Case study An Ethics Test for Local Government Employees 1 An inspector is asked to approve construc...........

 An Ethics Test for Local Government Employees

1. An inspector is asked to approve construction work that does not comply with the city''s building codes. In exchange, the contractor offers tickets to an upcoming concert. Should you accept the tickets? Yes/No

2. Your relative warts to set up a snow removal business and in addition to other contracts, they want to have a contract with the

city. You work for the department that issues this type of contract, but not in the contract section. Should you declare a conflict of interest? Yes/ No

3. You have a busith.tss in addition to your job with the city. You spend time on the telephone arranging business deals, contacting suppliers and potential clients. Your work for the city suffers because of the amount of time spent on your private business. Is this ethical? Yes/No

4. You have learned several specialized skills working for the city. Another local government learns of your talent and wants you to work for them, "moon-lighting" on the weekends, if you are not called in by your employer to work on an emergency problem. Should you "moonlight" - that is, work part-time for the other city'' Yes/No

5. A department head or city council member contacts you for information about how a city service is handled. You provide the information to the department head or the city council member who made the request. You then send additional information directly to the citizen who had contacted the director or city council member Should you have sent the additional information? Yes/No

6. You spend several hours during the week using the city supplied computer to download information on a relative''s medical condition. Is this ethical? Yes/No

7. A health inspector arrives at a restaurant during the start of the lunch hour. Several violations are noted during the inspection. The manager offers the employee lunch in exchange for waiting to write up the inspection, asking for rime to make the needed corrections

after the lunch hour. Should the employee accept the free lunch? Yes/No

8. You have inspected a building and find items that do not meet the city''s building codes. You write up your inspection -and then leave. The contractor contacts you, does not like your answer, and asks to speak to your supervisor. They discuss the situation and find another option that will meet the building codes and not cost the contractor a whole lot of money. Is the supervisor''s action ethical? Yes/No

9. You inspect a restaurant just after they have had a spill of grease in the kitchen. It has contaminated surfaces and food. The kitchen staff is busy throwing out food and sanitizing surfaces. You tell the manager you will wait until the kitchen order is restored before conducting your inspection. Is this ethical? Yes/No

10. You are asked to provide a special service to someone, for example, to just let hirn or her ride with you, in your city vehicle, for a private (not city related) purpose. Is this ethical? Yes/No

11. A manager in another department comes to you and asks that you handle a matter outside of the normal process and it is a service that not everyone in the city would get. The manager states that the person needing help is a very important person and the normal rules and procedures don''t apply to their request. Should you handle the matter as requested? Yes/No

By: Mona Kaushal