Government Ethics

Overview/Description
The Office of Government Ethics exercises leadership in the executive branch to prevent conflicts of interest on the part of government employees, and to resolve those conflicts of interest that do occur. In partnership with executive branch agencies and departments, OGE fosters high ethical standards for employees and strengthens the public's confidence that the government's business is conducted with impartiality and integrity. This course introduces federal and agency employees to the issue of government ethics in the federal workplace. |w Issues such as financial conflicts of interest, impartiality and misuse of position are covered. This course will enable federal and agency employees to discern and respond to possible conflicts of interest, should they arise. This course meets the training requirements under executive order 12674 and executive order 12731 outlining agency responsibilities on the principles of ethical conduct for government officers and employees. SkillSoft's Legal Compliance course on Government Ethics is developed and maintained with subject matter support provided by Christopher Yukins, Associate Professor of Government Contract Law, The George Washington University Law School, and Peter McKeen, a member of the adjunct faculty, University of Virginia Procurement and Contracts Management Program.

Target Audience


Federal government employees; employees of federal agencies; supervisors of federal employees; managers of federal employees; employees who buy goods and services from the private sector for the federal government; employees who deal with the public who are looking to obtain permits, licenses, and address other regulatory needs

Expected Duration


1.0 hours

Objectives :

The OGE and Ethical Standards

  • recognize unethical behavior according to OGE standards

    • Conflicting Financial Interests

  • determine whether a conflict of financial interest exists in a given scenario
  • recognize direct and predictable effects on financial interest in given scenarios

    • Gifts from Outside Sources and between Employees

  • determine whether a gift from an outside source can be accepted in given scenarios
  • determine whether a gift from another employee can be accepted in given scenarios |n

    • Impartiality in Performing Official Duties

  • recognize situations where an employee's impartiality may be questioned

    • Seeking Other Employment

  • determine whether an employee who is seeking outside employment should be disqualified from participating in specific government matters

    • Misuse of Position

  • recognize situations where employees have misused their position according to the ethical guidelines


    • Course Number: fgov_01_a09_bs_enus