Return to Article: Study: Ethical breaches becoming common in government
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44547
Since 1992, here at one of the "smallest/least viable" offices in USEPA, I witnessed blatant abuse in hiring and promotion practices clearly in violation of ethics rules. Starting from the office director level down to the division and deputy division director, where friends and cronies are given the answer to the "Selection Criteria" and once on board, they're fast tracked to the highest grade levels if not the SES corp. One might say this is a mild abuse, but one could also think of the consequences, where the practice is repeated many times over and before long, the taxpayer is footing a bill for under performing/deserving civil servants. Between salaries, awards, and bonuses, it all adds up to a hefty retirement supported by unwittingly younger generations. As implied in one of the comments, "Ethics" is a foreign language word unbeknown to many senior government officials.
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43731
I have been in government more that 30 years and seen unethical behavior become the culture of the organization. I wrote a paper for my master's certificate in Business Ethics on Developing an Ethics Program: Pubic vs Private. The overall results was that ethics in the public sector could not servive because of politics and lack of punishment for unethical behavior. Until we have leadership that will walk the walk and talk the talk the culture will not change. I remain hopeful because their are more people in government that want ethical leaders and governence than those that don't.
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43379
I'm speechless. Why even write this article? Nothing will ever be done about this, at least not fairly, and not across the board. If you really get into this, you'll find that senior leaders have breed this environment over the years (I watched it for 33 years). The higher your position, the more unethical the person.
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43220
ETHICS??? Is the word even in the dictionary anymore? If so, it has been buried so deep most leaders don't know how to look it up. With G.W. as a prime example of what we would never raise our children to be like, he gets to run the highest office with his arrogance, stubborn attitude, in-training experience, and lack of diplomacy, world-wide. God help this great country if we elect the next leader - albiet democrat - who has some of the same qualities of arrogance, vainness, foreign family connections (in a troubled country now seeking funds from the US for ethnic cleansing and God forbid, a decendant of Dick Cheney)to lead this great land. Americans, get you head out of the sand and start looking at ethnics and towards the best candidate who can lead this country back to the wonderful United States we had...and who can and will instill a sense of unity and fairness as we had before G.W. stole the office....and yes, there is a lot of the "good ole boy" and "disregard" for seasoned Federal employees when it comes to gaining the higher grades within the Federal Government. That too, has been allowed by our wonderful human resource offices that has thrown "affirmative actions and employment" out the window with the baby and bathwater. For sure it appears "monkey see, monkey do" is the norm for human kind anymore.
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43107
If character is defined as doing the right thing when no one is looking, it's pretty easy to see that what these people (those engaged in ethical misconduct) lack is character. I think it is also true that the tone of an organizaiton - yes, even a huge lumbering Federal bureaucracy - is set at the top. The current occupant of the White House - including his minions Rove and Cheney- are guilty of the most serious of ethical breaches: fabricating lies that took this great country to war, and cost the US its financial might and scores of loyal service men and women, not to mention hundreds of thousand of Iraqis, their lives. It's despicable.
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43089
To Dan Ketter, Surely you cannot be a federal employee. First you have way too much time on your hands to be posting on Govexec.com and second a SMART federal employee would know that backing a Republican for President is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders. Hasn't the last 7 yrs proven that ?
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43013
I just want to thank Tom Hilton and Kate G. for their comments. I couldn't agree more.
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42987
disgusted in PA I can only assume that you were sick to your stomach in the 90's when lying under oath was condoned and now we have another Dem running for Pres from Illnois who already has been found to be a crook. Just what kind of change is he working for.
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42968
Hey! Stop and think a minute. Organizations like ERC survive on perceptions that the ethical sky is falling. This survey is not a valid indication of actual ethical breaches among government employees. It summarizes attitudes and perceptions of less than half a percent of federal employees averaged in with state and local folks. It was conducted by an "independent" organization that appears to have a point of view reflected in the title of their own press release: "Governments at All Levels Show High Rates of Misconduct; "Next Enron" Could Be in Public Sector, ERC Survey Finds" I resent the Civil Service being tarred by some commenting here with a brush apparently aimed at elected and appointed officials. What looks like an ethical breach to an employee from across the office floor may, in fact, be an agency-sanctioned activity or unambiguously ethical if the observer knew the facts of the situation. It is not news that politicians sometimes lie, cheat, and steal. It is also not news that people often misperceive events. How does any of that foretell scandals of Enron proportions?
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42933
Sol Rosenberg's and others' comments about the federal government workforce being a reflection of society is correct. I believe it is up to each of us to do our part to speak up when we see unethical behavior, or we become part of the problem. Also, I strongly disagree with the discussion that having a strong belief in a Judeo-Christian God would prevent this type of unethical behavior. There have been plenty of so-called religious Christians and others throughout history and now who have behaved in terrible ways. Finally, as a deeply religious and strongly practicing member of the fastest growing Buddhist sect in the world - Soka Gakkai International, I must say that Jews and Christians aren't the only groups who can understand in the importance of ethical behavior. The Buddhist concept of cause and effect and the dignity of human life permeates our thoughts and behavior every day of our life, so ethics and respect for others is part of our core belief. No matter what our religion, let's all work to improve our workplace. If all the ethical feds unite, we can accomplish a lot, including at our polling places.
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42920
Ethics and morals are learned behavior. There are those that do not believe in GOD who are ethical and morale. And likewise there are those that do believe in God that are not ethical and moral. I do believe in GOD and have morals and ethics. There are more stories than one cares to name where a person goes to their place of worship every week and talks to GOD, preaches the word and than all other days are unethical and immoral. So let's not put blame where blame is not deserved. If a countries leaders are not ethical and morale, than there's a good chance the actions of the citizens will result in similar action. If corporate leaders are not ethical and morale, than there's a good chance that the corporation will respond to its employees similarly. If parents are not ethical and morale, the chances are the children will end up the same way. My point is there are immoral and unethical people everywhere. Let's start with Government Leadership and Corporate Leadership and work our way down, Not Up!
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42914
We all (99%) have been raised with a basic notion of what is right or wrong. We also know what is right or wrong when it comes to what we are supposed to do at work. The question each individual (whether career employee or potical appointee) has to answer is; "Would you still do it if no one was watching"?
Furthermore, do politcal apointees know what they are supposed to do at work or do they do what they think they can get away with?
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42905
After 25 years of observation. I concur with those who say that the majority of the corruption is in the higher levels--and the ones fighting it are the lower levels. Unfortunately, the IGs and offices designed to protect the public from these abuses usually work directly for the worse offenders. Being in DoD we not only have the problem of corrupt civilians with too much power but also the "Rank has it's privilege" and "Respect the rank" garbage with which to contend. The only protection the public really has are the little people who are willing to stand-up and report the problems--but the new personnel system will take care of that--how many "not team players" do you think will be eliminated by the new system? Then all you will have is the corrupt upper levels and the sychophants that look the other way and/or support the corruption...
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42904
As many have previously pointed out, it starts at the top. When deception is the basis for decision, no one ever wins except the deceivers. In 33 years of federal service I have never seen so many political appointments in management as I have in this administration. In concert with the amount of contracting out, executives and managers are not working for the public trust but are essentially designing their future success outside of government by approving and directing support for failed programs. Whistle blowing a joke because all the IG's are politically appointed as well. This article only scratches the surface.
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42895
Lots of interesting perspectives... I strongly agree with the comment that unethical behavior is on the rise everywhere in society, not just in Government. How many times do you see some captain of industry or elected official on the news caught doing questionable things, and say it is OK because it is not illegal. Few seem concerned with appearances - just fear of jail time. I also see a lot of comments about "corrupt" managers, usually from someone who feels they were given the short end of a particular stick by their management. Although I sympathize with them, believe me, managers aren't the only ones that act unethically. I've seen people pretty far down on the food chain lose their jobs for falsifying travel vouchers, or using their Gov't credit card for personal gain. And finally, there are some who feel that a belief in a Judeao-Christian God is a pre-requisite to ethical behavior. I believe in God, but I can't share that opinion because that would imply that 1.5 billion Buddhists in the world are unethical by definition. Ethical behavior is not limited to the religious. Isn't there a term some people use to describe non-religious people called "ethical humanism?" There you go....
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42893
This would be funny if it weren't so sad. The leadership in government has made every effort to make government like the private sector. Now they're not happy with the results? Perhaps this proof of the law of unintended consequences might suggest that federal service is more than just a job and should be treated as such?
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42873
I agree that if the Pesident or his staff are percieved as untruthful in pursuing public policy objctives on behalf of the nation, it sets a moral tone. Federal, state and local officials on all levels, can, and perhaps should, take this perception, true or not as the green light to use and convert public influence and public resources for personal gain. I mean, come on, who could deny this direct causal relationship? I am suprised that some of the commentors have not seen the clear connection to Rove and Cheney. After all, Cheney shot a lawyer, and, well we all know about Rove. We have to two great hopes for the future. One is a young beth of fresh air, comming to us directly from Chicago Democratic politics to bring change to the whole corupt Washington culture. The other thing we have to look forward to is a return to those heady days of high ethical standards of the Clintons. Great.
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42866
Organizations like the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the AFCEA maybe strong advocates; however, they tend to cross the line between objectivity, honesty, and integrity when it comes to assisting in the delivery of quality, reliable, cost-effective products for our nation.
These are self-serving organizations where the industrial membership gains unconstrained influence and access over federal/DoD policy and acquisition.
These are some of the roots of the unethical behavior that need to be severed. They are nothing more than special interest, trade association, and lobbying groups disguised to help protect the nation, but instead they feed off the taxpayers like hungry wolves.
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42853
Bill and Hillary Clinton made it OK to lie cheat steal and abuse anyone who points out your unethical activity. Look at how many people were abused or even killed when it looked like they would testify or give up information about the Clintons.
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42808
Military commanders may be getting too involved in selection of contract employees. In the past, employee selection was strictly a contractor's function to meet the contracting officer's task. I believe there are isolated cases where contractors are allowing commanders to help with selections to garner favor and ensure that they win follow-on contracts.
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42804
Alyssa Rosenburg is absolutely correct. If there is not the internal restraint to act ethically (resulting from a belief in God coupled with acceptance that there is an absolute standard that I am accountable to) then there are not enough tools (jails, laws, etc) to restrain unethical behavior.
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42782
Yes, it will get worse unless there is a revival in this great country of ours. The government doesn't allow the 10 Commandments to be displayed to remind us of what is right and wrong. Surveys show that few under the age of 20 believe in God. If you don't believe in God and don't believe in eternal consequences for your actions, the only thing keeping you from lying, cheating, and stealing is the fear of getting caught by management or a co-worker. Think about it, if someone doesn't believe in a God with a set of rules for us, then what does it matter to them if he or she breaks these arbitrary rules?
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42781
disgusted in PA posted: "With GW Bush as our role model?!?!?! Most of us are 100 times more ethical than he is. I have spent 7 years worrying about how parents teach their children not to lie, steal or murder or be bullies"...
I would recommend you actually read the report before you comment (I would also recommend you learn how to make an argument before you make cum hoc ergo propter hoc and ad hominem fallacies.). While the numbers reported are high, they are down from the numbers reported during the Clinton administration (from the 2000 numbers on page one of the report).
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42774
What do you expect? The curent leadership ignores laws they don't care to comply with, military service leaders at all levels choose which instructions and regulations they want to enforce and the lawyers are in charge of ethics training.
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42752
I have worked for a well known PMA in the Pacific Northwest since the mid 1980's. There were always a few ethical breaches, scandals that management would attempt to sweep under the rug as quickly as possible. They usually involved managers. It's gotten worse under the Bush Administration. After a senior manager was convicted in 2006 on felony counts of conflict of interest, making a false statement and wire fraud, upper management made a big show of implementing new ethics training. Forget about the Unions at this agency. AFGE has become a sinking ship since the Local leadership all decided to leave the Union last year with good reason. This agency is not a particularly healthy environment.
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42744
Yes, its time once again to give the unethical behavior of numerous federal managers and a few workers the annual lip service so it can be swept under the rug again. The reality is that unethical behavior is commonplace in the federal government and accountability is not. Therefore, many soldiers, injured federal workers, disabled adults and children, elderly people and occasionally even a corrupt federal manager will suffer tragedy.
Its been this way for decades and the problem will continue to grow until the government fails. Then what? Who kept quite when they saw the misdoings? Who didn't want to make waves? Could you have prevented a tragedy or two or more? Are you any less guilty than the corrupt?
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42729
After 28 years of watching what goes on in the government, lying, cheating the system, adultry, I doubt it will ever change.
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42726
It is refreshing to see that I am not the only one who has lived this. ICE OPR was set up to be a reporting avenue for waste, fraud, and abuse. It has become bait for management to identify whistleblowers so retaliation could become more effective, and efficent. Just how valuable is reporting misconduct and/or ethical violations when you are identified and OPR takes little action other than a superficial investigation? You have made yourself a target. Until whistleblower protection is made much more available, fear will dominate the workplace, and with fear comes permissive abstinace. This is where misconduct thrives!
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42725
I think we need to take this report with a grain of salt. I have observed that individuals may have a very poor understanding of what is an ethical violation, going in both directions. Training is poor in that it does not well apply to the challenges that face us on a daily basis. One of the toughest challenges I see the most often, is that lack of understanding of processes leads individuals to poorly regard the process that keeps us within ethical and legal boundries, or even at the opposite end, value the process above the ethical or legal requirement the process was put into place to protect. It is our responsibility to hold up the "good as government" standard to be a high one, with flexibility to meet our changing environments.
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42724
The response from "disgusted in PA" is right on the mark! Having gone through a lengthy lawsuit due to several issue to include harassment and retaliation, I have seen first hand the lengths that management will go to get their way no matter the cost. The current administration has created an environment where "sanctioned lies" has become the norm. The government attorneys attacked my honorable military service in the USMC as if it was nothing. They tried to diminish my master's degree as not credible to the job I was applying. The USDOL would not recognize my disability despite adequate documentation. When it becomes acceptable to attack an employee for trying to stand up for their rights despite years of documented exemplary service, you know something is wrong with the leadership.
Thank heavens we still have the union otherwise we will all be lost in the sea of corruption! Now, let's just hope we have a complete change in the White House. Leadership is sorely missing!!!
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42723
The response from "disgusted in PA" is right on the mark! Having gone through a lengthy lawsuit due to several issue to include harassment and retaliation, I have seen first hand the lengths that management will go to get their way no matter the cost. The current administration has created an environment where "sanctioned lies" has become the norm. The government attorneys attacked my honorable military service in the USMC as if it was nothing. They tried to diminish my master's degree as not credible to the job I was applying. The USDOL would not recognize my disability despite adequate documentation. When it becomes acceptable to attack an employee for trying to stand up for their rights despite years of documented exemplary service, you know something is wrong with the leadership.
Thank heavens we still have the union otherwise we will all be lost in the sea of corruption! Now, let's just hope we have a complete change in the White House. Leadership is sorely missing!!!
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42719
So what was the percentage of federal workers in the survey? Click on the link provided then click on the second link in that article and you will get a different story. None of the articles give the actual number of federal employees in the survey. However the percentages provided for federal employees are much different than the grand total.
"Federal - abusive behavior (23%), safety violations (21%) and (tied) lying to employees or putting one's own interests ahead of the organization's (tied at 20%)" There is a big discrepancy between the numbers quoted. Then account for the number of disgruntled workers what actually had time to take the survey.
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42709
This doesn't surprise me one bit. Just look to our Chief in the White House to see "trickle down" breaching. If the Pres and VP do it, why can't we? Besides with all the Pres's good all boys throughout the government is it any surprise?
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42708
Implementing strong ethics progrms in federal governmaent is long overdue. How can we gain "public trust" when we are not trustworthy? I have witnessed more unethical behavior in the past few years than in my entire career (30+ years) as a public servant.
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42707
Ethical behavior in govt. is never going to be the widespread norm until whistleblower rights are SIGNIFICANTLY strengthened. Unethical behavior--from "shaving the truth" to outright illegality, usually starts fairly high up, and when those beneath them are afraid to report wrongdoing, it not only allows it to continue, but creates a culture of permissiveness for others to get away with what they can--particularly if they are managers who protect each other. Such cultures of fear exist in many govt. agencies, and will continue to support unethical behavior until whistleblowers who speak out are protected in reality, not in false lip service.
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42703
Breeches? The place I worked in (DoD in Philadelphia) unethical behavior was the rule, and not the exception. I like to compare my experience at to the wild west, where evil, uncompetent managers kept getting promoted and where they could reward their friends and do whatever they wanted to employees they didn't like. They got away with it because everyone in management stuck together - including the HR department. I worked for 8 years to get a college degree. Unfortunately my supervisor, a 15, who didn't like me. He even told union officials that the "b**** wouldn't pass" the coursework." When the b**** did pass, he was humiliated. So he struck a deal with HR to force me to apply for a job 2 levels below my current level when I graduated from school. I told them I was going to keep my GS-11 grade. The EEO lackey who handled my case told me that HR and him were going to convert me to a GS-7 engineer even if I didn't want to and just let me fight them for years, knowing full well nothing was going to happen to them. They typically do illegal things to employees, in a system where time is on their side and they will never be punished for their actions. I thought one of the tenents of ethical conduct is to not treat anybody as you wouldn't want to be treated. Well, that's my story. Other than that, I don't need to use this forum to tell this to a whole crowd of people who have seen it all in the years they've been working for the Feds.
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42701
Since government employees represent a cross section of society as a whole it should come as no surprise that the problems and dangers described in the article "Study: Ethical breaches becoming common in government" do occur. This is a reflection of current American society. While ethical and moral offenses have occurred throughout human history, to one degree or another, societies and organizations only become endangered once a "tipping point" or "critical mass" has been reached. Likewise, once enough of these types of offenses accrue in our government then our effectiveness as well as the trust of the public will be lost. Organizations of any size can cascade into disorder once enough individuals within have made the wrong choices. Let's not let this happen to us. Let's do what is necessary now; before that tipping point is reached. Let's protect our respective services.
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42687
Yes, I agree more traning is necessary (awareness) programs on ethics. To narrow the focus on who must take control of unethical behavior in the government rest on our senior executives. The leadership is responsible for public trust. If employee's are so unethical it is related to lack of active leadership. The old phase "Inspect what you expect" plays will here. Our ethical behavior is also being abused on the World Wide Web as we are an Interest-based world. Users of the Internet need to understand they are responsible for their words (say anything that could cause harm or off base; a point and click culture). Our society is just now realizing the true power of Interest. V/r, Chuck
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42677
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! With our president and top officials being cited for 935 lies to go to war, why is this a shock. The problems started long before this administration but like Nixon, he's taken it to a whole new level. I haven't seen an auditor in decades and my agency doles out billions a year. We now have internal controls that report to State Directors who run the programs. FIRREA requires commercial lenders to have appraisers independent of loan production but here and at Rural Development the appraisers report to the Rural Housing Chief or the Farm Loan program Chief, both responsible for making loans. I could go on but this doesn't surprise me nor anyone else paying attention.
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42671
No, you don't say! An obvious breach is that of GSAs IG [and cronies] and the clearance of charges by the PCIE. Another instance of the good ol' boy network in action. Disclosure of the incidents [undertaken by Mr. Miller and his fair-haired colleagues] by a Civil Servant would result in adverse action leading to termination....attesting the PCIE and IG has a flagrant disregard for ethical conduct. This farcical decision makes the PCIE/IGs beyond criticism, control, or suspicion. Talk about having a tiger by the tail... this is a repugnant chain of events. Employees best beware since it appears IGs can conduct themselves not only in an unethical, unprincipled manner while at the same time attack in a malicious, hostile and adversarial manner the good name and reputation of employees and not encounter opposition or criticism of their conduct or unprofessional demeanor. Congress must have on blinders not to perceive the unlawful conduct by IG officials and curtail entirely the autonomy granted to incumbents of this office.
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42669
Gee whiz! Our governmment has a alarming increase in ethically challenged people?
Oh, Really?
I don't suppose that having a guy occupying the Oval Office who has been spouting non-stop lies since the day he first took office, including a very big and serious one that involved an issue as horrific as going to war - and then using lies and false pretenses and outright deceptions to trick the citizens of this nation into thinking such a war was necessary - would this possibly be related to this increase in the apparent acceptance of unethical behavior?
Monkey see, monkey do?
Hey, 1.6 million dead Iraqis, 4,000 or so dead U.S. military - a nation that's financially on the verge of complete collapse due to the criminal misappropriation of precious resources in order to fund the continuation of this illegal war?
But its the 'lower level' government employees who are the problem, NOT the leaders at the top?
Is Miss Rosenberg pulling our leg or what?
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42668
Ethics programs are good. It seems to, however, ultimately come down to personal ethics and integrity - something that is internal to the individual. When we have abandoned the idea of right and wrong in favor of situational ethics and personal choice, are we surprised that people do not do the right thing?
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42661
Ethics training is a farce. Sleez is sleez. We need strong unions to protect employees from reprisals when they report bad conduct.
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42658
My agency is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to employee law and requiring emplyees to donate time without pay to accomplish assigned tasks. Especially in DES.
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42657
Welcome to today's value sets. We all see the enormous waste and parasitism by Federal employees, yet most do nothing about it. We've got about 50 years left, folks, until our central government collapses--just like the USSR. Think this is too doom and gloom? We're no longer a country anymore: unassimilating illegal and legal immigrants, parasitism, corruption, graft, rule of law breakdowns, greed...throughout history ALL great nation-states eventually fall, and ours will be no exception. However, unlike Russia, which had a mostly homogenous society, I predict our capitol will be sacked when it collapses, just like Rome. God help us all.
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42653
With GW Bush as our role model?!?!?! Most of us are 100 times more ethical than he is. I have spent 7 years worrying about how parents teach their children not to lie, steal or murder or be bullies when the leader of our country does all that and more and continues to get away with it. Believe me, I have seen a turning tide in ethical conduct in my agency management since Bush has been in office and have experienced the lying and bullying personally, enough to change units I am in to keep from becoming so cynical and angry as to make myself ill.
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42648
Perhaps the biggest offenders are in DHS. Hiring certificates are pulled with the intent of passing over disabled vets, vets, and educated federals with the intent of promoting cronies, relatives, and brown-nosers. In the meantime, experienced federals with INS attached to their names are driven out to retirement or the private sector. Ethics have been trumped by national security!
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42647
I believe the source of these problems comes from an insidious form of conflict of interest which is typically called the "careerist agenda." In this syndrome, the individual skews every action and decision to advance ones own career. Many will not see this as wrong, but in fact it is a direct use of government resources for personal gain. The problem is that if unchecked, the management ranks will start to fill with individuals who use this particular tactic (since they are the most aggressive in attempting to obtain such positions). Their behavior, once detected by others in the organization, undermines even those who hold service as a principle value, causing the "careerist agenda" to become the norm. On the heels of that comes many, many varieties of unethical behavior.
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42646
The funny thing about misconduct is that it is normally those at the higher levels of management. It's tough to implement strong ethics programs when it's not practiced at the top. Managers don't get caught because they cover for one another. Executives and management get promoted or moved rather than disciplined. Why in the world would an employee report wrongdoing to anyone other than their immediate supervisor (if at all) knowing a bullseye would be on their back. Our survey program has demonstrated that trying to change anything important is a waste of time.
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42635
This is very common in the Federal Government. In most cases, Senior level officials are aware, however, they look the other way. In some cases, it is the Senior level officials who lie and are involved in the unethical behavior
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42631
The federal workforce is a microcosom of our larger society. Cheating has been on the rise in our schools for years. Those kids are now in the workforce. I'm just glad the government has a way to measure this.
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42630
"Its very likely that higher levels of management are unaware that misconduct is even a problem within their organization". Absolute nonsense. Duplicity and complicity in illegal activities and other gross management malfeasance has been SOP between Office of Personnel Management senior officials and OPM's OIG for fifteen years. They make it up and they cover it up.
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42625
Many of those ethical breaches are committed by senior managers, and they are getting away their misconduct behind the certain of NSPS
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