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Purpose
The following is a collection of recent rulings,
guidelines, and legislations that govern employees
of the Executive Branch and is issued to remind
employees of the National Finance Center (NFC)
that public service is a public trust. While several
scenarios highlight current amendment changes,
others identify and address the improper use of
public office for private gain. It is the expectation
of this agency and responsibility of each employee
to place loyalty to the Constitution, laws, and
ethical principles above private gain. It is with
this premise that employees are encouraged to
put forth an honest effort when conducting the
performance of their duties.
Girl Scout Cookie Solicitations
The annual Girl Scout cookie sale has started.
Private fundraising, such as the Girl Scout cookie
sale, is prohibited. The Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC), or situations that the Secretary of the
Department of Agriculture authorizes, are the
only fundraising events allowed under Title 5
Code of Federal Register, Part 950.
Practice of Giving Federal Employees Time
Off for Contributing to Combined Federal Campaign
Found Illegal
The Office of General Counsel recently issued
an investigative report that found a Federal facility
awarding improper incentives and establishing
inappropriate goals in relation to the CFC campaign.
The Federal facility gave employees time off for
contributing over a certain amount to the CFC
campaign. This was found to be inappropriate in
that it misrepresented the administrative leave,
thereby violating Federal regulations.
Hatch Act Violation Leads to Removal from
Federal Position
In Special Counsel v. Jack Simmons, the
United States Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
found that a mail carrier who ran as an independent
candidate for the Office of Sheriff in Jeff Davis
County, Georgia, could be removed from Federal
service for violating Title 5 United States Code
7323(a)(3).
That statue prohibits Federal employees from running
"for nomination, or as a candidate for election
to a partisan political office." MSPB found
that the former Federal employee had ignored the
advice of the Postmaster and an attorney from
the Office of Special Counsel, both of whom had
advised him not to run for office. MSPB concluded
that the respondent's conduct demonstrated a deliberate
disregard for the law and removal was the appropriate
sanction.
Please refer inquiries regarding this memorandum
to your supervisor. Supervisors should contact
the National Finance Center's Ethics Office at
Extension 5-5679.
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