Ethics agency spells out holiday do’s and don’ts for federal employees

Office celebrations, colleague gift-giving and non-governmental holiday parties present “potential, but avoidable, ethics pitfalls” for federal employees, according to guidance put out by the Office of Government Ethics. 

In a Dec. 3 document, the ethics agency urges agency teams, when collecting funds for an office holiday party, to ensure employees know that contributing is voluntary, not have a supervisor or executive ask for the money and submit the solicitation for review by ethics officials. 

If the party includes a present exchange, OGE advises setting the gift value at no more than $10, which is the same recommended limit for individuals planning to buy something for their boss or other coworker. 

Federal employees are generally prohibited from giving a gift to their supervisor or soliciting contributions from other workers for a present to their boss, but there is an exception for items that are $10 or less. 

If a fed is invited to a holiday party hosted by a company or organization that works with the employee in their official capacity or their agency, OGE suggests reaching out to ethics officials. Government workers are mostly banned from soliciting or accepting gifts from contractors, potential contractors or regulated entities. 

OGE counsels that civil servants “can probably attend” their spouse’s, friend’s or relative’s office holiday party if invited, but officials also cautioned that: “Even if an invitation isn’t prohibited, it is ‘always appropriate and frequently prudent’ to decline an otherwise permissible invitation.” 

Since August, OGE has been led in an acting capacity by Eric Ueland, who also is the deputy director for management in the Office of Management and Budget. 

President Donald Trump in February fired the agency’s last confirmed leader, David Huitema, long before the end of his five-year term. The Senate approved Huitema’s nomination at the end of former President Joe Biden’s administration.