Federal Manager's Daily Report

DoD’s ethics office has issued guidance designed to help avoid violations of ethics rules at parties, receptions, gift exchanges and other holiday-related activities inside and outside the workplace.

It includes definitions of who is considered a “prohibited source” of a gift, what constitutes a gift, and specific policies regarding gifts from lobbyists or lobbying organizations and gift exchanges between supervisors and subordinates. On the latter, it says that “there are no legal restrictions on gifts given to peers or subordinates, however, common sense (and good taste) should apply.”

It adds that policies against accepting gifts from prohibited sources also may apply to accepting hospitality in settings such as open houses and receptions hosted by such sources, with exceptions including gifts based on a “ bona fide personal relationship” that are paid for by a contractor employee personally, not by the contractor.

Federal personnel may accept personal hospitality at the residence of a subordinate that is “customarily provided on the occasion” and there is no restriction on accepting hospitality from a co-worker or boss.

Also: federal employees may not solicit outside sources for contributions to a party; office parties are unofficial events and appropriated funds may not be used for them; door prizes or drawings could be deemed to be gambling banned on federal property; and generally participation at holiday social events is considered personal, not official, and therefore use of government vehicles to or from such events would not be authorized.