but also Texas state law.
TRUE
FALSE
36
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
2. These rules and standards of conduct are not
only LSCPA policy, but also Texas state law.
TRUE
These laws and rules require your compliance for
continued employment with LSCPA.  
37
3. College policy allows employees to take a
second job, as long as the hours dont conflict
with their LSCPA job.
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
TRUE
FALSE
38
3. College policy allows employees to take a
second job, as long as the hours dont conflict
with their LSCPA job.
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
You may only be allowed to take outside
employment if it does not conflict with College
duties and responsibilities. You must also have
the employment approved using the agency
procedures.
FALSE
39
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
4. If in doubt about what choice is ethical, you
should contact your supervisor or Human Resources
in advance.
TRUE
FALSE
40
Knowledge CheckTrue or False?
4. If in doubt about what choice is ethical, you
should contact your supervisor or Human Resources
in advance.
It is much easier and safer for you to get advice
ahead of time rather than trying to undo
inappropriate actions.
TRUE
41
End of Course
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